Relative-ly Speaking
Page 30
ISBN 13: 978-1507721834, ISBN 10: 1507721838
Sweet Angel – Book Five of The Commitment Series
First edition published by Badger Bliss Books – July, 2015
ISBN 13: 978-1508786566, ISBN 10: 1508786569
Relative-ly Speaking – Book Six of The Commitment Series
First edition published by Badger Bliss Books – Oct, 2015
ISBN 13: 978-1508791331, ISBN 10: 1508791333
COMING SOON FROM KAREN D. BADGER
AND BADGER BLISS BOOKS
www.badgerblissbooks.com
1140 Rue Royale - Expected release – Fall 2016
Lia and Elliot are research scientists in New York City. Having met twenty-two years earlier, their lives have fallen into a ‘taken-for-granted’ daily routine. They agree to begin again in New Orleans, not only to further their careers, but to renew their relationship, away from the hustle and bustle of big city life in New York.
While house-hunting, they can’t believe their luck when they find an historical mansion in the French Quarter of New Orleans, securing the home for much less than appraised value.
Not long after moving in, they find out why their new home was such a bargain as a series of horrid events takes over their lives, and they learn the terrifying truth about 1140 Rue Royale.
Flash Point - Book Seven of The Commitment Series - Expected release - 2017
In this seventh installment of the Billie/Cat Commitment Series, the Charlands face a series of life challenges with the potential of changing their lives forever.
In an effort to pull their lives together, they plan a trip designed to heal the wounds and solidify their family bond, but find that fate is against them as they face grave danger and events so catastrophic, the odds of them coming out alive are not in their favor. Will they survive to see another day?
CHAPTER 1
Elliot Walker stepped into the darkened loft and dropped her briefcase by the front door. She pressed the Indiglo button on her watch and noted the time was eleven-forty-five pm.
No wonder I'm tired, she thought as she opened the refrigerator looking for a bite to eat.
"You're late again," a voice said from across the room.
Elliot jumped.
"Jesus Christ, you scared me," Elliot said. "I thought you were in bed."
"You mean, you hoped I was in bed."
Elliot squinted to make out the silhouette of the woman sitting in a chair by the window, subtlety backlit by the glow of the streetlight.
"Lia, I'm really in no mood to fight with you tonight."
"That's the third time this week, and it's only Thursday," Lia said.
"I'm sorry. The experiments have a way of making one lose track of time...and you know the New York City subway system—it's always running late."
"I gave up making excuses for you around nine o'clock."
Elliot frowned, then closed her eyes and dropped her head back as she remembered. "Shit," she said. "I forgot about the dinner party with your Board of Directors. Lia, I'm so sorry."
Elliot stood in the kitchen with her hands on her hips and listened to the deafening silence.
"Lia?"
Elliot watched as Lia leaned forward in her seat.
"Elliot, do you love me? I mean—do you really love me?" she asked.
"How can you even ask me that?" Elliot said.
Lia rose and walked toward Elliot, entering the sphere of light emitting from the still-open refrigerator.
Not for the first time, Lia's distinct African features, dark brown eyes and mocha colored skin sent waves of warmth spreading through Elliot. She loved everything thing about Lia...everything, that is, except for the icy stare that was capable of stopping her cold. The icy stare that was being directed at her at that very moment.
Elliot reached to touch the side of Lia's face.
"No. Don't," Lia said as she pushed Elliot's hand away. "I asked you a question."
"Lia, we've been together for what...twenty-two years? Would I still be here if I didn't love you?"
"I don't know, Elliot. Sometimes I wonder about that. I mean, we hardly talk to one another anymore. Hell, it's been so long since we made love, I don't even remember. You are so wrapped up in your job that you can't even make a dinner date, after you swore you would be there."
"I said, I was sorry."
"That dinner party meant a lot to me, Elliot. It was my chance to impress the chairman...to convince him to fund the new genome project."
"And you needed me there to do that?" Elliot asked sarcastically.
"I needed you there for moral support. You are my wife... or have you forgotten that little tidbit as well?"
"How could I possibly forget that?" Elliot deadpanned.
Lia walked directly up to Elliot and stopped within a hair's breadth of her.
"Who are you, Elliot?" she asked. "There are times I see glimpses of the woman I fell in love with twenty-two years ago, but they are brief and fleeting. I don't even know you anymore."
"I'm not the only one wrapped up in my job, Lia. At least I don't take my work home with me."
"People's lives depend on my research. I will never turn my back on that aspect of my career. I will most certainly take a call at home if it means saving a life. The fact is, Elliot, that I am taking that call from home, and not from the office or the lab. I make a point of being home for you. I purposely make time for you in my life. Can you say the same for me?"
Elliot ran a hand through her short blond hair and walked a few feet away before turning back to face Lia. "I don't know what you want me to say. You're right. I'm a horrible person," she said, holding her arms out to the sides for emphasis.
Lia shook her head. "That doesn't even warrant a response," she said.
Lia turned around and walked back into the shadows before facing Elliot once more. Elliot stood there...hands on her hips, staring at the floor.
"Elliot, something has got to change here. I cannot go on living like this. You have become a stranger to me. You couldn't even answer the simple question...do you love me."
Elliot remained silent as Lia walked toward the bedroom. She stopped before entering...her back still to Elliot.
"Just so you know, I have no problem answering that question for myself, because I still love the Elliot you used to be. I love her more than life itself."
Lia slipped into the bedroom and closed the door, leaving Elliot standing in the sphere of light emitting from the still-open refrigerator.
What the fuck? Elliot thought as she closed the refrigerator door and walked through the dark loft toward window overlooking the busy street below. She rested her forehead on the cool window pane and stared into the night.
Is Lia right? Have I changed that much?
Elliot thought back to when she first met Lia twenty-two years ago. She was twenty-five and just out of grad school with dual degrees in Kinesiology and Computer Science. Lia was twenty-eight and with a Masters degree in Chemistry, she was already three years into her employment with Lode-Star Pharmaceuticals. She saw Lia for the first time at a local Starbucks.
For Elliot, it was love at first sight. She remembered the encounter like it was yesterday. Tuesday, May twenty-ninth, nineteen-ninety...seven-forty-five am. Elliot had just ordered a cinnamon dolce latte and was waiting at the pick-up counter for it when Lia walked into the store.
Elliot literally struggled to catch her breath. There before her was this vision. Tall and slim, she wore a calf-length peasant skirt with a fringed scarf draped over one hip, knee-high suede boots and a cream colored blouse that highlighted her mocha skin and dark brown eyes. A wild mane of black curly hair fell to the middle of her back. The entire package reminded Elliot of an exotic gypsy. Elliot couldn't take her eyes off her as she watched this beautiful woman place her order.
As the cashier rung up her order, the woman reached for the non-existent purse she thought was hanging on her shoulder.
"Damn. I forgot my purse in the ca
r. I'll just run out to get it."
"No! No—let me," Elliot said, reaching for her wallet as she approached the woman. She felt like Sir Lancelot coming to the rescue of the beautiful damsel.
"That's all right. It will only take me a minute to get my purse," the woman said.
"I insist. Please."
The woman tilted her head to one side and smiled. "Okay. Thank you."
Elliot nearly melted on the spot as she paid the clerk. "My pleasure," she replied. She extended her hand. "Elliot Walker."
"Elliot? That's an unusual name for a woman."
"I'm afraid my father wanted a boy. I guess with me, he got the best of both worlds," Elliot said as she held the woman's hand firmly in her own.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Elliot Walker. I'm Lia Purvis."
"Lia. Beautiful name for a beautiful woman." Elliot suddenly blushed. "Sheesh! That was corny. Good one, Walker," she said out loud. "I'm sorry for being so forward."
"Oh, don't apologize. That was very sweet," Lia said as she collected her coffee waiting at the end of the counter next to the one Elliot had ordered earlier.
They stood facing each other as an awkward pause ensued.
"Ah...do you have a minute or two to sit and enjoy your coffee?" Elliot asked.
Lia looked around the coffee shop, then back at Elliot. She smiled. "Actually, I do."
Elliot directed Lia to the closest table and held her chair as she sat.
Two hours later, they parted company after exchanging phone numbers.
That was the first day of a relationship that would last twenty-two years...and counting.
Elliot sighed as she basked in the memory.
Lia is right. I have changed.
In those early days, we shared a passion that could not be quenched. Even as the years went by, she was the most important thing in my life. I couldn't wait to get home to her in the evenings. We would talk for hours about work and life in general. I couldn't wait to lie with her in my arms at night.
And now?
Now, our paths barely cross and few words pass between us.
What does this mean, Lia?
You asked if I still love you.
Yes. I do. So why is it so hard for me to express that love to you? I supposed I've taken you for granted, expecting you to always love me regardless of my apparent indifference.
You are still an amazingly beautiful woman, Lia...in some ways, more beautiful at fifty then when I met you twenty-two years ago. I would love to see me through your eyes...to see how much I have changed compared to that fateful day in Starbucks when you forgot your purse in the car.
You said you cannot go on living like this.
Does that mean you're leaving me?