Read Taylor Lynne: The Women of Merryton - Book Two Online
Authors: Jennifer Peel
Taylor Lynne: The Women of Merryton - Book Two (35 page)
When I walked in Liza gave
me my messages and also a mischievous smile. “So how was your meeting with
Andrew Turner?”
“Nothing to report.
Please forget he was ever here.”
I think she assumed it
had been a personal call and was falsely interjecting her own misguided
thoughts. She was around my age and constantly asking if I wanted to meet this
person or that person or double date with her and her boyfriend, Hank. I’ve
always declined. Drew was the only man I needed or wanted in my life at the
moment. Liza found that hard to understand. She thought I was wasting my youth.
I thought I was using my time quite wisely.
My dad and Drew were both
in my office waiting for me. Drew already had his things spread across the
small conference table that was situated in there. Drawing was one of his
favorite activities and I kept a drawer full of art supplies in my desk for
him.
My dad greeted me with a
kiss on the cheek. “How’s my girl?”
“Eh,” I responded. I’d
had better days to be sure.
His eyes narrowed.
“Everything okay?”
“I hope so.”
He still looked confused.
I looked to Drew. “Let’s
talk about it later,” I said quietly.
He nodded his head and
left my side to join Drew.
As I looked at the two of
them I sighed. I wasn’t sure what to tell my dad. If I told him the truth, he
would have no qualms about tracking down Andrew Turner and tearing into him.
Both my parents partly blamed Sydney’s death on Drew’s previously unknown
father. Before she delivered they blamed it all on her, but when someone you
love dies, all that remains is the good, and she left the best part of herself
in Drew.
At times I admit my
parents were almost comical when they reminisced about Sydney. Instead of being
wild, she’d had unbridled passion that should be admired. She was no longer
lazy, but knew how to savor the moments. I guess they forgot about all of the
times she called begging for money or when the dean from the community college
personally called my parents and told them to quit wasting their money. And about
how when she came home eight months pregnant and they told her she wasn’t welcome
home, so she came and stayed with me in Boulder. I was finishing up the summer
term at CU at the time. I only had one semester left before I finished my
undergrad business degree with a minor in history—a weird mixture, I know.
I probably looked back
with rose-colored glasses too, but I will never forget the night she made me a
mother. Sydney had had practically zero prenatal care, so when she went into
labor we had no idea what we were in store for that night. Her placenta had
grown too deeply and had attached to her bladder, a condition known as placenta
percreta. It’s rare and she should have been monitored, but Sydney never did
anything by the book. And it cost her, her life. The doctors tried frantically
to save her, but they couldn’t get the hemorrhaging to stop. She didn’t even
get to see Drew. Mine were the first arms he was placed into and there he
stayed.
I don’t know if there was
anyone to blame for what happened to Sydney. I was honestly torn about how to
feel about it. I missed my best friend and sister more than words could say,
but that night I was given the greatest gift and joy I had ever known. I guess
maybe that was okay to blame Sydney for. But what about Andrew Turner? Where
did he fit into all of this? My hope was that his part was all said and done.
About
the Author
Jennifer
Peel is the mother of three amazing kiddos. Wife to her one and only for the
past twenty-one years. Lover of late night talks, beach vacations, the mountains,
pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and southern living. She can
frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in
chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling
through her head.
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Other books by Jennifer Peel:
The
Women of Merryton Series:
The
Dating by Design Series:
His
Personal Relationship Manager – Book One
To learn more about Jennifer and her
books, visit her website at:
www.jenniferpeel.com