Tuesday Tales 3rd June ~ bottom

 

Welcome to Tuesday's Tales

Welcome to Tuesday Tales where 'bottom' is the prompt word today. This excerpt is taken from Megan's Story, the follow-on WIP from Duty Calls. [The large print version available at online outlets from May 29th] Luke Hawk is Rafe's half-brother (Duty Calls) and Megan's brother. (working title - Megan's Story)

“I’m sorry, I came in as the last of your pupils departed. I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m Luke Hawk.”

With a nod Amy acknowledged his introduction. “Amy Fielding.” She reached for the rest of the books on her desktop and stuffed them haphazardly in with the others. “What can I do for you?” 

The sound of the clasp snapping shut sounded loud in the now silent room. Amy placed her case on the floor beside her feet, she didn’t fancy making any more of a fool of herself than she already had by dropping the now fully loaded case.

“You called my sister earlier today. Because she can’t make it today, she’s asked me to swing by and see what the problem is, and whether I can help in any way.”

“Well, I’m not sure you can.” How did you describe a feeling, a concern? Careful never to show favouritism to any students, nevertheless, Amy was fond of Tammy and her normally outgoing personality. The girl always had time for others especially new students and those who lacked self-confidence. She had a way that soon had shy students participating fully in all the events both in and out of school.

“Try me.” Luke Hawk hitched a strong muscle thigh onto the corner of her desk, his smile zeroing in on her solar plexus like an exorcet missile. 

Amy leaned back against her desk and hitched her bottom onto the cool surface. 

“I first noticed something was bothering her about a week ago.”

“What happened” Luke leaned against the other end of the desk.

“Nothing tangible. You have to know Tammy to understand…” Amy’s voice faded with realisation her uncle would know the girl as well if not better than her teacher. “I mean…”

Luke leaned across the desk and with a smile rested his hand reassuringly on her arm. “Please, go on.”

“Well, as I was saying, it wasn’t something I could put into words. More a look in her eye when she didn’t know she was being watched. You have to understand she’s like a little mother to the other students who are not so outgoing as many of her other classmates. Tammy has the rare capacity of being liked by all her classmates without garnering jealousy.”

“Her mother was just the same.” Luke smiled at the memory. Megan had been like a tigress in defence of her cubs if she’d seen signs of bullying. “Go on.” He repeated.

The sound of a bucket clattering against the door startled them both. They looked up in time to see the cleaner’s face peering through the glass panel in the door.

“Let’s get out of here.” Amy shifted off the desk and picked up her bag from the open drawer.

 

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 Tuesday's Tales 

Tuesday's Tale 30-04-13 -- Yellow

Welcome back to another Tuesday's Tales  This week I'm sharing another clip from Megan, a WIP that has been on the go for several years, and is the 2nd story following the Hawke family siblings. The first being Duty Calls, published in 2011 by Black Opal Books.

(Info- Widowed Megan learns that someone is contesting her late husbands will. Here Megan and her lover, Vince, are questioning the grandmother of the contester. -Luke is Megan's brother.)

Vince glanced towards Luke, catching his imperceptible nod.

“Before today, when did you last see your daughter?”  Luke asked.

“I’m not sure.  Five maybe six years ago.”

“What did she want?”

“What do you think?” Esmy snapped.

“And did you give her money?”

“Yes.”

“Why?  Vince intervened.

“Because I wanted her to stay away from us.”

“Surely your grand daughter was curious about her mother?  Didn’t she ever ask about her?”

“She didn’t have to.”  Esmy’s cold clipped tones chilled her listeners.  “When Lea Anne was nearly four years old, Marie Ann snatched her from the preschool and disappeared.  It took six months for the P.I. I hired, to track her down to a dingy room in the back streets of town.  Lea Ann was covered in bruises and cigarette burns.  She still had the same yellow dress on that she wore the day her mother snatched her out of school.” She sighed. “I doubt the poor mite had another stitch of clothing to wear for all of that time she was with that wretched woman, and if that isn’t enough, when my investigator found her she had a cracked rib and broken arm the doctors here had to re-break her arm to repair the damage as best they could.

“Understand me when I tell you my granddaughter wants to see her mother no more than I do.”

No one noticed Megan enter the room with a fresh jug of coffee.  Tears streaming down her face as she placed it on the tray.”

“Megan.”  Luke’s cold gaze sent a warning to his sister.  Intent on reminding her that if this woman was involved in the scam to get hold of everything she and Tammy possessed, this was how she’d go about it.

With a slight squeeze on Esmy shoulder, Meagan returned to sit beside her bother once more.

With an understanding nod Esmy sent a sad smile towards Megan.  “I still have all the medical receipts for Lea Ann’s treatments.  I kept them in case Marie Ann tried to take Lea Anne away again.  I told her if she ever did that again I’d have her arrested and sent to jail.”

“That’s as may be.” Luke said dubiously, but it doesn’t prove you didn’t know about her latest scam to attain money.

“No.”  She agreed slowly.  “It doesn’t, but it may provide a reason why, once you satisfy yourselves, I am not part of what ever my daughter is doing, I would be willing to work with you to prevent my daughter from succeeding.

Thank you for reading another snippet this week, and please hop on over to read everyone's offering for this week's Tuesday's Tales prompt.