Laurie's Time (The Fairfield Series) Read online

  Laurie’s Time

  Book Two

  of the Fairfield Series

  By

  Maryann Jordan

  Laurie’s Time

  Copyright © 2014 Maryann Jordan

  Kindle Edition

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design by: Kari Ayasha, Cover to Cover Designs

  covertocoverdesigns.com

  Editor: Lindsay Hopper

  Ebook ISBN 978-0-9916522-2-8

  Dedication

  I dedicate this book to my parents, Charles and Camilla. They taught me the value of hard work, but to also combine that with the joys of living. They supported me, believed in me, encouraged me to follow my dreams, and taught me to live by giving me a wonderful example to follow.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Carol’s Image

  Information on Lupus

  Acknowledgements

  Author Information

  Some Author Suggestions

  Prologue

  Laurie (age five)

  Laurie’s mother watched her play on the swings in the city park. Laurie’s long brown hair would fly out behind her only to sweep back into her face with every movement of the swing. Higher and higher she would go, her giggles catching on the breeze as her mother looked over at her five-year-old daughter. Sarah leaned back, letting the spring sun warm her face, smiling at her Laurie’s obvious happiness. Laurie may not have been a planned child, but Sarah loved her fiercely, as a lioness watches over its cub.

  “Mommy, Mommy!” Laurie called as she came running over. Sarah gathered her precious child in her arms.

  “I love you, baby girl,” Sarah whispered in her ear.

  “Will you love me forever?” Laurie asked as she looked into her mother’s beautiful face.

  Kissing Laurie’s forehead, hugging her tightly, she replied, “I will love you forever.”

  Sarah sat with Laurie napping in her lap. Sarah’s mind took a trip down memory lane thinking about Laurie’s father. She had turned sixteen years old, and one of her best friends convinced her to go out one evening when her parents and sister were out of town. While Sarah had never been one to take chances, she felt the need to break out of the constant good girl image that everyone had of her. They went out that evening and managed to slip into a crowded outdoor concert next to a bar across town where no one would know them.

  Swaying to the music, Sarah was completely unaware of the effect she had on the men around. A petite brunette, with long shiny waves of hair down her back, she had curves in all the places that make a man sit up and take notice. Her beautiful face, with minimal makeup, made her look almost fairylike, the type of woman that a man would also want to protect. Dressed simply in a light blue sundress that was not designed to be sultry at all, surrounded by other women dressed for sex, she was one of the most beautiful women there. And Brock Sinclair noticed.

  Brock was a young soldier, between tours in Desert Storm, in town visiting with some of his Army buddies. They had decided to hit up one of the neighborhood bars for a night of drinking and hooking up. Brock, who had a busty redhead sitting on his lap nuzzling his ear, had been drinking steadily ever since they arrived at the outdoor bar. Knowing he was going to get lucky with … well, he didn’t know her name, but with the tits on the redhead, he didn’t care what her name was. A few more beers, and then he planned on taking the redhead back to the hotel he was staying in and banging her until the sounds of artillery no longer rattled in his dreams.

  Sarah and her friend had just showed up, and Brock noticed the natural beauty the moment she walked into the room. Suddenly, the idea of the screwing the fake titted redhead, wasn’t as appealing as the vision standing near the bar looking nervous. A strange sense of protectiveness washed over Brock, and he instinctively knew she was not old enough to be in the bar. Looking around, he realized that he was not the only man noticing the beauty.

  “Wouldn’t mind tapping that ass tonight,” said the buddy next to him.

  Growling in answer, Brock stood up, effectively dumping the redhead in his lap, and saying, “Here, you need a piece of ass? I’m sure this one will do. She won’t care which soldier she fucks.”

  And true to his prediction, the redhead stood up grumpily at first, then turned to his buddy and began nuzzling his ear.

  Brock walked over to his princess….his princess? Where did that thought come from? Shaking his slightly inebriated head, he continued over to Sarah.

  Sarah felt a presence behind her, and she slowly turned around. Looking up, she stared into the stormy grey eyes of the most handsome man she had ever seen. Tall and slender, he had dark brown hair cut in a short military style and a face that would have filled every one of her teenage dreams.

  They talked for several hours before Brock took her back to his hotel room. Knowing she shouldn’t go, she trusted him and found that she wanted him more than anything she had ever wanted. Brock never asked her how old she was, assuming she was at least eighteen. As the evening progressed into the wee hours of the morning, they kissed and fondled until they were both so engulfed in lust, they gave in to their desires. Brock was slow and caring, although not realizing that she was a virgin until it was too late. They fell asleep in each other arms, Brock dreaming of his fairy princess and Sarah of her handsome prince.

  Sarah woke early to the knocking on the door. Slipping out of the bed, she opened the hotel door after putting on Brock’s Army T-shirt. Recognizing one of his buddies at the door, she told him that Brock was still asleep. The buddy slid his gaze up and down her body, making her wish she had more clothes on, before he told her to hit the road. Confused, Sarah just stood there immobile.

  “Look doll-face, we got shit to do today, and Brock don’t never like wakin’ with one of his hookups hangin’ around. So take off quietly and have a nice life.” With that, Brock’s friend headed back to the room across the hall.

  Sarah, confusion melding into embarrassment, turned and looked at Brock as he lay tangled in the sheets. Realization that she was a one-night stand rushed over her, and she couldn’t wait to leave before he woke up and further burst her bubble. Quickly and quietly, she dressed and looked at him longingly one last time before leaving, grabbing the T-shirt before she shut the door. She just wanted to have something to hold as she remembered this night.

  Sarah never knew that when Brock woke up, he reached for the beautiful girl sleeping beside him only to find her gone. The evidence of their lovemaking was left
on the sheets, so he knew he had not created her in a dream. Brock was furious when his buddy explained that he had gotten rid of the girl and vowed to start looking for her. But the call came through – their leave was being cut short, and it was time to head back to base.

  He never knew that nine months later his princess gave birth to his daughter. He also never knew that twelve years later his princess was killed in a car accident, leaving their daughter an orphan.

  Laurie (age ten)

  “Mommy, tell me the story of my daddy again,” Laurie begged on the eve of her birthday. Each year, on the evening before her birthday, Laurie and her mother would sit on her bed, snuggled together as Sarah told Laurie all about her dad, the handsome prince.

  Sarah at sixteen found herself pregnant from the one-night she spent with the handsome soldier. Her parents were shocked but loved her unconditionally, and helped her raise Laurie. Sarah and Laurie lived with her parents and sister, Emma, in a small house. Sarah had finished high school and worked as a secretary since graduating. Sarah’s father had wanted to find the man responsible for impregnating his daughter, but they were unsuccessful.

  “Mommy, stop daydreaming!” Laurie admonished. “Tell me my daddy story.”

  Sarah smiled indulgently at her beautiful daughter. She had Sarah’s hair but had her father’s grey eyes. “Well,” she began. “One evening Mom and a friend went to a place to listen to music and have some fun. While I was there, a man came over to me, and when I looked at him, I just knew he was everything I could have ever wanted.”

  “What did he look like?” Laurie interrupted. Sarah laughed. “Laurie, you hear this story every year. I think you know what is coming!”

  Quieting, Laurie settled in for the rest of the tale.

  “When I looked up into his eyes, they were the same color as yours are now. And he was tall, strong, and so handsome he took my breath away. His name was Brock, and we talked, danced, and fell in love. But he had to go away and wasn’t able to come back to us. But he gave me the most wonderful, beautiful, present in the whole world before he left. You. And so even though he has never been able to be with us, I have something to remember him by always.”

  Laurie threw her arms around her mother, hugging her close. “I wish I could have known him, Mommy,” Laurie said.

  “I know, baby. I know. I wish you could have too.” Sarah tucked her daughter in bed, leaned down to kiss her goodnight, and then headed out to the living room. Her sister Emma, who was only sixteen at the time, looked up from her homework.

  “Laurie get her birthday story?” she asked, smiling up at her sister.

  Sarah nodded and smiled while she sat down on the sofa. Their father had passed away two years ago, so it was just the women of the family left. Sarah’s mother looked up from her reading and smiled at her daughters. She and Emma understood Laurie’s need to feel as though her father was a real person and Sarah’s need to provide her daughter with the truth, albeit a slightly embellished version.

  The three women sat into the evening talking and enjoying each other’s company as they always had.

  In the bedroom down the hall, ten-year-old Laurie lay in bed, dreaming of handsome princes, soldiers in shiny uniforms, and a daddy who would love her.

  Laurie (twelve years old)

  Laurie stood next to her Aunt Emma, holding her hand by the gravesite of her mother and grandmother. The last couple of days had passed in a blur of shock, tears, and fear. It was only four days ago that she hugged her mom goodbye as she headed off to school. Emma used to take her to school each day, but since Emma had left for college a couple of months ago, Laurie had to catch the bus. She had only been at school a few hours when the principal came to get her out of class. The other kids snickered at her as though she must be in trouble for the principal to take her out. When the principal told her that her mom and grandmother had been in a car accident and she needed to go to the hospital, she felt fear. She sat in the hospital with the nurses until her Aunt Emma came to get her. Emma scooped her up in her arms, and Laurie clung to her. The doctor had told her that they weren’t coming back. She knew what that meant. They were dead. Just like her grandfather.

  Now standing at the gravesites, Laurie looked up at Emma, seeing her holding back her tears. Laurie wanted to cry but felt all cried out. She turned back to look at the two side-by-side coffins.

  What happens now? Where do I go now? Who will take care of me now? I wish my daddy were here. He would take care of me.

  Over the next couple of days, Laurie sat listening to Emma talking with a woman who called herself a social worker. Laurie did not know what that was, but the lady seemed nice. Emma had explained that since she was a grown-up now she would take care of Laurie, but it seemed like the nice lady wanted to keep talking about it, saying that Emma had to prove she could take care of her.

  What if they take me away from Emma too? Then where will I go? Who will I be?

  *

  Emma ran into their little house waving a letter and grabbed Laurie up in a huge hug. She was laughing for the first time since Mom and Grandma had died.

  “We did it, we did it!” Emma yelled, swinging Laurie around in a circle.

  “What did we do?” Laurie asked, giggling as she got dizzy.

  “I get you! The judge signed the paperwork that says that you and I can keep living together, and I’ll be your guardian.”

  Laurie looked up at her aunt, feeling as though the heavy weight bearing down on her, was being lifted just a little. Finally, they had an answer; Laurie and Emma were the only family left, and they would take care of each other.

  Laurie (eighteen years old)

  Sitting on the beach, soaking up the sun, listening to the waves crash on the shore, Laurie and Emma felt as though they were in heaven. Money had always been tight, so they had never taken a vacation. But Laurie just graduated from high school and was turning eighteen tomorrow, so Emma splurged for two nights in a hotel and two days sunning on the beach. Laurie looked over at some guys on the shore, flexing their muscles as they played volleyball.

  “Emma, Emma.” Laurie punched her aunt. “Look over there. Those guys are gorgeous.”

  Emma rolled over and glanced where Laurie was looking. Her niece had good taste, she had to admit. The men were all handsome, tanned, had toned abs, and they occasionally looked at the two beauties lying in the sun. A group of girls walking down the shore, wearing skimpy bikinis, carrying designer beach bags and sunglasses, strolled by the men. They were wearing skimpy bikinis, carried designer beach bags and sun glasses. They cooed and waved at the men as they went by, completely capturing the attention of the muscled men.

  Laurie huffed and flopped back over on her stomach, shutting her eyes. Emma smiled indulgently at Laurie. Her niece was gorgeous in her hand-me-down bikini. Their beach towels were slightly faded, and their flip flops were worn. When Laurie’s grandfather died, his insurance money covered his funeral costs and allowed her grandmother, mother, and Emma to keep living in the small house. When her mother and grandmother died, the insurance money ran out. About a year after they died, Emma and Laurie moved to a small, one-bedroom apartment over the restaurant where Emma worked. The restaurant owner’s kindly mother would come sit with Laurie in the evenings when Emma worked late. Emma worked hard, taking college classes as she could to become a counselor. As soon as Laurie turned fifteen, the restaurant owner let her start working there too. Her feet would hurt at the end of her shift, and she would head upstairs to finish her homework. Laurie graduated with honors, received scholarships to the college in town and in another month would be taking classes with Emma.

  “I’m sorry I could not have given you more,” Emma said softly.

  Laurie raised her dollar sunglasses up on her head and looked into her beloved aunt’s eyes.

  “Oh, Emma. You gave me everything. You gave me a home. You gave me a family.” Laurie was genuinely surprised by Emma’s statement. “Why are you saying that now?”
/>   “I don’t know,” Emma answered honestly. “I suppose on the night before you turn eighteen I am just a little emotional.”

  Laurie sat up and turned to face Emma. Taking Emma’s hands into her own, she said exactly what was on her heart. “Emma, my life could have been so different. I could have been placed in foster care at the age of twelve and for six years been living in a horrible situation or a great situation. Who knows? But I would have never had a family. I would have never had you.”

  Emma’s eyes teared as Laurie continued, and she grasped her hands tighter.

  “Emma, maybe we didn’t have a lot of money, but we had love, laughter, and a lot of memories. Hell, we’ve even shared the same bedroom since I was two years old! I wouldn’t know how to live by myself!” They laughed at the realization that what she said was right. The two women packed up their belongings and headed back to the hotel.

  “And Em? Don’t think I don’t know what you have given up to raise me.”

  Emma hugged her niece. “Laurie girl. I gave up nothing but got everything instead.” Smiling, they headed off to dinner.

  The evening before they left to head back home, Emma announced that it was time for presents. She pulled out two wrapped presents and a cardboard box. Laurie squealed in delight and plopped down on the bed to open her gifts. The first one was a gift card to a trendy clothing store. She was shocked at the amount, but Emma assured her that the restaurant owners had chipped in for the gift. The other one was a new laptop. Laurie stared at it, not knowing what to say.

  Emma explained that since they would both be in college the next year, they needed a laptop to go along with the old computer that they used in the restaurant’s office. Laurie was thrilled. She knew that Emma had worked a lot of extra hours to purchase such an extravagant gift, and that made it all the more valuable.

  Finally, she looked at the cardboard box with at questioning look. Emma confessed that she did not know what was in the box but that it was from Sarah, Laurie’s mom.