Secrets (eBook)

Vanessa Brown (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
148 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3178-2562-1 (ISBN)

Infos

Secrets have a way of awakening from a long dark sleep when we least expect them to... Veronica Jenkins has a wonderful husband and two beautiful children but the secrets she has been hiding are explosive and have the potential to destroy everything she worked for. Veronica closed the door to those secrets many years ago, but the door has opened and all her secrets are tumbling out. She finds herself trapped doing damage control, trying to fix a lifetime of regrets in a moment of insane turmoil-forced into a position where she'll have to reveal the truth she's kept buried.

Vanessa Brown is a proud graduate of Alabama State University. Her experiences at ASU-a historically Black university, coupled with strong family values, led to a rewarding career in healthcare and banking where she was able to rediscover her passion for writing. Using her writing to recharge and rejuvenate her spirit, Vanessa creates storylines and characters that anyone can relate to. In addition to her love of writing, she enjoys quiet time on her patio listening to soothing jazz music, while savoring great Southern seafood. Vanessa currently resides in Mobile, Alabama, the birthplace of Mardi Gras.

Textauszug

CHAPTER II

Veronica was awakened by a bright ray of sunshine coming through her bedroom window, not closing the curtains yesterday was proving to have been a mistake. The light was blinding, she felt groggy, like she had been in a wrestling match all night, her entire body ached. She slowly sat up on the side of the bed trying to gain her balance and attempting to think more clearly.

Looking around the room at Patrick’s things she remembered the day before being emotional and exhausting, she should have taken her friends up on their offer. Veronica turned her focus to the end of the bed and was reminded of the other reason for her state of anxiety, the memory box. Suddenly, she remembered the dream, last night she re-lived that entire Atlanta weekend in a dream, seeing the picture brought it all back to her. Which explained why she was still fully dressed, feeling like she was about to fall off the side of a cliff, but desperately trying to hold on. Veronica hung her head and thought, no matter how tightly you close the door to your past, the day will come when it swings wide open and all the secrets fall out. She knew it was time for a hot shower and a strong cup of coffee.

After her shower, Veronica put on her favorite Alabama State University sweat shirt, a pair of Patrick’s sweat pants and threw her hair up in a ponytail. Going into the office today was not an option, Veronica called her secretary to inform her, she would be working from home. Thankfully, the role of Sr. Vice-President of Commercial Loans, provided her a great deal of flexibility. Also, being home was a good idea because she had made arrangements for some of the boxes to be picked up.

Veronica sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee and thinking about the many dinners Patrick had prepared for her and the kids over the years. This was his domain, he loved buying an appliance or gadget, and say to her as validation of his choice, “this will make the process more of an experience than a chore.” He always allowed the kids to help with the cooking, which was a joy for them and a mess for her to clean up but was swiftly becoming the memories, she would cherish the most. No matter what his schedule, family time was very important to him.

Veronica smiled as she thought; the kids loved when he was home because it meant they could get away with just about anything. Patrick believed in allowing them to practice self-expression, which was his way of saying, “have fun, just don’t break anything because your mother will kill me.”

Veronica jumped when she heard the door open and Brittany screaming, “Mom, you home?”

Veronica yelled back. “In the kitchen.”

Veronica watched her beautiful daughter walk into the kitchen, Brittany was Patrick’s Princess, but definitely her mini-me. Brittany was wearing a beautiful, black and white tailored suit, with matching stilettos, of course. She had a shoe fetish like her mother. She was wearing her hair up, with a few small curls framing her face. However, Veronica liked it down because she had thick black curls that bounced when she walked.

Sounding very annoyed, Brittany said, “Mom, I have been calling you. I called your office and was told, you were out, so I decided to stop by.”

“I am sorry Sweetheart; I didn’t hear the phone. I packed a lot of boxes yesterday, I was tired and made the decision to work from home today.”

Brittany poured herself a cup of coffee and sat at the table with her mother. She could see the anxiety and emotional stress on her mother’s face.

“Mom, are you okay?”

Veronica smiled. “Sweetheart I am fine. But, what about you? How are you doing?”

Brittany never wanted to discuss how she was feeling, especially regarding her father.

“Mom, I am good.”

Brittany very quickly changed the subject, as she held tightly to her coffee cup.

“Before I forget, I spoke to the organization that has the program Dress for Success, my firm is one of their sponsors. The director would be happy to have some of Dad’s suits, and I think it would be a great way to honor him.”

Veronica knew Brittany was not fine but went along with her redirecting the conversation anyway.

“That is a wonderful idea, your dad was all about service to the community and would be very proud of you for doing this. Please, feel free to choose whatever you would like to give them.”

Brittany looked at her mother and softly responded.

“I am sure, whatever you choose will be okay.”

Veronica looked at her daughter wanting to take away the pain she was feeling but knew that was not possible. Veronica got up to freshen up her coffee, she turned around slowly leaning against the kitchen counter.

“Brittany, sooner or later, you will have to face your emotions about your father. I know you love him, and I know you miss him. Just keep in mind, I am here whenever you want to talk.”

Brittany stood up, indicating to Veronica, they would definitely not be talking today.

“I know Mom, but right now, I have to go to the office. The interns are wrapping up their time with us, and I am responsible for the exit interviews.”

Brittany kissed her mother good-bye.

“I will talk with you later.”

As she was leaving Veronica said to her. “Don’t forget to call your brother.”

Brittany threw her hand up without turning around.

“He’s fine Mom, we spoke earlier this morning.”

The door closed and Veronica was once again alone in silence with her thoughts, I should have burned the contents of that box years ago. Veronica was feeling anxious and possibly overthinking the entire situation, after all it was a long time ago. However, too much was happening at once, grieving the loss of Patrick, worrying about the kids, and now, the possibility of a past coming back to haunt her, which had the potential to destroy her family. She sat the cup on the counter and walked into her bedroom, nostalgia would not allow her to forget the picture; or store it back into some dark faraway place. She opened the memory box, took out the picture, and looked at the man who would always be a permanent part of her life, and who possessed a part of her heart that even Patrick couldn’t touch. With the picture in hand, she walked over to the bedroom window and gazed out at a beautiful sunny day. Closing her eyes, Veronica exhaled and drifted back to that night, William Lancaster, Jr., what really happened to you; to us?

* * * * * * *

Veronica spent a wonderful Thanksgiving with her family, it was good to be home, especially spending time with her father, she felt he was the smartest man in the world and looked forward to their thought-provoking conversations. They talked about everything, from politics to the state of the nation’s economy. She would often disagree with his point of view just to see his reaction. No matter the intensity of the conversation, Veronica loved the time they spent together.

Veronica was still on a high after her whirlwind weekend with William, she was finding it hard to believe they met in the airport, and connected so deeply, she was missing him terribly. They talked several times each day, making plans for their next visit together and for their future. She loved hearing him talk about his plans for them; the life they would have, the trips he wanted to share with her, but most of all he wanted a daughter, who looked just like her.

Veronica would laugh and say, “Be careful what you wish for.”

William had passed the bar exam, joined his father’s firm, and was eager for her to meet his family, especially his son. He was convinced they all would adore her, just as much as he did. Christmas was approaching and they hoped it would be the perfect time to see each other and arrange a meeting for both families. Veronica had never gone to DC and William was looking forward to meeting her father, the man with all the daughters as he called him. That would be a very tense meeting because Veronica’s father was extremely protective of his daughters. She knew her father would have many questions, and William would respectfully and calmly answer all of them.

However, a few days before Christmas, everything began to fall apart. She woke up one morning feeling tired and unable to keep anything down, even the smell of her beloved coffee made her gag. Initially, Veronica felt it was due to her workload and the stress which came along with it. Processing commercial loans was a tedious, yet time sensitive task and her department was being flooded with applications. Her daily calls from William ceased to exist, first it was one call a day and then none at all. She tried calling him several times but had to leave a message. Veronica was frantic, William was not responding, and she constantly remembered his promise, “you can always reach me at his number.”

Veronica spent the worse Christmas of her life, feeling alone, rejected, confused and embarrassed; the day had come and gone, and...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 25.12.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• ISBN-13: 979-8-3178-2562-1 / 9798317825621