Forever His & His Ghost

Chapter 8: Why the Secrets?

9 year later

      "Skyla, why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell anyone? What else have you hid from everyone?" Marie screamed reading the last part of what I had been working on writing the last few days. She handed it to Preston to read while she continued to scowl at me, "Seriously, we are friends, you were supposed to tell me these things."

      "I know, I know. But you had enough on your plate, and as they say you make your bed you lie in it. Well, that's kind of what I did, I knew what I was getting into, being with him, and I allowed it. I brought it all on myself, and yes, there is much more no one knows." I flopped down on the couch. "Besides it didn't kill me, it made me stronger, and I am here where I am now."

      "Yea, but the outcome might have been different." She pointed out.

      "Maybe, maybe not. All it would have done at that time, was cause a war. And at sixteen not one of us was ready for that."

      "I am with Marie on this one sis, you should have told us. I was your protector, and I would have whooped our sister's butt and that witches too." Preston slung the papers on the table.

       "Listen I am doing this for me, not for bringing up old memories to think about what might have been and what might have not been. No what ifs. Only a story to tell and hopefully some healing in the process." I stood up and padded my feet. "Now who's ready?" I grabbed my bag and threw it over my shoulder.

      "Let's go," Marie grabbed Preston's hand pulling him up on his feet and they followed me out the door with their bags in tow.

      The ride to the airport was silent, I know we were all mauling over what I had written about. I only hope the editor likes what I have so far. We were flying out to Seattle, where my editor was currently working on another book deal. Marie and Preston wanted to stay, and sight see, but I was in no mood. I had managed to go off grid years ago, not being on social media or in anyone's limelight. The person I use to be, who loved with their whole heart, jumped in feet first, and held nothing back. That is who I wanted to be, and I only prayed I found a way to get there someday.

       I spent the flight asleep or lost in thought, reminiscing, something I said I wasn't going to do. I did feel like I needed to do this, I needed closure. My life has spiraled out of control for years now, and no matter what I do, I can't seem to get a hold on it. Sure, when I am doing my job, I am all business. That's what makes me so good. I have had a ton of offers as a writer, to tabloid writing, fact pieces, musical jingles, sale pitches for different items. I tried the travel pieces but turns out I get too homesick to be away too long, and most of those pieces take at least a week to get the full experience. Even this was just another job, it just didn't seem like I could bring all my business mind to the table, I had to pull from within.

      "Oh, before I forget, mom is flying in next week." Preston brought me out of my thoughts as we stepped into the hotel.

      "Seriously?" I don't know how I felt about that. I talk to mom about once a week but haven't seen her in two years. The way she works and the way I travel we haven't had the free time at the same time.

      "Yea, she wanted to tell you, but I am going to ruin the surprise. She retired earlier in the year. So now she has all the free time in the world. Dad don't much like it, but he doesn't say much."

      I shrug my shoulders opening our suite, "I have one more room." I put my bags down and grab my suitcase. "You guys make yourself at home, we are here for the night. There are two rooms, I will sleep on the couch and you guys can have the rooms. Decide what you want for dinner, my treat when I get back."

      I made haste heading to the conference room in the hotel where the editor is, only to find her waiting on me with her feet propped up and her hands behind her head, like she owns the place.

       "Hi, Lexi, or Skyla?" Yes, she knew my real name, but I explained the importance of keeping my identity a secret for the time. She knew everything well almost everything, she doesn't know all the dirty details that led me to where I am now.

      "Hello Ms. Stone." I cleared my throat, "If we want to sale this story and keep the mystery then Lexi or Ms. Anders will do, Skyla is dead in this lifetime and those to come. I have what you asked for." I grabbed my bag and pulled out the work I had finished. "Now mind you, I will be going back in, changing the names, but I needed to keep it real in this draft so, I don't forget anything."

      "I get it." She sits back and reads. I sit there silently staring at everything letting my mind wonder to where I go from here. She clears her throat and I look at her and she is half teary eyed. "This is really good. I mean it's a little more teeny bopper than I was looking for, but I see there is heart and soul in this." She pushes the paper back to me. "Now I have a question." I just nod with my best business smile. "How does this end?"

       I choked on my own saliva, "Excuse me?"

      She leaned on the table and stared me in the eye, "Where does this end? I assume, you are single, never married, no children, and live alone on that ranch in the middle of nowhere," I shake my head, trying to figure out where she is going with this. "There has to be a better ending, Skyla. Readers want to love, they want to hate, they want to cry, they want to scream, but at the end of the day, they want a happy ending. I don't know where this is going but I can tell you if it ends where you are now, then it isn't a happy ending that entices readers into your story. They may read it to the end because they can't put it down, they want to see what happens next, but you have to figure out where it ends to make the readers happy."

        I plopped back in the chair and not lady like either, "You are right, I will figure out where to end it happily."

        "No that's not what I mean, you need to find the ending with your life now." She stood and headed toward the door. "Keep the story going, I for one can't wait to see what happens next, but I hope I see a happier ending than what I picture now. Good evening, Skyla."

      "Crap she's right," I say out loud. My life is pathetic, and not a happy ending. I want people to read this, and I want them captivated from the beginning to the end with the ultimate aw factor, but how am I going to get there. Quickly deciding I need to do some brainstorming to get this story where I want it, I make my way back to the room and spend the rest of the evening, wining and dining with my family.