A/N: Not much to say…thanks for the reviews!
Disclaimer: Don't own…
On with the story…
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Chapter: Story Time
"Lora!" Cori hissed.
"Huh? Oh I'm sorry, what were we talking about?" Lo asked sheepishly for about the 6th time during this meeting.
"Mrs. Dubose and Mr. Harris were just about to read part of your manuscript," Cori's smile was strained as she tried to focus her client.
"Oh, go right ahead," Lo smiled at the business people across from her as they each picked up a copy of her manuscript to start reading.
After around 20 minutes they looked up, both with different looks on their faces. Mrs. Dubose had one of awe, sorrow, and most important, approval. Mr. Harris however, was hard to read. The first expression that graced his features was pure dislike and disdain for Lo's writing. The second was understanding and skeptic. Finally, his face set itself in a stoic manner, his jaw tight and eyes cold.
"How did you like it?" Cori asked cautiously.
Dubose and Harris exchanged looks and Dubose started.
"I found all of your books enticing and exquisitely written. I believe that you capture real human emotion wonderfully and it shows in your writing," Mrs. Dubose frowned and cast a side-long glance at her partner, "however, from the look on my partner's face he doesn't agree."
Harris started talking then, "Ms. Mariano, I first found your writing very sappy and uninteresting. It was boring and repetitive and lacked writing skill. On the other hand, the realistic atmosphere makes me challenge my original opinion. I have a few questions for you."
"Of course," Lo smiled slightly.
"Is this story true?" he asked, looking down at the manuscript as he talked.
"Yes."
"Who is it about?"
"Myself and my daughter."
"Who is the 'Bryan' in the story?"
"The father of my child."
"So, he left you?"
"Yes, sir, he did."
"Coward," Harris muttered.
"Excuse me, sir?"
"Nothing, uh, so you really feel these things?" Harris looked up at Lo expectantly.
"Everything in that book—the story line, the characters, the emotion—are all as real as you and me sitting here," Lo answered truthfully, "This book is very close to my heart, Mr. Harris, so, if in fact you don't like it or think that it is horrible, that is your opinion. With that said, I would appreciate it if you would simply push my manuscript back over the table if you don't like it instead of tearing it to shreds."
"Ms. Mariano-," Mr. Harris started.
"As I said," Lo raised her voice over his, "this particular subject is a hard one for me and I don't need you to tear my life part, my life is in that book," Lo finished in tears.
"I'm sorry, this is a very hard subject for her to share with people," Cori explained as she rubbed Lo's back lightly.
"It's quite alright," Mrs. Dubose said.
"No," Mr. Harris said abruptly, "I don't appreciate your assumption that I think that badly of your work, Ms. Mariano."
Lo picked her head up and looked Mr. Harris in the eye, "Well then sir, please, enlighten me," Lo had always had an attitude and she tended to let it out at the wrong times and to prove this, she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms, eyes narrowed.
Cori dragged a hand down her face and got ready for a blow-up.
"Yes, at first I thought your work horrifically sappy, but after the last paragraph I read, my opinion changed."
"Changed how?" Lo challenged.
"The way you tore down your own feelings and shattered any hope for yourself, I know it sounds awfully cynical to think this, but the way you wrote it made me see the real, raw emotion of the main character," Mr. Harris explained passionately.
"Thank you," Lo said quietly.
"No, thank you for giving me a new outlook," Mr. Harris smiled a warm smile at Lo and clasped his hands in his lap.
"Now that we have the battle of wits out of the way," Mrs. Dubose started, "we would like to offer you a book deal, Mrs. Mariano," Mrs. Dubose smiled at Cori and Lo.
"Well then, it's my turn to talk," Cori stuck her hand out to them both, "My name is Cori Williams and I am Mrs. Mariano's book manager."
"Hello Mrs. Williams, I'm looking forward to working with you," Mrs. Dubose gingerly shook her hand and smiled at Cori.
"Welcome to the crazy literary world of Williams and Mariano."
--
"STEPHANIE LEIGH GILMORE MARIANO!" Lexis shouted down the hall to her surrogate niece.
"Yes Aunty?" Stevie timidly came down the hall towards her fuming Aunt.
"What is this?" Lex pointed to the wall beside her where there were scribbles.
Stevie blushed, clasped her hands tightly together behind her back and twisted her upper body side to side, looking at her toes, "I'm sorry," she whispered. She never liked when people yelled.
Lexis sighed and stooped down so that she was eye-level with Stevie, "Hunnie, your mother and I have told you and Davie many times not to draw on the walls. Why did you do this?"
Stevie simply shook her head, brought a hand from behind her back and wiped her eyes.
"Stevie, Hunnie, you have to talk to Aunty okay?" Lexis coaxed her.
"Otay," Stevie cried a little more.
"What's wrong, baby?" Lexis scooped her up in her arms and laid Stevie's head on her shoulder.
"Mama!" Davie exclaimed as he ran down the hall towards his mother and Stevie, "What's wrong with Stephy?" Davie pouted.
"I'm not sure, Hun," Lexis answered.
"Lemme' see her mama," Davie insisted.
Lexis set a crying Stevie down and she walked to Davie quietly, sniffling every so often.
"What's matter Stephy?" Davie asked.
Stevie hugged Davie tightly and Davie hugged her back.
"Mommy," Stevie whimpered.
"She wants Aunt Lo," Davie explained to his mom as he tried to sooth Stevie.
It was now 4 o'clock in the afternoon and Stevie hadn't seen Lo since 10 o'clock this morning.
"Oh sweetie," Lexis scooped Stevie up in her arms once again and held her tightly against her chest, "Mommy will be here soon, baby."
Stevie cried harder and started rubbing her eyes.
"You tired baby?" Lexis asked gently.
Stevie shook her head yes and stuck her thumb in her mouth, laying her head on Lexis' shoulder.
"Okay baby, let's go lay down on the couch," Lexis cooed as she made her way to the couch and stroked Stevie's hair.
Lexis gingerly laid down on the couch with Stevie on her chest and let her fall asleep.
"Mama?" Davie waddled over to the couch and climbed in next to Lexis.
"Yes Davie?"
"Is Stephy okay?"
"She's fine baby."
Yawn, "Okay."
--
Around 45 minutes later, Lo showed up and used her key to get into her best friend's apartment which held her baby.
"Hello?" Lo called through the apartment.
"Shh," someone said from the living room, "the kids are sleeping."
"Aw, my poor baby; I left her for so long," Lo stuck her bottom lip out and knelt down to stroke Stevie's hair, "Baby," she cooed, "come on baby, wake up for me sweetie."
"Mommy?" Stevie said drowsily.
"Yeah baby it's me," Lo smiled as Stevie hastily climbed into her arms, clinging to Lo's neck.
"I missed you mommy," Stevie said, muffled because her face was buried in Lo's neck.
"Aw, baby, I missed you, too," Lo cooed as she stood up and rubbed Stevie's back, "Ready to go home sweets?"
Stevie nodded her head into Lo's neck.
"Thanks Lex," Lo smiled down at Lexis.
"No problem, she did color on my wall though," Lexis feigned anger.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry Lex! I'll clean it up tomorrow, I promise," Lo blushed at her child's misbehavior.
"It's fine, it wasn't much. Don't worry about it," Lexis insisted.
"Well, thanks again, I'll see you later," Lo said and carried Stevie to the door.
They left and went back to the apartment they shared with Tabby and Justin.
--
Saturday Night
Lo was dressed in a form-fitting, black, spaghetti string dress with black strappy heals and a little ¾ sleeve button up sweater. She was walking the streets of Manhattan to an apartment building 2 blocks away from hers. She had called Kevin Thursday night and they had set up a date for Saturday. Since Kevin was new to the city, Lo was picking him up and they were going to a little Italian restaurant that Lo was well acquainted with. She reached the building in question and walked through the doors to the elevator that would take her to the 3rd floor. She reached the 3rd floor and walked down the hall until she stood in front of apartment 4C and knocked. She anxiously waited for Kevin to answer the door and after what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, the door swung open to reveal a smiling Kevin who said hello.
"Hi," Lo smiled as Kevin grabbed his coat and closed the door behind him.
"You look amazing," Kevin said sincerely.
"Thank you," Lo's smile widened, "You look good, too."
They looked at each other and continued their way to the elevator. They were walking close, but not close enough to touch, which they were both satisfied with.
The walk to the restaurant was spent in a comfortable silence and side-long glances.
"Mariano for 2," Lo said to the hostess once they had arrived.
"Right this way," the hostess smiled and showed the couple to a small table in the corner.
They were seated, handed menus and with a smile and a thank you the hostess left and the two were left alone.
"Okay, so I'm going to be blunt," Lo started, "and I want you to hear me out without any interruptions, understand?"
"Yes," Kevin said.
"Okay, I have a kid," Kevin's eyes widened, "and if you don't think you can handle that then I'd appreciate it if you just left right now. My little 2-year-old monster is my world and if you don't think you can be a part of that then I can't date you. Stevie needs a father and I can't be dating a slue of different guys. She's going to want to call all of them 'daddy' and if I'm not serious about my relationships, she's going to be one screwed up kid. I'm giving you an easy out now, if you stay you're in for the long haul if I like this date, if you leave now then you'll never see me again," Lo laid it out simply and leaned back in her chair, arms crossed.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look?" Kevin smiled and took one of Lo's hands from across her chest.
"Yes," Lo said disbelievingly, she wasn't expecting that kind of a reaction.
"You thought that was going to scare me away, huh?" Kevin asked as he kissed her knuckles.
"It scares most guys," Lo replies quietly.
"I'm not most guys," Kevin said just as quietly.
"Can I get you guys something to drink?" a perky waitress interrupted their moment.
"Red wine," Kevin said, still staring into Lo's eyes.
"Coming right up," the waitress smiled knowingly and walked off.
Lo blushed and looked down and to the side.
Kevin pulled back and smiled, dropping her hand.
"So, tell me how this kid came about and you're still single," Kevin said.
"I'm not sure you want to know that story," Lo looked back at him and he could see the obvious pain in her eyes.
"If you don't want to tell me then that's fine," Kevin insisted.
"No, I'll tell you if you want to know," Lo smiled a half smile at him.
"Okay, tell me," Kevin decided.
"Well, I met Brent in my 1st year of grad school. He was great. Smart, funny, gorgeous; anything you'd want in a guy. He loved me and he cared for me. He was always there for me. Brent and I didn't start sleeping together until a year into our relationship because of my past history with guys and sex. Around our 3 year anniversary, I started wanting fruit and not drinking coffee—which is extremely weird for me—so I talked to my mom and grandmother and they said that maybe I was pregnant so I bought a test. It was positive! So, on our 3 year anniversary I put the test in a box and gave it to him as a present. I hadn't expected him to be thrilled, but I didn't expect him to react how he did. He asked me if it was a joke and why would I play that kind of joke. I told him it wasn't a joke; that we were going to have a baby."
Lo choked up a bit, but continued, "He stuck around for about 5 months into the pregnancy and then split. I had a complete break down and with being pregnant…it wasn't pretty. It was a heart breaking and miserable time in my life. I feel so bad for my family and friends who had to deal with me. I never understood why he left me. I know he loved me, but he just left me, left us without any goodbye or reason. I hate him, I hate him so fucking much it hurts and if I ever saw him again I would probably completely freak out."
Lo took a deep breath, "That's my story."
Lo looked up and into Kevin's eyes. As soon as she did she saw the pure fury burning within them. She didn't understand how a man that she had met 2 days ago could become that upset over a guy who had hurt her almost 2 and a half years before this new man met her. Whatever the reason, she was touched by it and tears of appreciation appeared in her eyes.
"What a fucking asshole," Kevin seethed.
"I know," Lo said in a tiny voice.
"I don't know what to say," Kevin confessed.
Lo laughed humorlessly, "There's nothing that you can say. Nothing will ever take away the pain of that time in my life; I have to let it go."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Kevin reached for her hand and held it tightly in his own.
"Just…be with me," Lo smiled at him and he smiled back, kissing her knuckles again.
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A/N: There it is! I hope you guys liked it and feel filled in about Stevie's background! Next, Kevin will meet Stevie, Tabby, and Justin!