Broken Heart
Morris Fenris
Changing Culture Publications
Copyright 2014 Morris Fenris, Changing Culture Publications
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Thank You
About the Author
Book List
Chapter 1
Maggie moved the box to one side of the room and then to the other. She sighed a long, tired sigh and moved it back again; then she flopped down onto the long, low sofa and snuggled into its soft, feather seats. She was pleased with her purchase which replaced the old, leather ‘man’ sofa. This was much more her. That’s what it was all about now, her and no-one else.
Staring at the ceiling, she reflected on the last thirty five years of her life. Where had they gone? What happened to her over the years? She’d lost herself, that’s what happened. Lost her independence. Lost it to a low-life, cheating bastard of a man. She wouldn’t even call him husband, although technically, till the divorce came through, that’s what he was. “Bastard!” she shouted to no one, “Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!” Then the tears began to flow, how she hated these tears. Why did she cry? Not for him, surely! No, she cried for what she thought she had and now lost. The wonderful life she thought was hers. She was happily married to a wonderful (or so she thought) man, had a beautiful daughter, all wrapped up in a very comfortable lifestyle.
He was her first serious boyfriend. She started relationships a little late compared to her friends because she wanted to finish law school and get herself set with a good career. That’s exactly what she had when she met Leonard Faulkner. Oh he was so suave, so attentive. He was also a lawyer and they had much in common. After an eight-month, whirlwind romance, they were married and it wasn’t long before the suave Leonard thought he was made for politics instead of law. So when Maggie became pregnant with Gillian, it seemed only right that she give up her career and help Leonard to progress on his chosen path. Her bosses at the law firm begged her to come back once the baby was a little older. They offered her a raise and even a partnership; but Maggie loved Leonard and she was only too happy to get him where he wanted to be, and that was that. Maggie the lawyer was no more. Instead, she was a mother and a wife, full stop. They didn’t have any more children. Although Maggie loved her daughter more than life itself, she wasn’t really into all the maternal things, especially the giving birth part. She could cope with the conception, she could cope with pregnancy; but how much better if a person could have some damn good sex, get pregnant and then, at about the eighth month, be put to sleep till the whole birth was over. It would also be much better to have your figure back in no time which, in Maggie’s case, didn’t take long, two months to be exact.
She was happy though and she thought Leonard was. That was until two years ago when she found out he was cheating on her for almost six years! And not just with one bimbo but with a procession of them. How could she have not seen it? But there it was, the sordid end to what she thought was a wonderful life. Maggie soon realized however, much to Leonard’s surprise, that she could manage on her own. Since she hadn’t practiced Law for far too long, she started writing articles for a magazine. She knew Lucy Montague, the Editor of ‘Female Talk’ for many years and it was she who suggested Maggie do a bit of writing. People seemed to like her witty stories and she enjoyed writing them. Plus, she might be fifty four, but she kept herself in shape. Maybe there was another ‘Mr. Right’ out there. Maggie baulked at the thought: she was happy on her own. She looked around at the boxes and groaned; she liked to exercise but not like this. Running was her preferred exercise. In fact, why not go for a run? That would get her mind off things. Yes, that was it. Forget the boxes that were still unopened after six weeks of moving into her new apartment; forget the bastard and the tears. A nice long run would be good therapy.
As she saw the lightning flash across the wall and heard the crash of thunder, she stopped and, turning to look outside, saw the rain starting to trickle down the window. Was this her life from now on? Would nothing ever go right again?
Chapter 2
The shrill tone of the house phone filled the air and broke her train of thought. Reaching across to the small art deco table, Maggie lifted the phone and read ‘Gillian’ on the handset.
“Hi sweetie,” she said into the phone.
“Hi Mom,” answered her daughter. “What’re you doing tomorrow?”
“I don’t even know what I’m doing today,” Maggie sighed, looking out the window at the pouring rain. “I was going for a run, till the storm started.”
“Well,” Gillian continued cautiously. “How about you come and help me at the orphanage?”
“Gillian, you know I don’t like children,” complained Maggie.
“Mom, will you not say that.” Gillian hated it when her mother spoke like that. It made her sound like an old witch. “What about me? I was a child once.”
“Yes, but you were my child. And you were brought up to show respect for your elders and have manners. Not like the little wretches you see today.”
“But Mom, not all children are like that. Especially the ones at the orphanage. I mean you only have to look at their poor, sweet faces to fall in love with them.”
“Well, if they’re that sweet, how come they’re still in the orphanage? Obviously not sweet enough to be picked out.”
“Mom, you’re just terrible.” Gillian was becoming annoyed. Why was her mother so cynical? Gillian was sure she wasn’t always like this. But then, having your husband go off with an ‘airhead model’ half your age, probably didn’t help. Gillian tried to curb her anger.
“Look Mom, why don’t you just come over and get to know some of them?”
“Why would I want to do that? What’s in it for me?”
“It will do you good. Something else to think about. I thought you could come with us to the Christmas grotto in the mall. I’m taking some of the younger kids to see Santa.” Gillian said excitedly.
“And you need me there, why?” Maggie asked.
“Because Lorna is off sick and if I don’t have someone take her place, the children can’t go and they’ll be so disappointed.” Gillian pleaded her case.
Why does Gillian always do this? Thought Maggie. Because she knew her mother wouldn’t refuse her anything.
“Oh, I suppose so. Though I don’t know why you worry about disappointing them. One would assume that children living in an orphanage would be used to disappointment by now.”
Gillian rolled her eyes and bit her tongue. Sometimes she thought she had the meanest mother
in the world.
“Great.” Gillian finally said, trying to sound grateful. “That’s settled then. Can you be at the house by eleven? That will give us time to get to the mall without rushing. I’ve organized a special visit just for the children, so we won’t have to wait in line with anyone else.”
“Fine,” agreed Maggie. “I’ll be there. But if I get sticky fingers and dirty marks on my clothes, you will be paying for the cleaning.”
“You won’t,” promised Gillian. “They’re very well behaved. I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you,” she said before her mother could complain any more.
“Love you,” Maggie called back as they both put their phones down.
Maggie looked at the boxes again, the nagging boxes that were calling out to be emptied. She gave in and started to sort them once and for all.
Chapter 3
In the office at the orphanage, Gillian turned to her friend Lorna.
“You know, after all those lies, I’ll never go to heaven.” she smiled.
“But it’s all for a good cause,” Lorna assured her. “Do you really think your Mom will go for Geoffrey?”
“What’s not to go for?” Gillian answered. “He’s the same age, good looking and a real sweetheart to boot.” She paused thoughtfully, “maybe it wouldn’t be fair to Geoffrey to burden him with my mom.”
Lorna laughed as she picked up the papers she was filing. “I’m sure Geoffrey can take care of himself.”
“Right,” said Gillian decidedly, “I’m going to see if the children have finished washing up, or whether we have a flooded kitchen.”
“I’ll go,” offered Lorna. “I need to check the groceries before I put the order in.”
As Lorna went out of the office and across the wide hall of the old house, Gillian turned and looked at the picture on the wall: it showed the house at the turn of the century. It was a private orphanage, originally opened in the late 1800s by two sisters, Maude and Matilda Tungstan. Two spinster ladies who adored children. They had always lived in the large house but when their parents passed away, they decided to make use of the rooms. At first they offered the space to the local pastor who had two orphan children whose parents died in a house fire. It was meant to be temporary but it took two full years before foster parents were found for them. During that time, the pastor brought another child whose widowed mother could not afford to keep her; and baby twins, barely a month old who were found in a doorway. This continued over the years until the house was extended and was able to accommodate 23 children in total ranging from eighteen months to sixteen years. The money from the two sisters eventually ran out and a new patron took over the running of the house. Gillian was manager of the house and Lorna was a Housemother along with Stephanie and Jane. They looked after the children twenty-four-seven, along with Martin and Robert the House-fathers. They also employed several other part time assistants. Although Gillian was manager, she often stayed overnight when one of the others couldn’t make their shift. She loved all the children as if they were her own and whilst she fought tooth and nail to find good adoptive parents, she was always sad when one of them left the house.
Chapter 4
“Penny for them,” came a voice from the doorway. It was Kevin, son of their illustrious patron who also doubled as the house accountant. Kevin was also Gillian’s long term boyfriend. Long term for Gillian because they’d been together for over six months which was a record for her.
“Kevin,” Gillian slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “You scared me half to death.”
He stepped forward pulling her in to his arms. “Well then, let me make it up to you.” He kissed her softly on the lips. As nice as it was, she pulled away.
“Not here, one of the children might see,” she scolded him.
“Well come home with me then. A little love in the late afternoon never hurt anyone.” He pulled her closer.
“You make it hard for a girl to refuse,” Gillian smiled up at him. “But, I have work to do, so you’ll have to wait till this evening.”
Kevin was the love of her life. She’d fallen head over heels the first time she set eyes on him. He felt the same way and they’d hardly been apart since.
“Would any of that work include telling your mother about me?” Kevin asked as he released her.
“I told you, I‘ll tell her in my own time,” Gillian turned away and started to pick up some papers from the desk.
Kevin pulled her back around, took the papers out of her hand and set them down on the desk.
“You’ve been saying that for the past five months.” He pouted. “How on earth can I propose to you if you won’t even tell your mother about us?”
“I don’t think my mother has....,” Gillian stopped, suddenly realizing what he said. She stared into his earnest blue eyes. “Sorry...,” she stammered. “Sorry... What did you say?”
Kevin released her and put his hand into his pocket, bringing out a little blue velvet box. He held out the box to her. “Would you please tell your mother, so I can ask you to be my wife?” He opened the box, showing a beautiful platinum ring adorned with a crown of diamonds, flanked on either side by an emerald.
Gillian stared at the dazzling stones as the light bounced off them.
“Kevin? I never expected. I mean, you never said. You...,” she was so stunned, she couldn’t even string a sentence together.
Kevin took the ring out of the box and lifted Gillian’s left hand. “Does all that waffle mean yes?” He hovered the ring over her hand.
“Of course it does, you lumpit,” she answered with tears in her eyes.
“Nice turn of phrase there for your future husband,” Kevin laughed as he placed the ring on her finger. Of course it was a perfect fit. Everything Kevin did was perfect, that’s why she loved him so much.
As they gazed at each other, the office door flew open and Lorna came rushing in.
“Sorry Gill, I forgot, oh, hi Kevin,” She paused as she realized that she had barged in on a private moment. Her two friends looked like they were trapped in time, unable to move. “Are you guys O.K.?”
Without taking his eyes from Gillian, Kevin raised her left hand to show Lorna the ring.
Lorna’s eyes widened and she flung her arms around them both. “Oh you guys!” Releasing her grip, she stuck her head out of the office shouting to the other staff and children in the house.
“Everyone, come see! Aunt Gillian is getting married!”
Everyone crowded in the small office offering congratulations and wanting to see the ring, asking when the big day would be etc., etc. After about half an hour, when the children returned to their TV and the adults, having had a few glasses of wine someone found in a cupboard, Gillian ushered everyone back to work.
“Well,” Lorna began. “Who’s going to tell mother dear? You do know, Kevin that she will be checking out your family history and woe betide you if there is one ounce of ill repute.” Lorna warned Kevin.
“I don’t care, Lorna,” Kevin assured her taking Gillian’s hands in his and kissing them softly. “Just so long as nothing stops me from making this beautiful lady my wife.”
Chapter 5
Maggie finally sorted the boxes that were haunting her for the past six weeks. Now everything she needed was finally organized and put away. Just like her life would be from now on. No more rushing here and there, trying to organize dinner parties at short notice, making travel plans without having all the information or just making sure that no one was saying anything about Leonard that they shouldn’t. Now it was all for her. Except tomorrow. Why on earth she agreed to take the children with Gillian, she would never know. But then she could never deny her little girl anything.
Not that she was little any more, she was a grown woman, twenty seven years on her next birthday. It was time she found herself a good man to settle down with. Maggie had never known Gillian to have serious relationships. There was the young man from the deli of course. The tall gangly one who got so tongue tied w
hen Gillian entered the store; it took him six months to get around to asking her out. Maggie was sure Gillian only agreed out of sympathy. She must have liked something about him though, because they dated for about three months or so. There was the doctor on the other hand who was really cute and had Maggie been twenty years younger, hell no, ten years younger, she would have shown him what a woman had to offer. It seemed however, he thought he was what every woman wanted, thought he was the proverbial ‘God’s gift’ to women. No wonder Gillian blew him out after only a handful of dates. It could be worse, Maggie thought. She could have gone out with that supercilious, rich as Croesus, Kevin Langham. He was such a prick. Maggie only met him once but that was enough. Gillian talked about him quite often though. After all, she had to see him regularly to sort out the accounts. She tried to talk Maggie into liking him and even asked her to come meet him properly. What’s the use? Maggie couldn’t stand him and that was that. Thank goodness Gillian came to her senses.
“What to do now?” Maggie thought to herself. Maybe a nice glass of wine and then she would have a look at her next article for the magazine. Then, an early night if she was to cope with the rug-rats.
Chapter 6
“Mom, what on earth are you wearing?” Gillian asked when Maggie entered the office the next day, as ready as she could be for their expedition to the mall.
“What’s wrong?” Maggie asked. “I’ll have you know this is a Ralf Lauren jacket,” Maggie told her indignantly.
“That’s what I mean,” Gillian said, exasperated. “Only you would wear something that expensive to take children to see Santa Claus.”
“One should always look ones best, Gillian. Maybe you should have thought about that when you got ready this morning.”
“I did Mom, I didn’t want anything to ruin my clothes and that’s why I chose my jeans and a comfy sweatshirt.”
Romance: “Broken Heart” A Young Adult and Adult Romance Novella Page 1