As promised, here’s the next installment of my free novelette that shows the beginnings of NewAm. the setting of my new Christian series, Messengers that will re-release on July 5th. I hope you enjoy this free novelette–MESSENGERS–THE BEGIINNING.

You can learn more about the series if you click on the
link below. Thanks.

AMAZON LINK TO MESSENGERS SERIES

CHAPTER 4

Mary hated living at Miss Sophie’s house. There were lots of kids here and most of them were mean to her—and to everybody else. Nobody hugged her or told her that they loved her like Mommy and Daddy always did.

Mary sat on the couch in Miss Sophie’s office. Her suitcase sat on the floor beside her. She didn’t know why she was here. Miss Sophie told her to put on her best clothes and to be nice.

She was alone in the room, so she didn’t know who she was supposed to be nice to. But she always tried to be nice. Because her Mommy and Daddy told her that’s what Jesus wanted her to do. And Mary wanted to make Jesus happy.

The door opened.

Miss Sophie walked in with two people. She smiled at Mary. “This is your new Mommy and Daddy.”

Mary glared. “I don’t want a new Mommy and Daddy.”

Miss Sophie moved toward her and grabbed her arm then whispered, “You better be nice. This is your last chance. If they don’t want you, you’ll be going to the next proof. Do you understand me?”

Mary nodded.

The woman knelt down in front of her and smiled. “Of course, you don’t want a new Mommy and Daddy. We understand that. You loved them but they’re gone, and you need someone to take care of you. We want to take care of you now, Mary. Would you like that?”

The woman smelled pretty, but Mary didn’t want—didn’t need a new Mommy and Daddy, but she was tired of living here with Miss Sophie.

Miss Sophie wasn’t nice—at all.

Mary didn’t think she even liked kids.

Mary looked past the woman and then at the man. He waved. Mary asked, “Do you like kids?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I never had any before but…you’re not just any kid. I can see that you’re a very special little girl and I like you very much.”

Daddy always told her she was his very special little girl.

She looked back at the woman. “I’m not going to call you Mommy.”

“How about Mama Rose?”

“And you can call me Pops.”

Mary looked back and forth between the man and the woman. “I guess that would be OK.”

“Great. Let’s go home.” Mama Rose reached out her hand to Mary.

Mary took it.

CHAPTER 54

Mary sat in the chair with her legs folded under her and her phone in her hand. She was texting four different people at the same time. One of them in France. She couldn’t wait for him to come to the states so they could meet.

Her adopted mom stuck her head in, “Mary, time for dinner.”

“In a minute, Mama Rose. I’m texting something important.”

“How could you have something that important to say when you just saw them a few hours ago? Come set the table, please.”

“I didn’t just see all of them. We’re texting with Jean-Claude. I can’t wait to meet him when he comes to America next month. Who knows maybe we’ll get married someday and I’ll have little French babies.?.”

“Until that day, I want you to set the table Mary Francesis Wayne.”

“I will. I will. I promise Just give me a minute.”

Mama walked in from the kitchen and gave her the look—the mama look that Mary knew better than to argue with. She put the phone down on the stand but rolled her eyes wheen Mama Rose walked back in the kitchen. “OK. OK. I’m coming.”

“Thank you.”

Mary walked past her and kissed her on the cheek. “No, thank you, Mama Rose. You’re such a good mom. I love you very much.” And she really did. As much as she missed her real Mom and Dad, God had blessed her with wonderful adopted parents.

She hadn’t been very lovable when they brought her to this house. But Mqama Rose and Pops been incredibly patient and kind to her. Slowly, Mary had learned to trust them and then love came after the trust.

Mama Rose flipped the dish towel at her. “What do you want now?”

“Who says I want anything?”

“I say. What do you want?”

“Nothing really. It’s no big deal.”

“No big deal, huh?” Her mom walked back over to the stove.

Mary moved closer as Mama Rose flipped the chicken. “That smells awesome. Fried chicken is my favorite.”

“Like I don’t know that. Now, what do you want?”

“Not much. We want to go to the Friday concert this week, but I got no money.”

“I don’t have any money.” She corrected her English.

“Same problem here.” Mary laughed. “That’s why I need some from you.”

Mama Rose shook her head but smiled. “If you can talk Pops into giving you some, I’ll drive you and your friends to the concert. But I’m not guaranteeing he’ll give you any. That’s between the two of you.”

“Why not? He always does.”

“True but… I’ll just wait until he gets here. We need to have a serious discussion.”

“About what? I didn’t do anything bad at school today. Did I? I don’t remember doing anything bad.”

“Set the table. We’ll talk about it later. After dinner.”

“No. Tell me now. I want to know what I did.”

Pops walked in. “What did you do now?”

“That’s what I want to know, too. Mama said I’m in trouble, but I don’t know what I did. I really don’t remember doing anything bad—at least not too bad.”

“I didn’t say you were in trouble. I said we had something to discuss with you. There’s a difference.”

“We do?” Pops shrugged. “That’s news to me. But if Mama says so then it must be so.”

Mama Rose sighed. “We’ll talk after dinner.”

He looked at Mary. “I guess we have something to discuss with you.”

She winked at Mama Rose. “Before we get to dinner, can I have some money so I can go to the Friday Concert in the Park.?”

“I thought the concerts in the park were free.”

“They are but we want to go for pizza before. And I might want to buy a T-shirt.”

“Trying to hit me up before we have the discussion?”

She grinned and shrugged. “Of course.”

“Smart girl. I’ll give you a tentative yes on that. Let’s see what we have to discuss first. Rose, what is it that we need to discuss?”

“I should have waited until after dinner to bring it up. I don’t want the dinner ruined. I worked very hard making fried chicken.”

“Too late now.” Pops walked over the refrigerator and pulled out a two-liter of soda. “You’ve got both of us curious. And I’m sure Mary won’t be able to enjoy her favorite dinner without knowing. You wouldn’t want to ruin her dinner, would you? Might as well tell us now.”

“Fine.” She walked out of the room. When she came back in, she said, “This is what we need to talk about.”

Mama Rose set Mary’s Bible on the table.