Reckless: The Legacy Begins by Kathryn C Kelly

Author:Kathryn C Kelly [Kelly, Kathryn C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Makin Groceries Media
Published: 2023-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

Act Two – Birth – Patricia

Staring at her tiny son, Patricia Donovan smiled tenderly. At just a day old, the boy was smaller than she’d imagined him because her belly had been huge. Thankfully, her labor went easy and quickly. Barely six hours. Her boy had been anxious to come into the world.

Now, he slept in her arms, his little mouth moving as if he dreamed of nursing. Overwhelmed by a new type of love, Pattie’s heart melted. The battle to keep her son had been worth every harsh word and painful lick Daddy gave.

Living at his whims concerned her, but her father meant well. He wanted the best for his children. However, his behavior had been so erratic the past few weeks that she couldn’t trust his temper. Everyone tried to placate him, but when life frustrated Daddy he took it out on those he loved most.

Pattie didn’t know much about babies. When she was a mom for a week in her Home Ec class, Daddy was horrified and refused to allow Pattie’s participation. This year, the teacher didn’t bother offering the assignment to Tess. Mrs. Pettigrew was probably still smarting from the hell Daddy brought on her for Pattie’s time in her class. However, even without the stupid assignment, Pattie knew babies cried a lot.

Daddy’s reaction to the noise worried her. He liked peace and quiet most of the time. Besides, out of sight, out of mind. Any sound from her son would remind her father of the boy’s presence.

The baby wiggled in her arms. Humming a tune from her own childhood, she reveled in the mid-morning solitude, though her private room at Hortensia General needed a remodel. The peeling paint and dingy window should’ve depressed her. Instead, she enjoyed the seclusion, not even missing her TV. The one in her hospital room didn’t work.

It didn’t matter. She had her son. And she intended to keep her son. With her. Alive. As much out of harm’s way as possible. To achieve her goal, she’d done what she had to.

“Baby boy,” she whispered, kissing his little nose.

The opening door interrupted her peace and she lifted her head. Light from the hallway glared into the room.

“Pattie,” Tess greeted as she walked in and closed the door, throwing their surroundings into shadow.

Pattie refocused on her son. Tess reached her side and the weight of her stare burned; Pattie didn’t look up.

“I came to see my nephew,” Tess announced timidly.

Pattie ignored her. Acknowledging Tess would bring her face-to-face with her sister’s small baby bump.

Tess sniffled. “Forgive me,” she whispered. “Pl-please, Pattie. I-I fought. I-I resisted. I didn’t want to,” she finished miserably. “I didn’t know…”

Pattie snapped her head up and glared at her little sister, younger by eleven months. “What didn’t you know, Tess?” she hissed, tightening her hold on her son.

Tess traipsed to the light switch and flipped it up. The brightness hurt Pattie’s eyes. Even her boy screwed up his little face. Absently, she wondered if he would be a light sleeper like she and Mama.

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