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
I 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.
Bah.
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.
As 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)
Very 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
Well.... 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.
You have some really cute stories that I love. This isn’t one of them. Your main characters both suck pretty bad in this one. Both shallow as fuck and narcissistic all the way to the end. And seriously, the ending. Tf are you doing there?
Quinn is a dumb bitch. After the sister died he wanted her back as the nanny/housekeeper, not as his life partner yet the desperate slut goes running back to him!! Jocelyn could have babysat or put April in a crèche and get on with her work!!
THIS WRITER IS ONE DUMB CUNT....LET'S NOT EVEN GO TO THE END WHICH WAS A SHITSHOW
World class correspondent/reporter became a nanny and housekeeper plus cook.....they're fucking rich but can't get cleaners or cooks....what a pathetic story
Why the fuck was Mary Delaney interfering and forcing Quinn to stay with her!!
15pages later and you gave a trash ending!!
Quinn is just a dumb bitch
Supermarket stand level writing and character building (which is many levels above Literotica expectations). Flawed and damaged people, doing what real flawed and damaged people do. With a dash of fantasy to make it actually interesting. Now to read some of your other stuff.
A bodice ripper from Mills and Boon maybe. Way to much navel gazing and not communicating.
What happened to the property Reagan owned?!!! Stupid Quin was the executor for the property left by her bitch mother!!
A pity that the bitch mother died leaving everything to the skanky daughter
STUPID REALLY WITH A FUCKED UP QUIN LIKE SHE'S THE ONLY REPORTER IN THE WORLD AND OTHERS LIKE HER DON'T HAVE FAMILIES!! THEN SHE WAS PLAYING NANNY AND HOUSEKEEPER AND THE SKANKY WRITER EVEN MADE HER A SUB!!!
Long drawn-out drivel with a BS ending!!
SKANKY WRITER
Enjoyed as always. Not sure why everyone feels the need to be so negative instead of moving on if they don't like it. But you know you have all kinds off fans. Don't let that get to you. Can't wait for more stories
A good story of severely flawed characters trying to live an impossible ideal.
Both Quinn and Grayson have major insecurity issues.
Grayson uses his controlling and owning her to counter his insecurities. Quinn uses flight to counter her insecurities.
Not sure what the future holds for them when she can not run so easily coz of her bond with Noah.
I like most of Ellie's stories but I really wasn't sure what I thought of this story. I guess the ending is a cliff-hanger for the next story but it really didn't seem to fit, and like others the "own" references and the apparent coercion didn't sit well with me either.
No one owns anyone else I almost stopped the story there. I was going to read more but it's not my thing . Sorry goodbye!
Keith
Hope you and your daughter still enjoy butterflies. Gentle, free, fluttery, colorful little fragile creatures.
Almost gave up
I got well into page 3 when I realized it was another of the Harlequin romances that my wife used to read. So I'll pass. By then, I could see where it was headed, confirmed by reading comments.
But you might submit it to Harlequin. I bet it's better than a lot of their maudlin tales.
Would not be fair to rate something that is simply not my type.
Paul in Oklahoma
True love triumphs in the end. Mothers give birth, Moms are there to sooth nightmares or cuddle through colds.
A long saga, but a nice one. I don’t understand the ending- if there is more to this I better go find it... insecurity messes up so many relationships. Thinking about what the other person wants but not asking them is a recipe for disasters and soap operas. I loved the descriptions of the adorable April baby; almost makes me want one of my own.
An entertaining and enjoyable story. It just seemed like it took a lot of pages to bring them together as a family. But I actually got into the story. I skimmed a few pages but I went back and reread them as I got more involved. I was confused by the ending when she received the package, it didn't seem to fit in....unless you have a chapter 2 or a sequel planned.
Thank you for a very entertaining story.
Great plot idea. The characters were a bit middle-schoolish in temperament and behavior, which is unfortunate, but fixable. It was dramatic and suspenseful, but kind of tedious and awkward when you had the characters acting like spoiled or petulant children. Not that much depth for the number of pages used, suggesting a bit of stuffing and unneeded embellishment. Still, a good read.
Good luck with future work.
I couldn’t put it down, night after night of reading this wonderful novella. You truly are a gifted writer. Please continue to share your gift with all of us. I look forward to reading more of your stories.
The outcome was predictable, but the end was not. I really did like this story, a lot. My first of yours that I have read and now I will read your others. Thank You for a very good read....5***** from a new fan.