About this snippet: Chapter One (Don’t Fear) The Reaper Snippet 7. Last week snippet is here.
Cecilia found her mother watching films of her father who died 23 years ago. It’s around the anniversary of his death and it always triggers her mother’s annual drinking binge.
This story is a WIP. The story is in the very early stages and has not been edited. Did a few creative puctuation to end at a good spot. 🙂
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“I was watching films of your father,” her mother said as if she didn’t already know this. “He was so damn handsome,” her mother added as she reached out her hand and tucked a long strand of hair behind Cecilia’s ear. Her mother’s fingers were cold to the touch when she cupped her face. “You look so much like him,” she said and her voice choked on those words and tears fell, leaving streaks on her cheeks.
She’d heard this a million times how much she looked like her father and she sometimes wondered if that was why her mother had sent her away to boarding school; she couldn’t look at her without remembering her long dead husband.
She took her mother’s hand and lowered it and said, “Let’s draw you a bath and once you’re all cleaned up, I’ll tuck you into bed.”
Her mother nodded, obviously too tired to argue with her, which proved a blessing in disguise. “He’s here, you know,” she whispered as she helped her mother to her feet and couldn’t help but notice her breath smelled like an ashtray.
“Who’s here?” she asked.
“Your father,” she told her and glanced around the room as if Lars Gunner would manifest to prove her point.
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Loved to hear your feedback. 🙂
Unofficial Blurb for End of the Road
Lars Gunner, the frontman for Silent Plaids, died 23 years ago and is trapped in limbo until his daughter, Cecilia, unearths his journal and is able to see him. His death was ruled an unfortunate accident, but he’s convinced it had to be murder despite the fact he can’t recall what happened in his last moments of life. Cecilia seeks the help from Kaleb, a psychic, but as they resurrect the past, the secrets and lies surrounding Lar’s rock and roll life just may be the death of them too.
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Poor Cecilia! It must be tiring for her taking care of her mother.
Jessica,
Things are about to change. 🙂
Either the mom has drunk so much she’s hallucinating, or Cecilia’ life is about to become much more complicated.
Ed,
It’s about to come much more complicated. 🙂
What a burden for Cecilia! The snippet moves the story on very well. Thanks, Karen.
Charmaine,
Glad you enjoyed the snippet.
How difficult, nursing your mother. Not a situation I’ve been in, yet. Thankfully. I hope the two of them can renew a bond that seems it might have been damaged by distance.
Kimberly,
There might still be hope for them. Maybe…
Hope her mom is just really drunk. Though meeting her dad this way could be extremely interesting!
Christina,
Things are about to get interesting.
This scene is winding down as quite tender between daughter and mom. I feel sorry for both.
Fantastic premise for this story, Karen! 🙂
Teresa,
Thank you. Glad you like the premise.
Nice relationship between Cecilia and her mother…I hope her mother is drunk and doesn’t really see her dad.
Nancy,
She doesn’t see him, but she senses he’s still around.
An eerie ending!
Aurora,
I’d be a bit creeped out. lol
How sad. For both of them. Intriguing premise.
Diane,
Glad you’re intrigued.
A very loving daughter. Tough job, soothing her mom who is obviously in deep grief.
Elizabeth,
Yes, she is. So glad that came through. Definitely, a troubled soul.
Her mom definitely needs some help. Somehow I get the feeling that she won’t accept help, though.
Caitlin,
Her mom does need help, but she thinks she can handle things on her own.
Such a sad, yet somehow heart-warming scene. Good job!
Amy,
Thanks so much.
Nice wrap up to the scene.
One thing threw me, though:
“He’s here, you know,” she whispered as she helped her mother to her feet…
“she whispered as she helped” made me think that it was the daughter talking.
Thanks for the catch. This was my creative punctuation and combining the sentences so I could end with the last line. lol
It actually reads like this in the ms. I think it reads okay. Hopefully. lol
Her mother nodded, obviously too tired to argue with her, which proved a blessing in disguise.
She helped her mother to her feet. “He’s here, you know,” her mother whispered and her breath smelled like an ashtray.
Quite the scene – your heroine is a good, dutiful daughter all right, despite everything! I admire her strength and persistence. Excellent excerpt…
Ouch! What a harsh thought to think she was sent to boarding school for that reason. I wonder why the mother says he’s there, or maybe she’s just too out of it.