Today Valarie Kinney is here with us to show you a peek at her story A Mother's Heart, a worthy addition to Combustion, Vanquish, Undeniable Love, Childish Things, Fox, and Burned Toast in the Gems of Strength anthology. Valarie, please tell us a little about yourself and your story. :-)
Valaerie:
Excerpt A Mother’s Heart:
Doctors. Therapy. Daycare.
Delia’s days were filled beyond belief and every second revolved around JoJo. Milestones other children achieved effortlessly were difficult for her boy, but she worked hard each night to help him learn. She repeated the exercises taught to her by the physical and occupational therapists. She held objects and said the names for them over and over, willing him to catch on.
When JoJo finally learned to sit up on his own, Delia wept.
She was happy and she was poor. Her waitressing job made it hard to make ends meet. She picked up extra hours when she could and lived on peanut butter sandwiches when she couldn’t. Exhaustion was simply a matter of fact, and the last time she’d slept longer than a few hours at a time had been so long ago, she couldn’t remember it.
But still, she had her little boy, and he filled up her heart. JoJo was her heart.
Sometimes, though, she felt weary of doing it all on her own. She remembered when she could lean into her husband’s strong arms and let him help her through difficulty, and missed it. Missed having a partner to talk over decisions with, and someone to take the constant pressure off. The biggest fight she’d had with David had been when she had found out she was pregnant. He hadn’t been thrilled with the idea of having a child, and in fact, had suggested she terminate.
Still, before that big fight, they’d been happy.
After that fight, she’d been a widow.
Delia was lonely, but she didn’t have time to go out and meet a man. She was resigned to it always being just her and JoJo, against the world.
Most of the time, she was okay with that.
BIO
Valarie Kinney is a writer, fiber artist and Renaissance Festival junkie with a wicked caffeine addiction. She resides in Michigan with her husband, four children, and two insane little dogs. She is the author of Heckled, Slither and Just Hold On, as well as the short stories Copper and Ailith in the KAPOW! anthologies by 7DS Books. Narrator for Dragons of Faith.
Thank you, Mistral!
ReplyDeleteMost welcome :-)
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