Breathless by Radclyffe & Stacia Seaman

Author:Radclyffe & Stacia Seaman [Radclyffe & Seaman, Stacia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Anthology
ISBN: 9781602822078
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2010-12-14T06:00:00+00:00

Breathless

“What do you mean?” Carolyn asked.

“He didn’t always come to the trailer park. He forgot me and my friends.” Piper sighed.

“Oh, honey, I understand.” Annelie briefly touched Piper’s cheek, but the girl pulled back suddenly.

“No, you don’t.” Piper sounded angry and glowered at Annelie and Carolyn. Her small body was tense and she trembled. “You don’t know anything. You never came to see us. You never saw how sick Mama was.”

“Piper, sweetheart.” Carolyn spoke softly. “We didn’t know. If anyone had contacted Annelie, we would’ve helped, I promise.”

“Nobody could help Mama.” Piper stood up, but her legs buckled beneath her and she slumped down on the plush-carpeted step again.

“Mama was always afraid that social workers would take me away from her. I tried to tell her that she shouldn’t worry. I wouldn’t let them take me, but…then she left me. ” She wiped furiously at her eyes. “That’s not fair.”

“God almighty, it’s not fair at all,” Annelie muttered.

“You know what? You’re right.” Carolyn extended a hand to Piper.

“We have only some idea what you’ve been through. I lost my mother when I was twelve, just a little older than you. I had to take care of my sister, who was one, and my brother, who was six, because my father had to work.”

Piper sobbed, but her eyes had softened marginally. “Really?”

“Really.” Carolyn motioned for Piper to move closer. “And one thing I can promise you, you’re going to be okay. You will think of your mama many times and cry, but you’ll be fine in the end.”

“How do you know that?”

“We just do.” Annelie wrapped her arms around Piper and Carolyn.

“And there’s one more thing I know for sure.” She waited until Piper’s curiosity made the girl scoot closer. “Your mama wouldn’t want you to be sad forever. She wanted what was best for you. Always. That’s what mothers do.”

“Yes.” Piper nodded and finally relaxed into Annelie’s arms. “I just want her back so bad.”

“Of course you do. That’s only natural.” Annelie looked through tears at Carolyn. The thin arms around her neck obviously choked her

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