Deception (16 page)
Authors: April Isabelle Ordonez
I put my hand up to his chest, pushing him back. "No, Mr. Cashman," I whisper, raising an eyebrow. He narrows his seductively gray eyes in confusion, and stands.
Leaning back on my elbows, I look up at him with lust. "Your wife first needs to see more of that striptease you started on the dance floor."
My mom passed away three days after the wedding. She slipped into sleep and never awoke. She was comfortable and content, with her family surrounding her when she joined my da
d—
her true love. Her memorial service was two days later. She wanted a small gathering of her close family. The service was somber but beautiful. My aunt Jackie, her sister, spoke about her life and the love that she had for her family. My mom had already made arrangements for everything. She never wanted to bother her kids with any of the matters surrounding her death. After her memorial, my aunt handed me, Drew, and Marla a letter that my mom had written while she was on her death bed. That gesture, along with my wedding that she had a firsthand role in planning, made me realize that while others may have seen her as dying―it being her last days here on earth―she saw it as an opportunity to simply continue caring for her family as she always did. I always admired my mom for the unconditional love that she had, and the many sacrifices she made throughout her life for us. She was a woman with so much grace. On the day she died, she looked happy. She gave me the greatest gift I will ever receive, and I could never repay her for it. But seeing how happy she was on my wedding day, confirmed to me that it wasn't only a gift for me but it was one for her as well. There is no denying the love that she had for Travis, and he for her. And the thought that she got to spend a year with him before she passed,makes my heart happy. While I thought every passing day would get easier without her, instead I miss her more every day. I don't think anything could fill the void I have in my heart for her, and her memories only fill a small part of it. She left each of her children a sizable amount of money. I still haven't gotten myself to do anything with mine. I feel like she already did and paid for so much that it doesn't feel right to use it, so I've tucked mine away for a rainy day. I feel her with me every da
y—
I wake up thinking about her, and catch myself in thought during the day. And then I end my day thanking her for bringing my soul mate back to me. I even wake up many nights looking at the clock, to find that it’s three thirty-si
x—
the time that she passed away. I find great comfort in knowing that she's watching over me.
A week later, I put my house on the market and accepted an offer that was well below market value. I felt content in shedding myself of the place that I once called home, but never really felt at home in. I took the money that I made from the sale and paid for Amanda's plastic surgery over the summer, and put the rest in an account for her future. I got great joy in putting that money toward helping he
r—
the same money that I once felt was dirty as a result of my dad's outrageous plan. Travis was right; Amanda is such a beautiful young lady inside and out. She has welcomed me so openly, and even recently has called me mom. I could never replace her mom, but knowing that she's developed a love for me so great that she feels like I help fill the void―if even a little―is both overwhelming and wonderful. We’re lucky to have her in our life.
Around the same time, I decided to accept the teaching position at the law school. I made Laura and Matthew partners at the firm, and turned over complete management to them. I agreed to stay on consulting, but I've enjoyed spending my days in the classroom instead. While I do believe that my dad had a big influence on my decision to pursue law, I'm now also certain that it is what I feel most comfortable doing. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment I get every day, when I’m standing at the front of the class, molding the minds of future lawyers. I see the desire and drive that I once had in every one of the students, and it's refreshing. Teaching has also afforded me more flexibility, and as a result I've been spending a lot of time at the Love Shack. I often take my laptop and work from there. It’s still my favorite place to be―that is, besides in Travis' arms. Travis and I have been able to spend a lot of time together, it's been remarkable.
While moving out of the law firm, we made a significant discovery. Upon moving the desk out of my office, a stack of envelopes, bound by elastic, were found tucked away behind a drawer. The envelopes contained the letters that Travis had written to me the weeks following our break up. I'm certain my dad had forgotten he had placed them there. Each envelope was still sealed, still unread. Travis and I have spent many nights reading them in bed together. There is no denying the love that he’s always had for me. And had I received those letters seventeen years ago, I would have seen that he could have never cheated on me. His words glide across the paper and are filled with so much emotion.
Last week Laura told me that her sister gave birth to a baby boy, and apparently Rich has become quite the happy dad. I can't say that I'm not happy for him. As much as I want to harbor ill feelings toward him for the rest of my life, I can't. I'll never forgive him for agreeing to what he did with my dad, but if Sarah is the one that he fell in love with, then how could I be angry with him over that. If my life's journey has taught me anything, it's that we don't get to choose who we fall in love with, our hearts do that for us. I wish them nothing but a good life and happy family.
Rich isn't the only one with a growing family. Two weeks after the wedding, Travis and I decided to stop my birth control and to start trying to have a baby. Well, apparently our tries worked, because four weeks―to the day―after we made that decision, I was staring at two blue lines on a pregnancy test. Upon finding out, Travis went into full daddy mode. His excitement is contagious. We did have a bit of a surprise at our ultrasound in August, when the technician revealed that there were two heartbeats. While it took me a great deal of time to get over that shock, it never seemed to break Travis' stride. It possibly even sparked it that much more. I guess the plans of getting married and having three kids, like we had when we were younger, is going to become a reality quite soon. The look on Amanda's face when we told her was priceless. She couldn't contain her excitement, and she's joined Travis in preparing the nursery. The thought of having two lives growing inside of me, as a result of the love between Travis and I, is beautiful. I'm looking forward to sharing the experience of raising a family with my one true love. It all feels right. Being pregnant and losing my mom,has made me realize what really matters in life, so I've decided to take a year off from teaching once the babies are born. Who knows, I may decide to take more time off afterward. I’m now starting to understand the desire and need that my mom had to care for her family. Travis, Amanda, the babies growing in my belly, and my sibling
s—
there's nothing else that matters more to me in this world.
This is our love story, and I couldn't have dreamt up a better ending. While we were certainly presented with an obstacle, love won out in the end. It always will.
• • • •
My mom's hand-written letter to me:
My beautiful baby girl,
If you’re reading this that means that I'm now with your dad. But my heart will be with you forever. I will be there during your greatest accomplishments and your darkest days. Please remember the things that I've taught you and the ones that you've taught me. I've always admired you. You have always taken pride in the things that you've done. I know that life has presented you with more than your share of challenges, but please remember to never get angry at the small things and that most people are good. But most importantly, when in doubt, always lean on the side of love. Life means so much, but people mean so much more.
I will miss you just as much as you miss me. But knowing that you’re now in the arms of your true love, I know that you’ll be fine. Travis is a man unlike any other and you’re fortunate to have him back in your life, but he’s also equally as fortunate to have you. I’m certain that if your dad would have had the chance to experience the two of you together as I have, he would have never gone to the lengths that he did to keep you two apart. Your love for each other radiates. There's nothing more a mom could ask for.
Always remember that my love for you will never die,
Your mom
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April is a small town girl, born and raised in Northern Maine. She now resides just outside of Boston with her husband and two boys.
As a writer of fiction, her stories are about love and life, and include many plot twists and suspense. She enjoys evoking emotions in her readers through her stories.
She’s always loved to write from a very young age, but it wasn't until spring 2014 that she wrote her first novel, Deception. She enjoyed it so much that she’s decided to keep writing and sharing her stories with the world.
Available now:
Next Tuesday
Everybody has a past, right? What if your past never leaves you? What if your past haunts you every night? What if death comes knocking on your door, and refuses to go away time and time again?
Ben, an oncology nurse, is surrounded with patients teased by death every day, but it's his past that suffocates him. While he's found ways of coping over the years, the lingering feeling of abandonment is like a noose being pulled tighter and tighter.
Emily, a music therapist, has a tragic past and a tragic future that has left her feeling the need to push everyone away. With no one left to lean on, she's built a wall so high and so strong that no one has been able to break through. That is, until now.
And so begins a story of two individuals, with tainted pasts, who find out that the universe may draw people together for just the right reason. But is it too late?
My next book, That Girl, is set to be released in winter 2015.
That Girl
Deana had to deal with the stigma of being raised on the other side of the tracks. It didn't matter how smart she was, how pretty she was, or how nice she was, no one in high school cared. She was known as Dirty Dee for the simple fact that her home was across the railroad tracks.
After losing her mother at a young age, she was left having to step in as the woman of the house. And with three brothers that certainly wasn't easy. But Deana had to endure so much more; a secret that she still bears today.
As the lead singer in a popular rock band, even her bandmates don't really know who Deana is. She simply refuses to let anyone get close. And when she returns to her hometown for her best friend's wedding, after being away for ten years, she is made to deal with her past.
Will she run or face it head on? One thing is certain; she won't be the same person once she does.