Okay, I'm dipping my toes into the romance genre and I hope to have it out early next year. Though I'm stepping out of my skin, so to speak, remember, I don't just march to the beat of a different drummer, I drive him/her crazy. Enjoy this sneak peek and please comment and share.
This excerpt is subject to change, based on my mood, muse, hangover, or just because I can.
Copyright © 2014 by Andy H. Sweet writing as
Drew Adams
Looking Glass
Chapter 1
June 1970
The first time it happened, Audrey Whorley had
just turned eight years old. A cake, centered on a redwood picnic
table, had her name on it along with eight candles. Her friends
surrounded her, all with puffed faces, aiming their breaths toward
the glowing flames.
Audrey wasn't there. Her body stood motionless staring off past the
candles, past her home, past her young life.
She was in a room. A room like Memaw was in before the angels took
her. Memaw wasn't in the bed. A man was, with tubes in his nose and
something in his mouth, arms bandaged, one held up in the air by
strings like a puppet. Audrey looked hard at the man, didn't know
his face, yet emotion rose in her and bubbled to the surface as tears.
“Audrey...baby.” The voice was next to her. Her mom was staring
at her through reddened eyes. Tears ran down her face. Audrey was eye
level with the woman. What happened to your hair, Mama. It
was dull with lots of gray. The
words were in her mind, but never left her lips. Instead she heard a
strange, but familiar voice.
“Oh Mama, I can't stand it. I can't live without him.” The voice
was her own, she knew it, but it sounded wrong—older. The woman,
her mother, hugged her tight and whispered in her ear.
“Honey...I know. I wished I could make it go away, make it better,
but I can't. You've got to let him go.”
Mama always makes it better. Now
she felt and heard sobs break loose from her body. Not
mine! Not mine! But the sobs
continued, racking her body, nose running and she felt a torrent of
tears wash down her face. A woman, with a stethoscope around her neck
walked past them, her uniform was turquoise, like mama's ring.
“We've given him morphine. Once we take him off the ventilator, his
breathing will slow. It could happen fast, or it might take a little
bit.” Audrey knew this woman was a nurse. Why she was just as tall and why did she feel so sad?
She could feel herself nod and blot her eyes with a tissue. With her
mother steadying her she approached the bed and took the man's free
hand. It was warm, limp. Across the bed stood an older boy and a
girl. Audrey guessed she might be twelve. The girl looked a lot like
her older cousin Shannon. They were crying too. The girl looked at
her and spoke. “Mommy”, she managed.
Audrey heard the voice like hers answer. “It's okay sweetie. It'll
be okay.” The last word came out like a croak.
The nurse took loose the straps holding the thing attached to the
man's face and pulled. A tube was attached and to Audrey's horror had
been down the man's throat. The machine started beeping. she watched
as the woman went to a machine and flipped a switch. The man took a
deep breath, opened his gray eyes and looked right at her. The terror
in his eyes made her turn away
Tears blinded her and she could feel the clutch of supporting hands. The sadness overwhelmed, yet she could not understand it.
***
June 1978
Corpus Christi TX, was always magical to Audrey, but this year, it
was even more so. She turned sixteen this week and the families'
annual sojourn to the gulf coast city was moved up to make her
birthday special. That wasn't even the best part. Her parents let her
boyfriend join them.
Sometimes, I think they like him better than me.
“Come on,” she jeered. “It's not that heavy.”
Kevin's head peeked around the trunk he carried on his broad
shoulders. “No? Well, here...catch.” He pumped the case as if to
toss it toward her. A smile rarely left his face and it was beaming
at her.
That and his steel gray eyes always captured her heart and made it
race. “Hey...you drop it and you're toast.” She backed into the
room, her hands motioning him forward, then she pointed and he eased
the trunk to the floor. With the quickness of a panther, he rushed
and gathered her in his arms. His lips found hers and crushed against
them.
“I can't wait to see you on the beach in a bikini.” He raised her
into the air, smiling, gray eyes twinkling, her heart melting.
“Fat chance. It's a one piece and if my dad catches us like this,
you won't be able to see anything.”
He lowered her to the ground and released her. Not a moment too soon.
Donald Whorley entered the room, hangers holding her clothes draped
over one shoulder, a satchel under that arm and a duffel bag in the
other. She ran to him and took the satchel clutched precariously to
his armpit. “Hey...you two carry my stuff like it's bags of
potatoes. Dad, this has my looking glass in it.” Audrey never went
anywhere without out the mirror. It was a bridge to her. Her secret
gateway. With care she placed it on top of the trunk.
“Well, I sure wouldn't want to break that. Don't believe I could
deal with seven years of bad luck.”
It would be worse than that. It's my only way to figure things
out. Only chance to stop it.
The mirror was a gift from her Memaw for Audrey's eighth birthday.
Wrapped eight months before her birthday; Eight months before the
angels visited. The note her grandmother had left said it had been
handed down to the first grandchild for three generations.
She smiled at her father. “It's okay, why are you unloading my
things?”
“Last in, first out. Your junk is in the way.”
“Junk...Junk...my stuff is not junk, Father!
“If you say so. You two help your mother, I'm gonna get the
charcoal burning.”
“We got it, Mr Whorley.” Kevin herded her out of the room.
Donald followed behind and crossed the bungalow's living room to the
patio doors. Outside he raised the lid of the grill, finding it clean
and ready, with grilling accouterments hanging from a bar on the
side. He removed the grate and dumped charcoal into its basin and
began stacking them into a pyramid.
I wished Evelyn had never given her that damned mirror.
His thoughts drifted back eight years. Another birthday, the
beginning of trouble for his daughter. She had found the gift and
opened it before returning to the party outside. No one noticed her
trance-like state until she started crying inconsolably. The mirror
was in her hand, clutched so tight they had trouble removing it from
her grasp.
And now she's obsessed with it. Worse than any blanky, she thinks
she sees things in it.
At least she had. Multiple trips to doctors and therapist, all of
them saying the same thing. Get rid of it. Divert her attention.
Neither he or his wife could do it. It was a treasured heirloom and
when they took it away, she became morose and refused to eat. It had
been three years since Audrey had mentioned any visions from it. They
hoped the problem had resolved itself.
I think she just got tired of the therapist. I know she still uses
it. But what can I do?
He lit the briquettes and gazed into the flames. Lilly had suggested
bringing Kevin along. Both liked the kid. They'd known him since
moving to their pleasant suburb community. He had even been present
during that eighth birthday party. His parents were close friends,
though the two children moved on to different friends and clicks. A
couple of years ago, Kevin and Audrey reconnected and though
worrisome, they trusted both of them.
Well, almost.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Lilly stood next to him. He hadn't
noticed her approach.
He smiled at her. His wife considered the subject over and closed. “I
was thinking that I love our daughter, but I'd sure like to have you
here alone.” His smile turned mischievous and he raised his
eyebrows.
“ You better enjoy her while you can. Won't be long and you'll be
counting the hours, hoping to see her. Besides, if you can control
your volume, we can have some...special time.” Her eyebrows
raised as well and her smile just as mischievous.
“Me...you're the one that got the cops called on us. Remember?”
“Hey, those neighbors were always nosy. I'll bet she was lurking
outside our window.”
He had to admit there were nose prints on the neighbors window
screens.
“Dad, Mom, we're going for a walk on the beach. Okay?”
His daughter, boyfriend in tow, danced up to them. Lilly and he had
moved in close to one another and jumped like teenagers caught in the
backseat. Both of the kids had on their swimming suits. He'd fought
for the one piece, but it still revealed more than he would have
liked.
“Hey..I'm cooking here.” His daughter managed to get his wife's
blue eyes and startling red hair. Kevin was tall and muscular, his
blond hair swept just over his left eye.
Fine looking couple. Hey watch it...you're the father here.
“Dad, it'll be half an hour before those coals are ready. We won't
be long.”
He looked to his wife, who looked off, covering a chuckle with her
hand.
“Alright...half hour...got it?” He pointed the spatula at them.
They giggled and ran toward the beach.
His gaze followed until they were out of sight, then returned to his
wife. “Whose idea was this anyway?
“Yours.”
“Oh...right.”
It had been his idea. He hoped it worked. If Kevin Saunder wasn't a
good enough diversion, he couldn't imagine what would be.
***
Audrey stooped to pick up a shell. She turned it over, studying the
intricacies of its design. “So beautiful, yet not alive. Do you
suppose that is its purpose, to live so it may produce such wonder
after its death?”
Kevin had been watching her. He did that a lot. “That is just the
shell. They live as most animals do. To eat and reproduce.” He
reached out and pulled her close. “Like us.”
She stared into his eyes. Gray and beautiful, but they haunted her.
Is he the one? She would look into her grandmother's mirror
often. Most of the time all she saw was her reflection. Three years
ago it took her away again. She was in a living room that seemed
familiar, but felt foreign. From a partial view of the foyer she
could see two men, one whose face was toward her, the other faced
away. The man's face she could see was pitted and cracked, and the
eyes, the eyes were dark and intense. She could only hear murmuring,
then a phrase uttered in anger.
“You will be sorry!” The craggy man spit out, grabbing the shirt
of the man whose face she could not see. “You will be sorry.” He
released his hold, turned and stormed out the door. Audrey felt
herself stand up. She was walking towards the foyer. The man turned
and somehow she knew this was her husband. His eyes were not gray,
worse, feelings of derision, almost hatred rose to her throat.
“Hey...where did you go?” Kevin had released her. His face showed
worry.
Audrey wanted to tell him. Wanted to tell him everything. But what if
it wasn't him. Only the eyes. That was all she had and it wasn't
enough. “ I was just dreaming—of you.”
He took her in his arms again.
***
“You two like cutting it close, don't you?” Donald was putting
delicious looking burgers on a plate. Kevin liked the man. He loved
his father, but he liked Audrey's dad. They were friends, or
so he felt. His own father wasn't his buddy and likely would never
be. He respected him and would always, but he'd never had a
relationship with him. The man was just too busy.
Mr. Worley treated him like an equal. Really listened to him. Sure,
he had to be a dad and he made sure Kevin understood that, but it
wasn't a big deal. We understand each other. He's her dad and if I
hurt her he'll break my legs. Kevin wouldn't ever hurt her. Not a
possibility. He knew he was too young, knew they both were
inexperienced. But he knew beyond a certainty he was in love with
her.
“Sorry, Mr. Whorley, the beach was great, the sun shinning low
across the water. We lost track of time.”
“Don...Kevin...when it's just you and me, call me, Don.”
“Don...I know...it's just kinda hard.”
“It's okay, but don't think I'm buying that beach crap, I was your
age once. Hey, open the door for me, will you?”
Kevin laughed, did as he was told and followed the man into the
house. Audrey's mom had the bar separating the dining area filled
with condiments. He placed the burgers on it and rubbed his hands
together. “Okay...y'all dig in while they're hot.”
He handed Kevin a plate and stepped aside. The big man could cook,
Kevin would give him that. He could see a bit of red onion peeking
out of the meat. Everyone lined up behind him and in little time,
they were sitting at the table. It was round, Audrey's parents next
to one another. For old people, they appeared young and Kevin noted
the many glances and smiles darting between them.
“Hey, look what I found on the beach.” Audrey held up the small
conch shell.
“Audrey! Put that down and wash your hands again. Those things can
carry some nasty bacteria. Put it in a cup of bleach water later.”
“Oh, Mom...you worry too much,” but she jumped up and ran to the
sink. “I never have to worry about anything, cause you do enough
for the both of us.”
“You know, those things don't seem to wash ashore much anymore.
Pretty good find Audrey.” Mr. Worley took another bite of his
burger. “We'll have to do some beach combing tomorrow.”
Kevin watched the dynamics. Donald leaned over and whispered
something into his wife's ear. She giggled and smiled at him. Audrey
appeared between them, giving both kisses on their cheeks. He had a
good family, just not as good. Neither of his parents showed a
lot of affection to him or each other. It amazed him how these
two ancients acted.
The four of them followed the curving path to the beach. The sun
perched just above the ocean, sending a radiating pink glow across
the sky and reflected in the water. Audrey and Kevin were in front of
them, holding hands, leaning toward each other frequently. Lilly
looked up at her tall husband. Seventeen years ago they married and
nine months after, to the day, Audrey came into their lives. The
timing wasn't important. She knew when her daughter was conceived and
it was before the honeymoon. He still gave her the same look and it
always sent her heart into a flutter. Jet black hair, broad
shoulders, he was a far cry from the man she'd fallen in love with
and married. He was pretty much a lanky- goofy looking nerd, but so
smart and so funny and that smile. The smile hadn't changed.
The kids ran out into the waves, splashing each other and laughing.
She fought the urge to remind them of the 'man-of-wars'. Audrey was
right. She worried too much. For some reason, the relationship her
daughter was in didn't bother her a bit and she was sure Don felt the
same. Hell, he's practically adopted the kid. That brought
another smile and she wasn't surprised to find her husband eying her.
“They're a great looking couple, huh?”
She felt his arm slide around her waist. “Yes, but so young.”
He pulled her close. “Not so young. We were barely eighteen.”
“Come on, Donald. There's a big difference between sixteen and
eighteen. We had other relationships and at least a little time to
grow. I trust them, I really do, but how can they hold off long
enough to make it right? To make it work?”
“Hold off? Come on, two years isn't all that long.”
“It's a lifetime to them. Remember?”
He smiled that smile again. “Yeah, I remember.”
“I just want her to have a good life. Be happy. Is that so wrong?”
He hugged her. “No...it's not wrong. I'd like to see both of them
finish college before facing the real world, but...” he glanced out
at them “...because I remember, I sure ain't going to hold my
breath.”
Lilly allowed herself to fall back against his chest. It wasn't just
their age. Her mind drifted back six years. Audrey was ten and had
interrupted her reading.
“Mommy?”
Lilly put the book down and and made room for her daughter to sit in
the chair with her. “What, sweetie?”
“Will my husband die?”
A sense of dread formed deep in her core. It was there still,
festering and haunting her.
Will my husband die?
A shutter shot through her body, bringing her back to the present.
Don held her, much like she had held her daughter that day. The sun
dipped into the sea, Audrey and Kevin ran up to them. It would be
dark soon.
***
There was another cake and balloons hung from just about everywhere.
Chicken was on the grill throwing an irresistible aroma into the air.
Audrey was in her room, clutching the looking glass. She had quit
trying for the visions all the time. Just on her birthday. That's
when she had them. The last, three years ago. Part of her wanted
them, the other part was terrified. What if it was Kevin. She
would have to break up with him. Maybe that would stop this terrible
thing.
It was so confusing. She had seen her children. What would that mean
to them? Would they never exist? Her gaze lowered to her hands
cradling the mirror. She loved it. It was part of her Memaw...but
sometimes she wanted to break it. A deep breath, a slow gasp of air
releasing and she picked up the heirloom and gazed into it.
The stiff dress flowed to the ground. She recognized two of the girls
in the room. Her friends, Molly and Kaylee. Kaylee moved in close,
black curls swirling around her brown eyes. “You ready, girl.”
She heard her voice, nervous and shaky. “Y-yes?”
“Okay then.” Her best friend reached above her sight and a net
lowered in front of her vision. The freckles of her friend accented
her high cheekbones.
“She heard her voice again. “You're so beautiful.”
Kaylee laughed. “Stop that Audie, this day is about you.”
The girls lined up. All wearing pink gowns. She heard the familiar
tune playing on an organ and her knees almost buckled. Her father was
outside the door and offered an arm. There was something about his
eyes, almost sad—no—worried. They followed the girls, stepping on
rose petals the two children ahead of them were throwing. She
couldn't look up or to the side, fear was clutching at her heart. Why
won't she look at him. Please...I have to know.
At last her gaze lifted. She could see him, but the veil and distance
blurred his features. Her heart sank as she moved closer. It wasn't
Kevin. She could see his eyes now. They were a dark blue.
Stop it. What about your children?
Her father took her hand and offered it to the stranger. He was
smiling. She didn't like his-- smile.
The minister started to speak. She heard the words but didn't listen.
Oh no! This is so wrong. Somebody help me! There was nothing
she could do. She was a voyeur. Audrey's confusion grew. She had
prayed for this moment. Wanted to know and was preparing to make the
sacrifice. Now, it appeared the decision had been made for her. If it
wasn't Kevin who fathered her children and glared at her with frightened, confused, gray eyes, who was it?
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Audrey screamed. She screamed with all of her might.
***
Kevin was the first to bust into her room.
The scream still rang in the air.
“Audrey...what is it? Are you alright?”
She was rocking to and fro on the bed, the mirror clutched so hard,
her knuckles were white.
The Worleys were next to him in a second.
“Audrey, honey...what is it?” Lilly started stroking her hair.
“Come on, baby...snap out of it...we're here. Donald's voice
trembled. He sat on the bed next to her and put his arm around his
rocking child. “Please sweetie...it's okay...Daddy's here.”
Kevin fought back tears. He expected to find some creep in the room
with here. The scream...man...I've never heard anything like
it...anguish...pain...I don't know. Somewhere, the back of his
mind maybe, there were thoughts, feelings. It was like she was always
holding back. Not sex, or anything like that. It was just a feeling
he got, that a part of her was in reserve, staying in the shadows.
Mr. Worley started to shake his daughter. Then he raised his hand.
“Don't! You hit her and I'll kick you so hard in the crotch you'll
be squeaking for a month.” Mrs. Worely's admonished her husband.
Kevin couldn't believe what she said.
Donald's eyes revealed the hurt. “Aren't you suppose to slap
someone in shock?”
“I don't know, but we're not going to.”
He lowered his hand, but continued to shake her gently. “I think we
should call 911.”
***
The ER waiting room only had two seats empty, but Kevin didn't care.
He wanted to pace and you couldn't do that from a chair. The words
Audrey had said when she came out of the trance kept playing in his
head, like a skipping CD. “He didn't have gray eyes Kevin. I
can't marry you.”
Sure, marriage had crossed his mind, but he wasn't stupid. They were
too young. He wanted college and a career and knew she did too. If
the subject came up, he'd planned to tell her just that. It would be
a good test of their love. Who am I kidding. If she wanted to
marry me tomorrow, I'd do it. I'd try to talk her out of it, but I'd
do it. Of course, he would have the Worleys as allies.
“He didn't have gray eyes Kevin. I can't marry you."
Her dad had glanced up at him then. The expression on his face wasn't
disapproval. It was more like an apology.
She had shunned the touch of all three of them. Her eyes darted
around like a trapped animal and she babbled continuously. Most of it
had been nonsensical. “My children, my children, what about my
children?” and “I don't like his smile mama. Don't make me
do it. I don't like his smile.”
He stubbed his toe on the carpet and almost tripped. No one noticed.
At first several of the patrons kept a leery eye on him. His pacing
must have appeared panicked and that was an accurate assessment, but
after a while no one paid attention. He was wearing a trail on the
carpet and still no closer to an answer. Then again, he really didn't
know the question.
All the while, he kept an eye on the door leading to the working part
of the ER. There was so much to consider. They would both be juniors
next year. He had a pretty good chance at winning the starting
quarterback position. She was already a cheerleader, maybe head
cheerleader next year. Now, none of that seemed important. Should it
be? Kevin didn't really care. Everything could just pucker up and
kiss his ass.
He saw Audrey's dad walking up and he rushed toward him, almost not
stopping in time to avoid a collision.
“Is she alright? Can I see her? What happened? Why did she scream
like that?”
Donald took hold of his shoulders. “Son...son...hold on...listen to
me.”
Kevin took a deep breath and nodded. They were eye to eye. He didn't
like what he saw there. The man was about to spill bad news.
“They sedated her. She's asleep now. They are going to run some
test and probably keep her overnight. Look...we're staying with her.
I don't feel comfortable with you being alone at the bungalow.”
“What? No way...I'm not leaving.”
“Kevin, we're pushing it, just me and Lilly staying in the room.
You'd have to stay in a waiting room. I called your parents. They'll
be here in a few hours.”
“No...no...I can't leave. I won't. Call them back. No, I'll do it.”
He reached for his cell phone.
“Calm down Kevin. No body is leaving. You can all stay at the beach
house. Please son...” Donald's voice cracked. Kevin felt a rush of
sympathy.
“I'm sorry Mr. Worley. I wasn't thinking about you guys. I couldn't
sleep though...I want to be here when she wakes up.”
There were tears in Donald Worley's eyes. “Kevin...she doesn't want
to see you...ever again.”
