Check out others parts of this story on my author’s page. Clem rolled over and snuggled closer to Max. She nuzzled into the space between his neck and shoulder and breathed him in. His heartbeat was steady under her hand, and his body was warm next to hers. She smiled as her eyes fluttered open, ...

Check out other parts of this story on my author’s page A car alarm blared relentlessly outside his window. Max stretched out a hand to pull Clementine closer to him but the bed beside him was empty. He opened his eyes. The room was so similar to its original decor, for a moment he thought ...

Check out other parts of this story on my author’s page. Clementine’s wedding day was nothing like she’d imagined it would be. Mae and James had gone upstate to the Adirondacks to breathe the fresh air, and Clementine’s mother wouldn’t dare cross her father— she was alone.  As she did up her own hair and ...

Check out other parts of this story on my author’s page. Clem hadn’t seen her father in months, and now here he stood, blustering like a thunder cloud about to burst in her foyer. She knew it was coming, knew he would find out she was here sooner or later. She had only hoped it ...

Check out other parts of this story on my author’s page. They tumbled into the house, giggles fizzing out of them like champagne bubbles.  “A duck! I’m telling you that woman looked like a giant baby duck!” Clementine doubled over in laughter. She couldn’t remember the last time she laughed so much or had so ...

Check out more parts of this story on my author’s page. Clementine would like to say she was lying next to this man she hardly knew as part of some grand seduction plan. But she couldn’t. As it turned out, she liked him.  She rolled over to face him and brushed a few strands of ...

Check out other parts of this story on my author’s page The sound of Mae’s cough reverberated through the hallway, waking Clementine from her fitful sleep. Again. The sound was so painful, and desperate Clem’s own lungs tightened in response. The coughs were followed by a pitiful wheeze that Clementine could hear even from her ...

Check out other parts of this story on my author’s page. Max stretched his arms overhead and leaned back in the rocking chair. His feet, still in borrowed shoes, were up on the porch railing, slowly rocking the chair back and forth. Clem sat next to him, stitching a small piece of fabric he couldn’t ...

Check out other parts of this story on my author’s page. Clem stared at the ceiling of her room, her mind refusing to rest. How had she let things get so out of control? Her father had disowned her, she was responsible for Mae’s care, her vile aunt was somehow still alive, and she had ...

Check out other parts of this story on my author’s page. “Oh, I wish you’d stay with me.” Mae clutched feebly at her hands. “You’ll be fine! Tomorrow I will stay and drink all the spring water I can stomach, but today I have an urgent errand to run.” Clem pried her fingers free and ...