Following
the death of her mother, Bianca and her dad are on their own. But when a
redheaded stranger at the funeral claims to be her biological father,
Bianca’s reality crumbles. She soon finds herself trapped between the
alcoholism of one father, and the wicked schemes of another—with no way
to escape.
EXCERPT
Copyright 2014 Anna Marie Kittrell
“Who is he?” I asked. It was strange meeting Dad’s weary gaze over a vase of wild lilacs. We never kept flowers in the house.
“Let’s
put these with the others for now.” He stood slowly, like a man twice
his age, and placed the vase alongside the various plants and funeral
bouquets lining the countertop. “Do you want a glass of ice tea?” he
asked, opening the fridge.
“No,
thanks, Dad. Sit back down. We need to talk.” I was anxious to find out
what caused him to act so weird at the cemetery. In my whole life, I’d
never seen my father disrespect anyone until today, when he refused to
shake hands with Chase Archer.
“How about a piece of chicken? The church sent over enough to feed an army.”
He was avoiding the conversation.
“Can we just get on with it?” I asked, frustrated. “Who is this Chase guy, and why didn’t you want him at Mom’s funeral?”
Dad
shut the refrigerator, plodded to the kitchen table, and repositioned
himself in the chair across from me. “It’s difficult to know where to
start.” He raked a hand through his hair.
“Don’t beat around the bush, Dad. Just say it.”
He took a deep breath and blew it out. “That man you were talking to…at the funeral…”
“Yes. Chase Archer.” I nodded slowly.
“He—” Dad dropped his head to his hands. “Oh, God, please, help me say this,” he cried hoarsely.
My chest tightened. Whatever this was about, it was a big deal.
He raised his head and returned his gaze to mine. “Bee, that man is your biological father.”
My
brain scrambled, as if someone lifted my head from my shoulders and
shook it like a box of puzzle pieces. I pressed my fingers between my
eyebrows. “Whatever. Good one, Dad.”
Dad
was pretty clever, I’d give him that. I could see how he’d think I’d
fall for it—with me and Chase having the same hair color.
“I wish I was joking, but I’m not.” Dad’s voice was a rough whisper.
The truth hurts. I
swallowed the sob working its way up my throat and blinked back the
sting of tears. The truth hurt, all right. Like an overinflated
basketball bulging through my eye sockets.
“Honeybee,
I’m so sorry you have to learn this now, the same day we buried your
mother. Of all days, why did he have to show up today? He knew how
distraught we’d be. Just as selfish as he always was.” Dad frowned and
cut his eyes to the wall.
“Selfish?”
I snorted. “Don’t you think you and Mom were selfish, not telling me
who my own father is?” Hysterics rattled my ribcage like angry
prisoners. I couldn’t hold them in much longer.
He reached for my hand.
I jerked it to my lap. “No. Just talk. Please.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna
has written stories for as long as she can remember. She still has most
of her tattered creations, leftovers she was unable to sell on the
playground for a dime, written in childish handwriting on notebook
paper, bound with too many staples. Her love of storytelling has grown
throughout the years. She is thrilled to learn some people now believe
her tales to be worth more than ten cents.
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