Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Jenna hung up the phone and looked around the kitchen.  She had been cooking and baking all day.

“Katie!  Amy!  Come here and help Mommy.”  She could hear the sound of their soft footsteps on the wood floors.

“Yes Mommy,” they said together.

“Open the refrigerator and freezer so I can put these meals away.”

“What are they for?” asked Katie.

“Mommy is going to see some friends this week, and these meals are so you and Daddy have some food.”

“Can I come with you?” asked four-year-old Amy.

“No honey, it’s for grown-ups only.”

“But, I’m a big girl now.”

“Yes you are, but you’re not a grown up yet.” She kissed her little girl on the fore head.

“Can I have a cookie?” asked Katie eyeing the bags of chocolate chip, lemon, and oatmeal cookies.

“Just one,” Jenna told the girls.

Just as she settled the girls down at the table with cookies and milk, the backdoor opened.

“Daddy!” the girls shrieked.

“Kevin?  You’re early,” Jenna smiled at her husband.

“I wanted to spend some time with my beautiful wife before she left for a week,” he said before kissing her.

Jenna smiled and kissed him back.

Kevin walked over to the kitchen table and kissed the girls on the head.  “Cookies before dinner?” he asked.

“Mommy said we could have one,” Katie answered.

“What about Daddy?”

“Mommy, can Daddy have a cookie?” asked Katie.

“Just one like me?” piped up Amy.

“Sure,” said Jenna, “Just one.  They are going with me on vacation.”

Kevin grabbed a cookie and sat at the table with the girls.  Jenna watched her family and couldn’t help but smile.  These are the moments she lived for.

“Since you’re here Kevin, I”m going to finish packing.  I have a few more sundresses to iron, fold, and put in my suitcase.”

“Ok, hun.  Anything I can do to help?”

“Just watch the girls.  Oh, and stay out of the cookies!  We’re having pizza for dinner.  I’ll order it from upstairs.”

“Pizza!” the girls cheered!

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Beverly stared at her computer screen and chewed on a pencil.  She needed an appropriate synonym for the male anatomy.  She had already used “manhood” in this chapter and was having trouble of thinking of a word that wasn’t vulgar.

Beverly had left a law practice two years ago to write romance novels.  She had finished three books during this time, but has yet to get them picked up by a publisher.  She wanted desperately to be successful at this because her entire family was appalled at her choice to leave her father’s firm and write.  She came from a family of lawyers and was nothing more than a disappointment now.

She spun around in her chair and looked at her bed.  Her suitcase was open and there were piles of clothes strewn all over the place.  She had been putting off packing even though she was looking forward to the trip.  Since leaving her orderly life behind, she had taken up procrastination.

The phone beside her rang, and she quickly checked the caller ID.  Her mother called a few times a week to find out if she was going to return to her father’s practice.  Since her father wouldn’t speak to her, Beverly knew that her mother was only trying to make peace.

It was Jenna.  “Hey Jenna!”

“Hi!  Whatcha doing?”

“Trying to come up with another word for penis.”

“Eww!”

“Gimme a break Jenna.  You’re married, you have sex.  Don’t be all grossed out by the male anatomy.”

“I have sex, but I don’t write about it for others to read.”

“Technically I’m not writing about my own sexual experiences, and unfortunately, no one is reading.”

“It’ll happen Beverly.  Just be patient.”

“I’m almost out of patience and money.  I only had so much in savings and don’t know how much longer I can live off of it.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.  You could always go back to your dad’s and write on weekends.”

“I could, but I’m too proud for that.  Anyway, are you ready for our trip?”

“I’ve been ready for months girl.  I can’t wait to sit on the beach with ya’ll and soak up some sun.”

“I’m looking forward to the late night drinks and soaks in the hot tub.  I need some relaxation.  Have you talked to Meredith?  Is she coming?”

“Yes, Julie is forcing her.  She doesn’t want to leave Julie or Nathan right now.”

“Well that’s understandable, but she needs some time for herself or she’ll go crazy.  The past few months have been all about hospitals and illness.”

“I know.  I’m glad that she is going, but I’m worried about her.  Julie’s parents have been... Well... unbearable since her diagnosis.  They don’t want to lose her, and they have been giving Meredith a hard time.”

Beverly snorted, “They don’t want to lose her? I can understand that, but she is the love of Meredith’s life and that little boy thinks the world of her.  They aren’t the only ones affected here.”

“I agree, but let’s not point that out to Meredith.  We have to be extra sensitive,” Jenna said.

“Don’t worry.  I won’t even bring it up.  I’m just hoping that she can let it all go and have a little fun with us.  When is Krissy getting there?”

“Tomorrow afternoon.  What about you?”

“I have to finish this chapter before I leave.  I was planning on driving down on Sunday.  Is that ok?”  Beverly said, hoping not to upset Jenna.

“Sure, that will be great!  I can’t wait to see you!”

“Me too. Bye.”

“Bye.”

The two women hung up and Beverly turned back to her computer screen and put the pencil back in her mouth.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Krissy steadied her weapon and aimed at the target.  She fired off a few rounds, smiling at the rush she felt.  This could never get old!

“Krissy!” someone shouted.

She removed her protective headphones and turned around.  There stood Paul, a deputy that worked for the force.  He was dressed in jeans and a button down shirt with the top three buttons undone to reveal his chest hair.  He thought he was all that, but really he was just a creepy guy.  

“Hi Paul.  What are you doing here?”

“Just came to blow off some steam.  I just ran into my ex-wife and we argued about the kids again.”

“Sorry to hear that...” Krissy looked around.  The shooting range had been pretty empty when she arrived, but now it was practically a ghost town.

“What are you up to?” he asked looking at her breasts instead of her eyes.

“Just getting some shooting in before I head out of town.”

“Vacation?”

Krissy smiled, “Yes, a much needed one.  My case load has been full lately and I could use some distance.  Maybe I’ll be able to approach some of them differently when I get back.”

Paul seemed bored by the work talk, “I see... Where are you headed to?  Need a traveling companion?”  He winked.

She rolled her eyes.  Paul was always hitting on her, and it was getting old.

“I travel alone,” she said flatly, “besides, I’m heading down to the coast with my best friends for spring break.  We have strict rules.  No boys or children allowed!”

“Honey, I’m not a boy, I’m a man,” Paul said with a wink and a crotch grab.

Krissy was about to punch him in the face when her phone rang, “Hello.”

“Hi Krissy!”

“Jenna,” she was relieved to hear her friend’s voice on the other end.  She holstered her gun and headed for her car, giving Paul a half-hearted wave.  “I’m so glad you called.  I ran into my worse nightmare at the shooting range and almost punched him in the face.”

“Now Krissy, we can’t have any more guys pressing charges against you.  It’s not good for your career.”

“The last one dropped the charges after I pointed out that he had touched me first, and rather inappropriately.” 

Jenna laughed, “I’m looking forward to our trip.  When are you heading down?”

“In the morning.  I had some business to wrap up.”

“Ok.  We’ll be the first two arriving.  Meredith almost didn’t come so I want to be sure that we have the wine chilled before she gets there.”

“How is Julie doing?” Krissy asked.

“Not too well.  Meredith told me that the doctors don’t expect an improvement, but Julie herself seems pretty optimistic.”

“Probably just in denial...”

“Krissy!”

“What?”

Jenna sighed, “Never mind.  Just try to be more sensitive around Meredith.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Ok, bye.”

Krissy clicked her phone closed and started her car.  She was sensitive.  She just felt that Julie needed to be realistic and not let Meredith and Nathan have a false sense of hope.  She backed out of her parking space and headed home.  She needed to throw some tank tops into her suitcase, and she would be ready to go.

NaNoWriMo Results

I totally failed at NaNoWriMo.  I wrote 1,823 words.  That was it.  I didn't know where to go after I introduced my characters.  I also had dental surgery and was dealing with some other issues.  I am disappointed in myself, but I can always try again.  It was neat to think about and plan.  Maybe next year I will get way past this year's word count.  I wanted to post my four "chapters" (I use that word loosely) on here for you to read to show you what I did accomplish.  I'll post one section a day (don't worry, there are only four of them).  Keep in mind, this is a VERY rough draft--I have not reread it since I wrote it in November.

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Chapter 1

“I think you should go,” Julie said, coughing.

“Are you sure?  I hate to leave you,” Meredith said, taking Julie’s hand.

Julie went to answer, but started to cough again.

Meredith couldn’t leave her like this.  The doctors said that things were not going to improve.  How could she go out of town and have fun when Julie was dying?

Julie stopped coughing, “These are your best friends and spring break is your tradition.  You can’t miss out just because I’m sick.”

“What about Nathan?”

“Nathan will be fine.  My mom will be here with us.”

“That’s what I worry about,” Meredith said chewing on her bottom lip.

Julie went to protest, but started coughing again and at the same time the phone rang.

“Hello,” Meredith answered.

“Hey Mer!  It’s Jenna.  I haven’t heard back from you yet.  Are you going to make it to the beach house next week?”

“Hi Jenna.  I don’t know.  Julie’s not doing too well, and I’m worried about leaving her alone.”

“I understand.  It just won’t be the same without you.”

Meredith heard a click on the line and then Julie’s voice, “Jenna, she will be there.”

“Julie...” Meredith started.

“Hi Julie.  How are you?” Jenna asked.

“I’ve just got a cold.  I’ll be ok.  I wouldn’t want Meredith to miss her time with you girls, so count her in.”

Meredith started to talk again, but Julie cut her off, “That’s final Meredith.”  She hung up.

Meredith talked to Jenna a few more minutes and then reluctantly pulled her suitcase out of the closet.  “Julie, I’ll only be a few hours away.  If you need anything promise me that you will call.”

Julie started coughing again, but managed to promise that she would call her if anything happened.  Meredith started tossing capris and shirts into her suitcase while she listened to Julie cough and wished things were different.