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  My jaw dropped. “Mom!”

  “What? It’s been a long time since—”

  “How sore I am is none of your concern.” If she really knew my body ached in delicious places, I would never hear the end of it. I waved a hand toward the kitchen. “Get to work. We open in a half hour.”

  She pivoted, rolling off the doorframe with her shoulder, her long skirt twirling around her ankles. She snickered quietly, glancing back at me. “I’ll let you get away with ordering me around this time—since I’m sure it wasn’t you giving the orders last night.”

  “Mom!” I sighed heavily in exaggeration.

  Her shoulders shrugged before she disappeared beyond my doorway. “He is a Mak, dear.”

  September 9, 2000 – Age 9

  Mrs. Mak sat across the cook’s table in her elegant kitchen. She handed me a cup of warm tea. I loved this tea. Though, there were no cookies today. “Jet will be done with his tutoring in a few minutes. Talk with me a bit?”

  I nodded, politely sipping at the gifted tea. “My mom said she’d be back for me in two hours.”

  “A perfect amount of time for a play date.” Mrs. Mak patted my hand and smiled kindly. “So, sweet Lucy, how is school going? Do you like your teacher this year?”

  “It’s all right. I like Ms. Kegan. She’s a lot nicer than Mr. Rupert was.”

  “Jet says that, too.” She laughed quietly, glancing out the grand windows. “I can’t imagine you two getting into trouble with this one.”

  My cheeks heated, and I stared at my cup of tea. “Probably not.”

  “It’s all right, sweetie.” She leaned forward and winked. “I didn’t like Mr. Rupert, either.” The pearls around her neck glistened in the light. She whispered quietly, “He really was a son of a bitch.”

  My lips pinched together until I couldn’t contain my silly grin. “My mom said that, too.”

  She nodded her head decisively and sat back on her chair. “Your mom is a wise woman.”

  I imitated her regal movements, nodding my head grandly. “She says that, too.”

  Her lips lifted in a private smile and then glanced over my head. “Mrs. Kline, how did tutoring go today?”

  I twisted around on my chair and grinned at seeing Jet standing in the kitchen with his tutor.

  “It went very well,” Mrs. Kline stated easily, peering down to Jet with caring eyes. “Jet is mastering all the tricks I’m teaching him. Pretty soon, he won’t need me anymore.”

  Jet’s chest puffed, proud of himself. “Hear that, Lucy?”

  “I did!” I glanced at Mrs. Mak. “Can we go play now?”

  “May we play…”

  “May we play now?” I corrected.

  “You may,” she answered patiently. “I had the game room set up for you two today.”

  “Sweet!” I cheered, shoving off my chair. I grabbed Jet’s right hand as we rushed out of the kitchen together. Glancing into Jet’s eyes, I stated, “Your mom is so awesome.”

  Present Day

  I knocked quietly on Mrs. Mak’s open door. Her room was spacious at Lakeside Center. Jet had spared no expense to make sure his mom had the finest room here. I had driven to Karim Hospital first, only to find out that Mrs. Mak had been discharged. An exotically dark-skinned woman in her mid-thirties, dressed in jeans and a blue t-shirt, glanced up from a book she was reading in the corner by a window that overlooked the lake.

  She peered at Mrs. Mak’s sleeping form, where she lay on her plush hospital bed, and then back to me. Speaking softly, she asked, “May I help you?”

  I assessed the woman to be the nurse Jet paid if her eagle eye was any indication. “I’m Lucy Plume, a family friend of the Maks. I wanted to sit with Mrs. Mak for a while.”

  My name was like a magic invitation since I had returned to Karim. She instantly relaxed her posture, smiling and nodding. “It’s lovely to meet you, Ms. Plume.” She gestured to the chair next to the hospital bed. “Feel free to take a seat. Mrs. Mak should be waking from her nap shortly.”

  I walked inside, set my oversized purse on the floor next to bed, and took an easy seat. My attention ran over Mrs. Mak’s bruising. The swelling had gone down, but the color was still as garish. I sighed quietly, relaxed back onto my chair, and surveyed her room. Small tokens from her house surrounded her, surely items Jet had brought in to make it feel more like home for her—even if she couldn’t remember. My gaze halted on the book on her nightstand.

  The book itself was unremarkable, but the bookmark was a thick slash of satin…with the sapphire ring dangling on the end.

  My lips curved up at the edges and my chest warmed. It was perfect for her.

  “Who are you?” Mrs. Mak asked, sleep robbing her of a sharp tone.

  My eyes snapped to her. She was awake and fumbling for the remote to lift the top section of her bed. I quickly helped her press the right button and stated politely, “My name’s Lucy. I needed a place to sit and think for a while. I thought I’d do it here.” I peered into her eyes. “Is that okay with you?”

  “Hmm.” Her tired eyes ran over me from head to toe. “I suppose that’s all right.” She lifted her wrinkled hand and pointed at me. “My little boy, Jet, he has a girlfriend named Lucy. She’s as sweet as pie.” Her eyes crinkled around the edges as she smiled. “Though Jet doesn’t know I know he asked her to be his sweetheart at school today. You see...her mother and I talk. Quite a bit.” She winked, nodding her head decisively. “It’s the only way I’d have it.”

  My eyes instantly welled with tears, and I glanced away, pretending to view her room all over again. I swallowed slowly, my throat burning, but I stated steadily, “Mothers will be mothers, I suppose.”

  “Yes, we will. Do you have any children of your own, Lucy?”

  “Not yet,” I murmured, tickled at the thought. When my eyes didn’t burn quite as much, I turned back to her. “Would you like to play a game?” I lifted my purse from the floor. “I brought a bunch with me. Or read a book? Maybe watch a movie?”

  Her eyes lit in excitement. She shifted on the bed and stretched her arm out. She grabbed the book on her nightstand and handed it to me. “I have a book right here. Would you mind reading aloud from it?”

  “Not at all.” I set my purse down. “From the beginning or where the bookmark is?”

  Her white brows snapped together, staring at the bookmark. “That’s odd.”

  I waved it off. “I’ll just start from the beginning. It’s all right.”

  “No, that’s odd.” She pointed to the sapphire ring. “My boy gave that to his sweetheart.”

  My eyes began to widen and I tried not to choke. “What?”

  She peered up at the ceiling, resting back on her bed. “He thought I didn’t see him that day. Kids always think that.” She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “I don’t know how many times I almost asked Lucy’s mom for that ring back. My husband gave it to me as an anniversary gift one year, you see. But I never did.” Her head tilted toward me, her smile full of pride. “My Jet will marry sweet Lucy one day. I guarantee it. They love each other something fierce.”

  My resulting grin couldn’t be held at bay. “I’m sure they will.” When her attention went back to the ceiling, I opened the book to the beginning and started to read. I didn’t leave until she fell back asleep. Her book and her bookmark with the ring tucked safely on her nightstand. I peered hard at the nurse. “You take care of her.” There may be no legacy to my name, but my gaze identified I could hang with the Mak-dark-side any day.

  As I exited the Lakeside Center, I held my cell to my ear. When Jet answered, I simply said, “I’m ready. Arrange it at the courthouse for next weekend.” There would be no fancy wedding. Even though there was the Mak superiority in all things they did, it just wouldn’t be us. Only he and I would be there as we started our life as a married couple.

  I snickered quietly as I ended the call. I would tell my mom afterward. She might be upset, but she would eventually get over it and underst
and my need for secrecy. Mom always forgave me.

  Present Day

  “Mom, could you come over to my apartment? I need some help packing,” I grumbled, holding my cell between my ear and my shoulder. I paused for added effect to make her wonder while I constructed another moving box. “You know, because I got married yesterday.”

  I jerked upright and held my cell away from my ear. She was screaming.

  The call went dead.

  Gingerly, I tossed my cell onto the couch. “She’s on her way over.”

  Jet’s lips twitched. “Was that happy yell or pissed yell?”

  “I think happy,” I guessed. I grinned outright at Jet’s raised brows. “She wasn’t cussing.”

  Jet evaluated my living room that was in shambles. Boxes and newspaper were everywhere. “We probably won’t get a lot done today if she doesn’t calm down by the time she gets over here.”

  My eyes widened in fake horror. “You know she’s going to be over all the time at our house.” The Mak Mansion. “Probably with a new boyfriend every six months.”

  Jet sniffed and rested back against the wall. He deadpanned, “We have plenty of rooms for her and her men.” He paused. “And plenty of washing machines.”

  I pointed at him, smirking evilly. “Exactly. Great minds and all that.” My gaze stalled on my raised hand. On my ring. “It is so pretty.” Huge. Sparkly. All mine. With a small blue sapphire on each side of the enormous diamond. My wedding ring was perfect. “I could stare at it all day.” My comment was girlie, but damn if it wasn’t true.

  “I could stare at you all day, Mrs. Mak.”

  “You better.” My eyes burned with tears. It had finally happened. We were married. Life hadn’t wrecked us—we had made it. Always and forever. I walked to him and pressed my body against his. “Because I’m yours.”

  Jet’s ice blues crinkled at the edges as he grinned. “I’ve finally caught you.”

  September 3, 1995 – Age 4

  “Mom, I wanna go home,” I whispered, tugging on my mom’s skirt. My stomach didn’t feel good. There were lots of kids I didn’t know here, and I was wearing a silly dress mom called proper. I tugged again and tilted my head way back, staring up at her. My eyes filled with tears and my chin quivered. “Please, Mom. I wanna go home.”

  “Shh,” Mom hushed, bending so I didn’t have to look so high. She cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead. “Mrs. Mak had me make a special birthday cake for her son and invited you specifically when she found out about you. Don’t you want to meet Jet? I bet you’ll be great friends.”

  I shook my head hard, making my blonde hair fly through the air around me. “No. I don’t wanna stay.” I wanted to go home and watch a movie with my mom. “Please?”

  Mom sighed softly, and her big brown eyes held mine. “It would be rude to leave right now. As soon as Jet opens his gifts, we’ll head out. I promise.”

  My brows furrowed. I didn’t really like that. But when she straightened, I didn’t fuss.

  All of the kids were staring at me.

  I hid behind my mom, waited a few seconds, and then peeked around her legs.

  Yep, they were still staring.

  I really wanted to stick my tongue out at them, but Mom would have been mad.

  I stayed quiet and waited until my mom pulled me forward when a tall woman with black hair came to speak with her. Mom said, “It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Mak. This is my daughter, Lucy.” Mom peered down at me. “Lucy, this is Mrs. Mak, the birthday boy’s mom.”

  I cocked my head and decided she looked nice enough. Plus, Mom seemed to like her. I held up my hand. “Hello, Mrs. Mak.”

  Mrs. Mak smiled pretty and big. She had white teeth. Gently, she shook my hand. “Hello, sweet Lucy.” Letting go of my hand, she peered off to the left and called, “Jet, come here for a second. There’s someone new I’d like you to meet.”

  Oh, great. The boy. I crossed my arms and groaned. He would probably try to pull on my pretty hair. They always did that. It was annoying, and Mom never let me kick them.

  I scowled in the direction where all the boys were messing around…but Mrs. Mak wasn’t looking at them. She was looking off into the corner. I scoped that area and saw a boy standing there, almost hidden by a curtain as he stared out the window. He had neat black hair, was my height, and had on black straight pants, a white shirt, and a blue tie.

  Mrs. Mak sighed, glancing at my mom. “Give me just a second.” I watched as she walked to the boy in the corner, spoke quietly to him, and took his hand. She led him over to us at a slow pace. The boy didn’t look any happier to be here than I was. When they stopped in front of us, Mrs. Mak gestured to me. Her tone was merry and light. “Jet, this is Lucy. Her mom made your birthday cake.”

  Jet peered at me. He had the bluest eyes. “Hi.”

  I felt my cheeks burn, and I murmured, “Hi.” I blinked. “Happy birthday.”

  He shrugged a shoulder. “I’m five today. One, two, three, four, five.”

  I held up four fingers. “I’m four. My birthday is coming soon though.”

  He stared, and then scratched his left shoulder.

  My eyes widened on his watch, and I grabbed his wrist fast. “That is cool!” It was the biggest watch I had ever seen before. “Did you get it for your birthday?”

  He hesitated, and then he nodded his head quickly. He took a step closer to me, peering up at me bashfully before he pointed at the front of it. “See? It has twelve numbers. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.”

  I grinned. He wasn’t so bad. “Do you have any more watches?”

  His black brows furrowed, and then, ever so slowly, the side of his lips curved up in a grin. It was small, but it brightened up his whole face. “My dad does. Wanna see them?”

  “Yes!” I paused and then hurried to glance up at my mom. “Can I?”

  “Um…” Mom peered to Mrs. Mak.

  Mrs. Mak was smiling. I don’t know why, but she was smiling so big. “Sure they can.”

  Jet grabbed my hand and pulled me from the party. “Come on, Lucy. You’ll like them.”

  Being hauled away, I called to my mom, “Don’t leave.” I didn’t want her to leave me here in this big house that I didn’t know. “Please?”

  Mrs. Mak stated easily, “Your mom can stay if she wants.” Her attention swung to my mom. “Help me keep the party on track, maybe?”

  “Sure thing,” Mom said quickly.

  Just as I disappeared out of the room, Mom called, “Behave, Lucy!”

  “Wow,” I said softly, my jaw hanging open. “That’s a lot of watches.”

  “Yeah, my dad has lots of neat stuff.” He ducked his head down to exam one of the many watches in his dad’s closet. There were tons of guy stuff in here. I had tripped over three pairs of shoes already. “But he says to have nice things you have to work hard to get them.”

  I shrugged a shoulder and lifted a red watch. “My mom bakes. She works hard, too.”

  Jet stared for a second, giving me a funny look. “I’ll be back.” He raced out of his dad’s closet.

  I didn’t really like that. “Jet?”

  “Just a minute, Lucy. I thought of something I want you to have.”

  I sighed. Stupid boys. At least he wanted to give me something and not pull my hair.

  Bending, I put the red watch back, and eyed a gold one. Shiny.

  Jet raced back into the closet. “I found this the other day.” He held his palm up. “You’re a girl. You should have it.”

  “Oh,” I hummed. I stared at the ring Jet held. “Now that is cool.” It had a gold band and a blue shiny gem that was the size of my thumb. I peered up into Jet’s eyes. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” He nodded decisively…and then he blushed. “It’s pretty. Like you.”

  My eyes widened, and my heart fluttered kind of funny in my chest.

  “Here,” he grabbed my left hand and shoved the ring into my fist, “it’s yours n
ow.”

  My cheeks burned so bad. “Okay.”

  We stared at each other.

  Jet slammed his hands down into his pockets and tilted his head to the door. “Race you downstairs? It’s probably time to open presents. You can help me if you want?”

  “Okay,” I hollered and then took off at a fast sprint, making sure to hang on tight to his gift. It was special to me. A boy had never given me anything before. And I kind of liked this boy. He was quiet and nice. “I bet you can’t catch me!”

  He raced after me. “Oh, I’ll catch you, Lucy! I’ll catch you.”

  Thank you so much for taking the time to read my novella from The Club!

  All reviews are appreciated.

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Scarlett Dawn is drawn to all things quirky and off-beat. She believes there are no boundaries for an imaginative soul. Her love of the written word started from at an early age, when her grandmother would take her to bookstores every weekend. Dreams came alive within the books she found there, and now, she is thrilled to share her stories with others who have fallen under the spell of taking fantastical journeys. Scarlett resides in the Midwest with her family.

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