#FREE READ Sunday! Crossroads…a Butterfly Memoir Mini- Chapter 1
Happy Sunday, and welcome!
I am very excited to share a brand new short story with you! For the next nine weeks leading up to the release of the fourth novel in The Butterfly Memoirs Series, Nobody’s Business…, there will be a new chapter on my website on Sunday’s for your reading pleasure! So, let me share with you what’s going on…
If you’ve read the first novel in the series, A Heart Not Easily Broken, you have already met Ebony Campbell and had a slight introduction to her twin brother, Trevon Campbell. There wasn’t much information shared about Trevon, and since Nobody’s Business is about him, I figured this short story would be a chance to let readers take a peek into his world before being thrown into the novel. Plus, this will also be a chance to do a little catch up with Ebony. A lot of time has passed since A Heart Not Easily Broken, and her short story, Family for the Holiday.
Enjoy!
Chapter 1
Ebony
“Brian? Hello, can you hear me?” My hand went to the volume switch on my earpiece before I dug into the bowels of my purse, retrieved my cell phone, and checked how many bars were on the screen. Crap.
“Ebony, baby, I can barely hear you.” My husband sounded as frustrated as I felt.
I moved away from the baggage claim carousel and closer to the enormous glass windows in the airport, praying for a better signal. “How about now?”
“Better. Wherever you are, don’t move. I’ve only got a few minutes left.” Melodic sounds of various instruments being played in a state of chaotic warm-ups warred with Brian’s voice.
I glanced at the time on my phone and calculated the time zone difference between Los Angeles and Atlanta. While it was nine p.m. here, it was just six back home. Brian was just getting ready to record.
“Have you called Trevon yet?” The background noise lowered; he must have left the recording booth and stepped outside.
“No, I wanted to talk to you first. Besides, it’s not like my brother is picking me up. The rental car will have GPS and the hotel is only a few miles from here. I’ll be fine.”
Brian sighed. “I know, it’s just─”
I smiled. “I miss you, too.”
Brian chuckled. “Can’t say worried, I remember. Take care of yourself, baby. Watch your surroundings at all times, and text me the minute you get your rental car.”
“And when I get to the hotel, and when I’m in my room, and the door is locked behind me. Funny, I don’t remember asking you to do this much when you were on the road for three months.”
“That’s because I’m a guy and was with a ton of people. You’re alone in another state for your job and─”
“I like the way you left out female.” I couldn’t hide the hint of annoyance in my voice.
Brian’s chuckle was brief. “I was going to say my wife.”
“Sure.” The annoyed feeling left as I listened to the way the word rolled off his tongue. We’d been married for more than a year, it was still hard to believe I was his wife.
“I never thought I would say this, but I’m jealous of your boss. He’s going to have you to himself for two months.”
My laugh was so loud I had to cover my mouth as people in my vicinity turned to see who was making the noise. “I’m sure his wife feels the same way. Maybe you guys can hook up there, while we hook up here. You can have your cougar fling while I enjoy my sugar daddy.”
Brian’s response was music to my ears. “And that’s why I love you, that crazy sense of humor.” He paused, then sighed. “Damn, they’re calling me. I gotta go, baby. Be careful, text me and let me know what’s going on. I’ll reply when I can and call if it’s not too late when we’re done.”
“I will. Don’t worry, Brian, I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine. I love you.”
“I know. I love you, too.”
****
I pushed a button on the console of my rental car and heard a beep as the Bluetooth feature connected. “Travon, I think I got my phone connected.”
“I’m here. Where are you now?” My twin brother’s voice filled the car.
It was embarrassing having to call my brother because I got lost. Driving down an unfamiliar highway at night and the fact a tractor trailer caused me to miss my exit was frustrating. The GPS had recalculated my route, but I was wary of getting off the highway at any random point and trusting it’s new instructions.
“I think I’m still on I-75. I was supposed to get off at I-20 East. Right now I’m looking at downtown Atlanta.” The lights on the bridge overhead and glare from the lights of the tall buildings lining the side of the highway illuminated the car. “I just passed a building that said ‘Grady’. Was that a hospital?”
“Damn, Eb, you did miss the exit. You should have let me pick you up at the airport.”
I cringed, but had to agree.
“From the sound of it, you’re about five minutes from the exit to my condo. You passed the baseball stadium, right?”
“Yes, I think so. My hotel is supposed to be near there.” My grip on the steering wheel tightened as another eighteen wheeler barreled past me.
“Okay, this is what you need to do. Get off at the nearest exit, and I’ll guide you through the backstreets.”
Before long, I pulled into the parking lot of my hotel. After thanking my brother, we made plans to meet in the hotel lobby for breakfast tomorrow morning. Dr. Tucker wasn’t scheduled to arrive until that evening. Travon and I would have an entire day to hang out before the real reason I was in Atlanta came to fruition.
Safe and sound behind the locked door of my hotel room, I texted Brian, but didn’t expect to hear from him until the wee hours of the morning. I took a shower, dug into my bag of snacks, then turned on the TV.
Since becoming a married woman, this was the first night away from my husband.
I missed him…my home…our bed.
Unable to settle, I gathered the pillows on the bed, piled them in the middle, and snuggled against one, imagining Brian’s arms were wrapped around me. I left the volume of the TV down low to drown out the voices in the hallway and the sound of the ice machine that was a few feet away from my door. The illumination kept me from feeling alone.
My thoughts went to the reason why I was here.
A new job opportunity. A chance to do exactly what Brian had done when he left me. Follow my dream.
While I knew for a fact Brian supported my desire to advance in my career, I also knew that deep down, he wanted me home. His reasoning wasn’t due to feeling insecure about our relationship, nor was he trying to control what I did with my life. He knew just as well as I did that making this change now would delay our life goals as a couple.
As it was, I’d already left him in a position to make a major decision without me. Taking this new job meant we would have to relocate from Los Angeles to San Diego. Once I accepted the new position, everything had moved so fast that neither of us were able to schedule time to do any house hunting together before I had to leave for Atlanta. Now that I would be gone for eight weeks, it was all up to him. When I returned, it would be packing, then moving, then starting a new chapter in our lives.
And if I was reading my husband correctly, it wasn’t the chapter he wanted.
For the hundredth time, I hoped my decision to take this new job would be worth everything I left behind.
After eight weeks of on the job training at Zoo Atlanta, I would be home again.
Hopefully my marriage would still be in tack.
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