That was a close call - God is definitely watching over them!!!

I'm interested to see just what went so wrong with Sue's talk with her mother!! I thought they were finally bonding!!!

Joy

I loved this part"


"Yes, they were, he agreed. He wondered if he could convince Levi to give up the backseat. When the dog stretched further, Jack guessed it meant no."

Loved that last line! You make Jack and Sue's love so tangible. I'm still so curious about what happened. Think we could bribe you for another post with or did your tastebuds go with the ?

Glad to see that Sue's humour is back!

This is great, Marlo, just great!

Kim

Umm, Marlo I'm in physical therapy for whiplash already! Your post almost put me in traction! Love this story and am really intrigued with where you are going with it now!

Tastebuds are fine ... amd I'm craving chocolate !!!! Of course there's none in the house, so I'll take the bribe

+++++

She was smiling, her big beautiful eyes gazing at him in total innocence. It so wasn’t what he meant, and she perfectly knew it.

“What can I say, angel”, shrugging the accident off. “You drive me to distraction.”

“Very funny”, laughing with him.

“I love you, and you don’t need to tell me anything.”

“Jack, I could have handled it better”, she sighed. “I should have remembered that growing up in the nineteen forties and fifties was different.”

“I imagine life wasn’t easy for your mom.”

“No, it wasn’t. As a kid, before she learned she was adopted, she was badly singled out for not having a dad. I wish I had known about her hardship. When I was little I was so afraid to disappoint her that I never told her about the difficulties I faced”, recalling the teasing she was subjected to. “I never thought she would understand.”

“It sounds to me you had a nice talk”, he observed after she remained silent for a few minutes.

“We did ... until I mentioned Anna”, sighing again. “See, Granny described young Anna as kind and spirited. So, mom had that mental picture of an innocent teenage girl who was taken advantage of, but who found a loving home for her baby so it could be raised properly”, wincing at the image.

“Did your granny lie to your mom?” not that it made sense when her granny could have simply pleaded ignorance.

“No, but mom’s picture was off ... way off.”

“You mean Anna wasn’t quite the innocent teenage girl your mom believed she was?”

“Anna was nineteen, and I don’t know how innocent she was, but she wasn’t helpless or submissive. Mom used the term stubborn and selfish ... After her daughter was born, Anna decided to keep her.”

“In 1946?” Jack whistled in consternation. “I suppose your granny was the one who explained to Anna her ... precarious situation?”

“Which is why mom is so upset.”

“Because Anna was forced to give her up?” thinking Carla was overreacting. There would have been no other viable option in that era for a young unwed mother.

“No, Jack ... because Anna didn’t and Granny approved.”

“You ... lost me.”

You lost me too...

I think yah lost me too there Marlene!

Can't wait for more!

Glad to hear that you are feeling better.

BLT

Yep. I'm lost.

i'm lost also

Uh........Huh?

So Carla is mad because her real mom didn't give her up?

Em

So did they have the new birth certificate made after Anna died?

So many questions. So little post. Love Jack and Sue.

I've got a brownie recipe for the microwave which works great for chocolate emergencies. Hey, what do you expect from someone who calls themself Oreolover?

I think I'll just watch this panda for a while and try to figure out what on earth Sue is talking about.

Jill

I am so confused....

~laura michelle~

I'm lost

I'm totally confused now.

yeah i'm bemused too but that's nothing new

cath

Join the club Cath!!!

To your post Marlo, my reply - Huh???

And I really think you need to lay off the medication as I am starting to get worried!!!

Sam

I think I turned left when I should have turned right!!!

Joy

The general consensus.. everyone's confused!!

and....................you kinda lost me to

I'm SOOOO lost too! That's what I love of your stories Marlene. Never a dull moment!

Ditto to everybody!

caught up on at last I
feel sorry for carla but why take it out on sue
but love jack and sue more soon please
Lin

All right, I caught up...but I think I maybe should've waited for the next post! I'll wait.....patiently.....or not...but I'll wait.....
~Cristy

Ehhhhhhh??? Huh????????

Sorry, guys! My laptop went for an ugrading yesterday. My hubby told me it would be more efficient now ... maybe it will even write the story by itself

+++++

“That’s about how I felt when mom tried to explain the first time around ... and the second”, Sue recalled.

“Can you skip to the third version please?” impossible scenarios popping into his mind.

“From what I understood, Anna kept her baby for a while and Granny helped her along. But when the responsibilities and the pressure proved to be too much for Anna, Granny adopted mom.”

“So far I follow”, encouraging her to continue.

“I cannot say mom is very rational about Anna. In one hand, I think she resented Anna for refusing to give her up to a decent family when morally this was the only acceptable solution. But on the other, I also think she resented Anna for walking out on her, making mom feel worthless of Anna’s sacrifice. Either way, I don’t think mom ever forgave Anna.”

“Does your mother know what happened to Anna after she left?”

“No, and she couldn’t care less. She believes we are wasting our time and efforts.”

“Does she know Anna’s full name?”

“No. Mom avoided listening whenever Granny mentioned Anna’s name. Eventually Granny stopped talking about Anna.”

“But your granny remained fond of the young girl despite what happened.”

“Anna gave her a daughter, Jack. Granny was very grateful for the gift. You know, I also think Granny was proud of Anna for her valiant efforts. That’d be the only reason that could explain her suggestion of naming me Anna.”

“You’re right, angel. It took Anna lots of courage to keep her baby and face the prejudice, even if it was only for a short time.”

“Anna had to love her baby very much, Jack, and I told mom.”

“She didn’t appreciate you defended Anna?”

“No, and that’s when things got ugly”, Sue cringed. “Maybe describing the ring with the inscription was a bad idea, but I wanted mom to know Anna also loved the father of her baby.”

“But your mother didn’t reach the same conclusion, did she?”

“She called Anna foolish and irresponsible for sleeping with a man before he married her. I argued Anna was in love, and sometimes things happen. So ... she glared at your bag beside my bed and demanded to know where you spent the night since Maggie saw you half-naked in the house.”

Jack was stunned at how quickly their conversation deteriorated. He opened his mouth, but his cell prevented him from formulating a response.

“Hudson.”

“Jack, you owe Luce and me”, her musical voice babbling excitedly.

“What did you find, Tara?” taking a pen and paper.

“Retired Master Chief Petty Officer Ronnie Lewis, Pontiac, Michigan. You want the address?”

“Yes, I want the address”, rolling his eyes. “Thanks, Tara.”

“He’s still alive?” holding the piece of paper with the coordinates.

“Yes. Sue?” lifting her chin so he could look into her eyes. “This is your quest. How much more do you want to know about Anna?”

“I know mom disapproves, but I need to hear her story.”

“Want to drive to Michigan tonight?”

she's going to michigan...wheter her mom wants it or not. but i can relate to sue's mom's pain....maybe she really felt neclected....maybe that is just why she really needs to talk about all ofthis.

If I were Sue, I'd leave right this minute and drive all night to get there. I would want to know everything. After all, she is her grandma and it's her right to know the woman who loved her mother enough to give her a good home.

Again, I am left with this feeling that I don't understand Carla at all!! Why won't she relent and give Anna the benefit of the doubt???

And, I notice that Carla, in order to get the heat off her, attacked Sue and her relationship with Jack!! Carla, you really know how to drive people away from you, don't you!!!

Now, on to Michigan!!!

Joy

Leave it to Carla to jump to THAT conclusion. Road trip to Michigan...Boy am I ready for that ride!

Kim

OOOOOH! This is gettin good!!!!!! Please post more ASAP! I really love this story!

That was another awesome post!

Another Marlo road trip...are we in for any suprises?

BLT

Well....Sue's mom sure has some nerve.....GGGGRRRRR

~laura michelle~

No matter how efficient your computer is, it will never be able to write as well as you do...

And Carla should know better than to think that Sue and Jack are doing what she thinks they're doing. She did raise Sue, right? If you ask me, I'd say that she's only insulting herself and her abilities to raise a child.

Unless.... she's second-guessing herself because she's afraid Sue will go down the same path her birth mother did...

Or....
You know what? Never mind. I'm going to shut up now.

Don't you just love it when people jump to conclusions!

Michigan..........here we come!

Jill

Hey! They're going to drive right past my house! Tell Jack and Sue to stop by for some hot chocolate... they'll need it on a c-c-c-c-oooooold night like this one is!!

Glad to have you back, Marlene!!

Can't wait to see what this Ronnie guy knows about Anna!

Carla. Carla. Carla. You never cease to amaze me.

Great writing, Marlene!

What DID you say about Jack's sleeping arrangments the other night? Huh Sue! You got mad and got a little saucy didn't you???? Can't wait to read more!

Road Trip!!!!!!

I love Jack and Sue out on the open road!!!!! Michigan you say?

And Carla kinda assumed the worse about them didn't she? Oops!!!

It's a road trip! Would Sue have packed anything yellow per chance, Marlene?
kav

Orrrrrrr maybe they are driving a yellow car. Our Christmas parade was last night and the "Yellow Mustang Club" was in it. There they were - 12 different yellow mustangs being driven down the middle of the road. Now - how redneck is that????? But..one of them did have blue glow lights on the bottom and it had the capability of blowing flourescent blue smoke from its hood (think Old Faithful!) And do you know, I thought of Marlene and one of her stories - yellow and blue....I wasn't thinking anything Christmassy.

And I noticed how quickly Jack dropped the subject - or allowed himself to be distracted - when Sue mentioned that her mother wanted to know about their sleeping arrangements.

yes sue I would love to know that too Lin

Flip, you have to get that imagination of yours under control!!!


+++++

The traffic cleared shortly after Tara’s call, but the icy roads remained treacherous. As they headed west, the freezing rain was replaced by snow, which accumulated at an alarming rate the further they drove. Pontiac was about eight hours away according to the map Sue found hidden under the passenger seat. It was already late afternoon. In a few hours, they would need to stop for dinner. After that, Jack estimated he might be able to log in three maybe four more hours behind the wheel, assuming the weather didn’t worsen.

A red neon sign flashing through the drifting snow caught Jack’s attention. With the visibility reduced to the car in front of him and the skating stunts his car threatened to make, Jack decided it would be safer to stop for the night and cover the rest of the distance in the morning.

Jack gawked in dismay at the simplistic room. At $180 a night, he should have been entitled to the honeymoon suite. Randy was going to have a fieldtrip disallowing the expense.

“$180 for a room at the Roadkill Motel, agent Hudson? Did you spend the week or did you also order massage and room service with it?” the nasal voice resounded in his mind.

“Jack?” placing her hand over his forearm. “Is something wrong?”

The price, he almost blurted out. The owner was taking advantage of the snowstorm and some of the people in the lobby would have a hard time affording this night.

“No. I’ll get the bags and walk Levi, you find the thermostat and turn on the heat.”

“And here I thought you wanted me to warm you up”, she murmured sassily to his ear. “That’s too bad”, walking away from him to search the room.

He shook his head, a grin appearing on his lips. He wondered if he would get a rebate for messing up only one bed.

The door opened at street level, with the car parked right in front. Before taking Levi around the motel, Jack picked up the bags and gave them to her. On his return the room was warm and cosy, and Sue was in bed, writing.

After changing into his pyjama pants and undershirt, he sat on the edge of the bed. She paused from her task to look at him.

“Are you going to make room for me or relinquish me to the second bed?” She studied him a long minute before slithering towards the middle of the bed. “What are you doing?” he asked lying beside her, the blankets relegated at their feet.

“Writing everything I learned about Anna today before I forget any details.”

Propped on her elbows, the pillow tucked under her chest, she was finishing. Soon his interest was diverted towards the small birthmark he discovered below her ear as he played with her hair. He traced it with his lips, then moved up to nibble on her lobe. She moaned softly, her concentration slipping as his hand travelled under her nightie to caress her back. She placed the pen and paper on the table and reached for the lamp.

“Don’t ... not yet”, stopping her, before rolling her over.

He paused to admire her. Her hair was spread over the white sheet. Her eyes were open wide anticipation ... of what he could only imagine. Her smile formed tiny lines around her mouth he couldn’t wait to kiss senselessly. His gaze dropped down to the same nightie she wore the previous night. The fabric was taut over her soft curves, creating crinkles around it. Her bare legs were long, muscular and very silky.

Her hands roamed his chest under his undershirt, generating tiny electric current through his body. The wind whistling ferociously outside the window was pale in compare to the sensations she awakened in him.

He stroked her cheek, forcing her to focus on him, delighted to see she was as affected as he was.

“What did you tell your mother?” the impromptu question startling them both equally. “Sue, I ... I need to know.”

“That we were discussing Anna, not me. That taking a child from its mother was cruel. That a child was a blessing, not a curse, no matter the circumstances of its birth.” She lowered her eyes. Her mother took it as a guilty admission. “She told me I was just like Anna, and though she didn’t mean it as a compliment, I took it as such.”

“Which infuriated her no doubt?”

“Yes. I ... I know I shouldn’t have but I told her I would name my daughter ... Anna”, her voice mellowing at the mention of the name.

He cupped her chin, brushing her thumb over her bottom lip.

“Not your daughter, angel. OUR daughter”, he corrected with a smile. “Trust me on this one, Anna Hudson sounds lovely ... just like her mother”, bringing tears to her eyes.

“You want a daughter with me?” unsure where those doubt were coming from.

“And a son ... and more daughters ... and more sons ... and ...”

“That’s it, Hudson”, placing her hand over his mouth. “If you think I’m a baby factory you’re highly mistaking.”

His chest was trembling and his mouth was twitching into a grin under her palm. He took her wrist and gently removed her hand.

“I love you, angel, and the greatest you could ever give me is a child.”

“I love you, Jack”, she whispered before his lips found hers.

+++++

The owner checked the registry. Hudson. FBI. Room 123.

“Follow me”, he told the couple.

Well that was lovely and and then wham you did it again. More mystery. What couple? And what happened to client confidentiality?
kav

I have a very bad feeling about this....

~laura michelle~

Marlo please tell me that wasn't Sue's parents!!!!

Sam