Category Archives: Short Stories (300+ Words)

March 21, 2016

The Letter -Part 6 

By Kat Myrman

  
I met Laura in kindergarten. We had remained friends through high school. Our lives splintered in different directions after that. I went to an out of state college and remained there settling into my life and career. Laura married her high school sweetheart and spent a few years in community college. The arrival of her first child set the stage for her life’s work, being a mom and homemaker. She was good at it.  

But even though I hadn’t married or had children, and she now had four, we found plenty to talk about when I returned to town. I needed her more than ever now, when everything I thought I knew about my life was crumbling apart. Our friendship was one thing I could count on. 

I was upstairs, just starting on Mom’s room when I heard Laura’s car in the driveway.

She let herself in. “Hey Grace, time for a break! I brought the wine. Haha, I’m lying…I brought two bottles! And Danny has the kids tonight. I’m all yours! Grace?

Laura was a nut! I called downstairs, “I’m up in Mom’s room. You know me so well, Laura! This is definitely a two bottle night! Be right down! I left two wine glasses out on the kitchen counter.”

By the time I had gotten downstairs, Laura had already uncorked the bottle and filled our glasses.

“So spill it girlfriend. I know you didn’t invite me over here for giggles!”

“Let me get dinner started. Pasta and salad good for you? Then we can chat.”

“Grace…I heard it in your voice when you called. Something’s up!”

I put the water on to boil, dumped some pre-made salad in a bowl, opened a jar of sauce to warm on the stove, and took a seat at the kitchen table across from Laura.

I raised my glass to her tipping my head, “Well, do you want the good news or the bad news?” 

“This doesn’t sound good…lay the bad on me first…”

I took a deep breath, a gulp of wine and blurted it out, “Mom and Daddy are not who I thought they were!”

“Um…okay…and this is bad, why? You’re being cryptic girl! Come on, it’s me. What the hell, Grace?!”

“I was going through old recipes and I found a letter from my Aunt June to Mom and Daddy…They are not my biological parents…June is…well, she is my mother! I have no idea who my father is!” 

Laura’s jaw dropped. When she regained her composure she reached across the table to hold my hand. “Oh sweetie…I’m so sorry. Were you alone when you found it? Of course you were! Oh god, Grace, I can’t imagine…you said there was good news?”

“I lied. There is no good news. Aunt June won’t even talk to me about it.” I was trying not to cry.

The water was sputtering out of the pot and sauce was splattering on the backsplash. Laura flipped into “mom” mode. “Here let me get these pots settled down.” She added the pasta and gave the sauce a quick stir before turning the burner off and covering the pot.

“So June knows…well of course she does! You know Grace, I hate to bring this up. I know how upsetting this must be. But this explains a lot.” I looked up. 

“What do you mean?” 

“Well, back when your dad’s health was failing, my Dad spent a lot of time with him. One afternoon when the kids and I were visiting Mom he came home visibly upset. He had a word with my mom in the other room and I overheard him, say, “I told him he had to tell her…” And then my Mom said, “Poor Annie…oh my, and what about Grace? I just can’t imagine…”

Laura served me a plate of pasta and took her seat at the table, “At the time I thought they said what they did because your dad was so sick and they felt bad for you and your mom, but it didn’t make sense. What could he possibly have to tell your mom that he hadn’t already said?”

“Daddy had something to tell Mom? Are you sure you heard…”

“Oh I’m sure. I remember because my dad was so upset. And now I’m wondering if this has anything to do with your letter Grace…”

“I can’t imagine…”

“Tell you what I’m gonna do Grace. I’m gonna ask Mom and Dad what it’s all about. You don’t need any more surprises. Let me handle it. Now eat your dinner before it gets cold.” Always the mom, my good friend. “Besides, we have another bottle of wine chilling and I want to hear all about your fancy career and fabulous social life! Oh to be single again!”

I loved Laura! I felt relieved. She was just what I needed tonight…someone to take my mind off of things. Tomorrow, I would have answers. 

(Read the first 5 parts HERE)

11 Comments   |  tags: | posted in Fiction Series, Short Stories (300+ Words)

March 15, 2016

The Letter – Part 5

By Kat Myrman

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NEW! Find links for all the parts/chapters in one place HERE!

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I was beginning to think “not now” meant “not ever!” June hailed our server for the check, then dashed through the kitchen with a quick “Ta-ta Joe, it was lovely as always.”

I could barely keep up with her. She was waiting in the car when I finally made it outside. The ride home was a tense high speed zip through town, screeching to a halt in the driveway.

“Well dear, I can come again tomorrow morning if you’d like. I have some business to attend to this afternoon. Is that alright?”

“Sure thing, Aunt June. See you tomorrow then.”

And with that she was gone. I had plenty to do inside. I stacked the boxes we’d already packed in the entranceway.

My friend Laura had offered to help when I saw her at the funeral. “If there is anything I can do,” she had said, “don’t hesitate to call.” Being alone in the house after the events of the last 24 hours was more than I could bear. I tapped her number into my phone…

“Hi Laura. It’s Grace…”
“….yes, Im dong okay…”
“…if you don’t have plans tonight, I could use some company. I’ll fix dinner…”
“….wine? That would be lovely…”
“….a nice red would be great…”
“…yep, we do have a lot of catching up to do…”
“…I’ll see you soon then. Just let yourself in. I’ll be upstairs in Mom’s room. Bye.”

—————————-

When June got home she dropped her purse and sweater on the floor at the door. Letter in hand she plopped on the sofa.

With trembling fingers she slid the letter from the envelope, sighing deeply as she read…

Dear June,

I know the truth about you and Tom. I’m sure you were hoping that your little secret would stay hidden forever.

I’m assuming if you are reading this, that I’m dead and gone. If Grace doesn’t know yet, she will soon. I put your letter to us in a place where she would find it. Now she’ll know the truth too…or at least part of it.

How could you betray me! My God June, I had just lost a baby!

You were always jealous of me. I watched you flirt with my husband for years. I never imagined the two of you would act on it.

Tom told me just before he died. I suppose he felt he needed to clear his conscience. To think I was so grateful to you for such a selfless gift, my dear sweet Grace, when it was obvious that I could not have a child of my own. Was this your way of making amends? It didn’t work.

Tom begged me to forgive him…and I did. But you will never have that chance. I’m not sorry about that. I don’t know if I could ever forgive you.

Grace will want to know the truth. She won’t likely give up until you give it to her. She has a right to know that her beloved daddy is her true biological father.

Frankly, it’s the bed you made for yourself. Maybe you’ll find redemption and forgiveness by finally doing the right thing.

You are the only family she has now. But the lies have to stop once and for all. You want to make things right? Tell her the truth June!

Annie

June felt sick to her stomach and oddly relieved. Living a lie all these years had been exhausting. Watching Tommy and Annie share the life she would never have and watching Grace grow up thinking of her as only Aunt June had been agonizing.

“I have no intention of talking about any of this to Grace,” she thought, “I’ve kept this secret for 25 years. What’s a few more days?”

But June underestimated Grace. It would not be so easy.

kat ~ 15 March 2016

29 Comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Fiction Series, Short Stories (300+ Words)

March 11, 2016

The Letter – Part 4

By Kat Myrman

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Read previous installments of The Letter by clicking on the links below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

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June met me in the driveway. It felt good to take a break. The sun was shining. I closed my eyes for a second to take in its warmth.

I found a second letter in the junk drawer, addressed to June in Mom’s handwriting. It took everything I had not to steam the envelope open to have a look. But I knew I should give it directly to my aunt. Maybe at lunch.

“You drive Aunt June,” I said, opening the passenger side of her fancy caddy, “I’ve never ridden in one of these!”

June smiled and chuckled, “Maybe one day you’ll have one of your own, Grace, if you play your cards right!”

Noon hour traffic flooded the narrow downtown streets, but June knew all the shortcuts and had an “in” with Joe, the diner’s owner. Parking was an easy slip to a special spot in the back. We entered through the kitchen. Joe, the owner and chef, was putting finishing touches on someone’s lunch plate. He greeted June with a warm embrace.

“We go way back, Joe and I,” June gushed.

Joe glanced over her shoulder at me, “And who is this lovely young lady, June? Where’ve you been hiding her?” Humph…if he only knew. Maybe he did know!

“Joe, this is my niece Grace, here in town for Annie’s funeral and to get the house in order.”

“Oh yeah, I heard about Annie. So sorry for both of you. She was a nice lady.”

Joe escorted us to our table. I caught myself staring at him. Could he be the one…my father? It was a good thing I was only in town for three days, I thought, or I’d be obsessing over every man June knew, especially those from “way back.”

During lunch June and I talked about the diner…when Joe had taken over the place, how it was the best lunch spot in town. It was crowded. I was sure she had planned it that way so we wouldn’t have to talk about her letter.

But now there was another letter. I decided this was as good a time as any to give it to her. Maybe it would open the door to our talking about the first one.

“Did you find any hidden treasure in the parlor, Aunt June?

“Oh you know, lovely memories. I packed all the family photos for you. I’m sure you’ll want to keep those. How about you? Find anything good?”

“As a matter of fact,” I said, pulling the letter from my pocket, sliding it across the table toward her, “I found this. It’s from Mom to you.”

June placed her hand over the letter.

“Well aren’t you going to read it? What if it contains Mom’s last wishes? I should know, don’t you think?”

Reluctantly June slid the seal open and unfolded the letter.  As she started to read her sister’s words tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks…

Dear June,

I know the truth about you and Tom…

As I watched from across the table, June quickly folded the letter, shoving it back into the envelope.

“I’ll finish it later Grace. Nothing pressing in it. Just a personal note. I miss Annie. Sorry I get so emotional.”

I wasn’t buying it. I only had three days to figure this out.

“We should talk June…”

“I know dear. I’m sorry, I just can’t…not here…not now.”

kat ~ 11 March 2016

18 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Digital Art & Photos, Short Stories (300+ Words)

March 7, 2016

The Letter – Part 3 – June’s Story

By Kat Myrman


“I couldn’t get out of that kitchen fast enough!” June set the box and packing paper on the floor near the fireplace. Beads of perspiration dotted her forehead and upper lip. She knew this was not the end of it but she needed to figure out how to deal with the questions that would surely follow. She looked at her sister’s portrait on the mantle.

“What were you thinking Annie?! You had to know Grace would find it. Of all places to store that blasted letter…a recipe box!”

June busied herself packing photographs. Some of the frames would surely bring a high price at auction but it didn’t feel right removing the photos. No, they would remain intact. She sighed when she took his picture from the shelf, holding it to her heart.

“Oh Tommy, Grace was always meant to be our secret. You didn’t tell Annie, did you? That would explain the letter, right there where Grace was sure to find it.” She held the frame so she could see his face. “You didn’t tell her did you Tommy?”

It was one night. A weak moment. Tom was inconsolable when he arrived at June’s door. Annie was in the hospital recovering from her fourth miscarriage. She had begged him for a divorce, he had said, telling him she was a failure as a wife…defective as a woman. Annie told Tom that he needed more that she could give. He needed a wife who could carry to term the children he dreamed of having. She said it was the best thing for them both.

But Tom didn’t feel that way. He loved Annie with all his heart. They could adopt he had told her. He begged her to reconsider, but her mind was settled. She demanded that he leave, screaming that she hated him, causing such a stir that hospital security had to be called. They escorted Tom to the street. From there he went to the only safe place he knew. He went to June’s.

June poured Tom a glass of wine, then one for herself. As she sat across the table from him she gazed at his strong shoulders crumbling under the weight of his grief. How fragile he looked. How lucky her sister was to be loved so deeply by such a sensitive man.  

They talked for hours, mostly about Annie, then about his dreams and hopes, his childhood growing up in the country, and as the wine flowed, June spoke of her dream of becoming a designer.

There was a chill in the air. Tom offered to build a fire. June joined him in the parlor with another bottle of wine. The crackling fire and warmth from the wine swirled around them, through them. Their eyes met. It was only one time…one night that changed everything.

And now Grace knew. Well, she knew that her mother was not Annie.

Three months after that night, June could no longer deny that she now carried within her the child her sister so desperately longed for. She lied to Annie, telling her that the father was a one-night stand, not someone she had ever considered seriously. Eventually June knew what she must do. It was the only way to make things right.

June glanced at the clock on the mantle. It was time for lunch. She called to the kitchen, “Grace, are you at a stopping point? I’m famished,” another lie, “what do you say we head out to the diner. I think we could both use a break.”

“Coming Auntie June. Let me get a sweater.” I’m not going to push it at lunch, but one day I want to hear the truth. I need to know why June gave me to my parents to raise. She owes me that much.

kat ~ 7 March 2016

This entry is by request. Clearly there is more story to tell. Thank you everyone for encouraging me! 😊

To read previous chapters click on the links below:

The Letter

The Letter Part 2

and the next part…

The Letter Part 4

31 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Short Stories (300+ Words)

March 7, 2016

The Letter – Part 2

By Kat Myrman

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The Letter – Part 2

(If you would like to read Part 1, here is a link: The Letter ….and…because so many of you asked for it, there is a Part 3…Click HERE.)

I woke to the plunk, plop, plink of the leaky faucet in the kitchen sink. My back and neck ached from having fallen asleep on the floor. The skin on my face was tight, sticky from dried tears.

It felt like a horrible nightmare, except for the crumpled letter still clenched in my hand. I smoothed the wrinkles, wiped the crust from my eyes and read the words again…

Dear Annie and Tom,

You are two of the most amazing people I know. For whatever reason, fate chose not to bless you with children, yet me, who would make a terrible mother, with this beautiful baby girl. 

You know I can’t begin to give her the life she deserves. But you two…how wonderful her life would be if you could find it in your heart to take her as your very own. 

I promise from this day forward to be simply Auntie June.   

I’ve spoken to an attorney who will draw up the papers so we can make it official. 

Just one favor is all I ask. May we name her Grace? She will always be Grace to me.

Love Forever,

June

My eyes burned as I fought back tears. I had cried enough this past week. To think losing Mom was the worst thing I could imagine.

“Mom…if you are listening somewhere, you should know, this damn letter will never change who you and daddy are to me. Never.”

But things had changed. I had always believed that I looked like my Aunt June because she was mom’s sister. We had similar tastes and mannerisms. It was all starting to make sense now.

June had pursued a career as an interior designer. She had been featured in popular magazines, commissioned by celebrities, and had her own textile line as well as a chain of retail specialty emporiums. June even hosted her own syndicated radio program. Never married, she had done alright for herself.

Things would be different now that I knew the truth. How could they not be? Sweet, fun Auntie June had now become the mother who couldn’t be bothered by the inconvenience of a child. To think I admired her all these years. I honestly don’t know how I feel about her now. “Numb” is a good word for it. How does someone give up their own child?

“Get a grip, Grace. You’ve got to finish what you came here to do.”

But what am I going to say? How am I going to act when she comes over today to help me pack? I wish I hadn’t invited her. I don’t need this. Maybe I should call and cancel.

I pulled myself up from the floor and started a pot of strong coffee. While it was brewing I took a quick shower, changed into a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and tied my hair up off my face.

Always prompt, June arrived at exactly 9 am, carrying a box of fresh pastries.

“Hello Grace dear, how are you doing this morning? Were you able to get any sleep last night?”

“Well, Aunt June, it was a rough night. I started packing up the kitchen.” Knowing was making me crazy. “I’m keeping Granny’s silver flatware and tea set.”

“Oh, those are definitely keepers, Grace. They’ve been in our family for almost a century.”

“And Mom’s recipes. I’m thinking about compiling them into a book.”

“Wonderful idea, Grace. I’ll definitely want a copy of that. Would you like a danish?”

I was never one for beating around the bush, “And you’ll never guess what else I found…a letter to Mom and Daddy…” I said, searching her face.

“What letter is that, Grace?” June looked away.

“You know the one, June. You wrote it, in fact.”

“I did?”

“Yes.” June glanced back at me. I looked straight into her blue eyes…the same blue with dark violet edges as mine.

Her face flushed. I could tell she knew.

“I think I’ll head into the parlor with a box and some packing paper. Quite a few family treasures in the parlor you know. You keep working in the kitchen, Grace. We can break at noon and head downtown to the diner for lunch. Is that okay with you?”

And just like that, I knew I had another family member to bury this week. Not literally of course. Some secrets are best kept…secret, I suppose. But how I wished we could have talked about it. Maybe one day.

kat ~ 7 March 2016

This short story is Part 2 of “The Letter”, both in response to Ronovan Writes Friday Fiction Challenge. This week’s prompt is: “A Lie is Told”

  • See if you can come in at more than a Word Count of 600. Control your word usage. (SUGGESTED)
  • Using the prompt of ‘A lie is told’ create a scene. This scene can be about what happens because of the lie, or how it makes the person lying feel, or anything you can come up with. If a series is being written, like some are doing, this lie can come back later to haunt the liar. (REQUIRED)

 

28 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Short Stories (300+ Words)