Note: You can change font size, font face, and turn on dark mode by clicking the "A" icon tab in the Story Info Box.
You can temporarily switch back to a Classic Literotica® experience during our ongoing public Beta testing. Please consider leaving feedback on issues you experience or suggest improvements.
Click here
"I could do a lot of the work remotely, but I'd have to travel now and then. I could be away for up to a week every month, that's a lot of time," Quinn explained.
"Our relationship doesn't have to be about sacrifices. Think of it as a compromise and being organised, and I have enough money and know-how to organise the hell out of any situation. I never intended for you to give up your career when I told you I loved you and asked you to come home. We can work this out, our careers, the nanny's, the kids, the travel. Trust me," he said, picking her hand up and brushing his lips over her knuckles. "I don't expect you to sacrifice such a big part of who you are for me."
Clothes on, Grayson, calm, reserved, with an everything can be worked out attitude, she smiled to herself. She wanted to believe him so badly, but couldn't get the words out to say anything as she felt her eyes mist.
"You're not going to leave me again, are you, Quinn?" he asked seriously.
"No," she shook her head, and a tear ran down her cheek. "I'm so sorry, Grayson, so sorry for everything I put you through."
"I plan to spend a lot of time letting you make that up to me," he grinned. "and making my mistakes up to you. Why don't you go and shower, and then we can plan the rest of our lives over breakfast?" He took April from her arms. "Go quickly before your second biggest fan wakes up, and you have to listen to everything that happened over the last two weeks before your shower."
"I'm looking forward to that," she grinned and looked down at the still sleeping little boy. "I'm looking forward to all of it," she leaned over and kissed him. "Thank you, Grayson. Thank you for not giving up on me."
*****
Chapter 10
Ten months later.
Two days before her wedding, Quinn signed for a package and walked back into the house to the kitchen. There was something familiar about the ribbon it was tied with. It was bright blue with a white scalloped edge, almost like the ones Rheagan had always worn in her hair when she went to school.
She sat at the kitchen counter and took a sip of her rapidly cooling coffee, wondering about it as she plucked a pair of scissors from the messy kitchen drawer. She snipped the ribbon and cut open the tough plastic express post envelope and slipped a box from it. Opening the lid, she found a small note folded in half.
"Hello Quinn,
In what world could you ever replace me? You were always a jealous bitch, but marrying my ex and bringing up my children? Have some self-respect and walk away before you regret it.
R."
Horrified, she looked into the box and pulled out what looked like a flat board. She turned it over and dropped it as a picture of Grayson and Rheagan from their engagement party smiled back at her. Two other photos were in the box, Rheagan, with Noah as a baby, and Rheagan, with April as a baby. Each was framed and decorated with the same ribbon that had been tied around the parcel.
She sat there just staring at the photos and note. She should call Grayson, the police, Roland, someone. She should do something other than just sit there and stare at it. She should... what? Walk away because her dead sister told her to?
No, she couldn't and she wouldn't, and she wasn't as alone as she had always been before finding love. She picked up her phone and dialled Grayson and asked him to come home, assuring him that the kids were fine. She called Roland, who she knew was in town early for the buck's party and wedding and asked him to come over. Then she called the police and told Clint she had received a strange and threatening parcel and wondered if he could stop by on his rounds.
She closed her eyes and breathed. It was a year to the day since the last time her sister had sprung a surprise on her. "Happy April Fool's Day, Rheagan, but this isn't funny." she said to the ghost of her sister. This was just a sick and twisted prank, and she had probably just over reacted by calling Grayson and the others.
"I am not going to put up with your shit anymore, Rheagan!" Quinn yelled into the empty house, glad that Jocelyn had taken April to the park to give her some wedding planning time. "I'm better than you, stronger, and tougher and more loved than you will ever be by this family!" she looked down at the photos again and knew it was true. She didn't have to replace Rheagan, because her sister was never truly here.
*****
- COMMENTS
dawg9977 days agoI really liked this story, people in changing emotional times, forced to react because of circumstances beyond their control, and finding new feelings for others they never thought they had. A multi-layered story line. Good stuff!
Honestly, I don't understand all the negative comments. But to each his or her own.
Thanks for the story! You are truly a gifted author.
Anonymous29 days agoBah.
Quinn had nothing to apologize for.
Grayson abandoned her at the first sign of trouble.
He's an untrustworthy coward who should have been apologizing to her.
Anonymous29 days agoAs a journalist already famous for finding herself unwillingly thrust into news events, Quinn should have unleashed an immediate media circus against Rheagan with the title "My Sister, Serial Abandoner", asking viewers to find her.
(Obviously using pseudonyms and blurs for the kids and other relatives)
cutedaddy69about 2 months agoVery nice story in principle. I DO NOT AGREE WITH, AND ALSO RESENT, all the unkind and even hateful criticisms below. Shame on those who think they're entitled to such behavior.
My crticism would be that the character of Grayson did not evolve beyond his pure male priviliged prickness, and, in tandem with that, Quinn's character, which initially is full of agency, develops into a woman who makes all the sacrifices women traditionally make, to earn the love of his royal prickness.
Would have liked it better if somewhere along the line Grayson would have REALLY realised what Quinn's life had been like, having been horribly abused by her family, and having surmounted numerous disadvantages without any help from anybody, ever.
I was really looking forward to the moment she'd slap Grayson in the face, like really hard! She has been injured her whole life, and he keeps adding insult to it from a position of utter comfort!
If i sound like a feminist, it's because i am. As all guys should be. It does not diminish your masculinity, it adds to it.
Tx for the story
Tulipfuzz7 months agoWell.... @November was a bit unkind but I can agree, at least in a small part, with the criticism of the characters. But then again both characters were in careers that procur and grow narcissistic personality traits. That being said, the persons with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) seldom regret their choices because they are experts at finding ways to blame others for there bad choices and behavior; they are better than everyone else. While there was enough blame cast it was fairly well balanced with he blaming of self. So, "November" your label of narcissisticism is not well placed unless you simply mean "self-centered". NPD is incurable and only seeks compromise as a last resort as it to them is utter failure. Although the characters may have been shallow in their world views, the part of the story I enjoyed most was that both were able to merge their goals into a workable plan snd not a one-sided capitulation. The ending is appropriate if a sequel is forthcoming. I sensed a set of mind wheels picking up momentum for a thrilling continuation. At first I would have guessed that she may have staged her death. But that would take some 'splaynin' as her autopsy would have verified her ID. ....unless there was a dirty medical examiner.
