Resurrection 5
Posted: November 2, 2016 Filed under: Fiction | Tags: Fiction, Murder, NaNoWriMo, Resurrection, Thriller, Writing 22 CommentsThis is a chapter of the book I am writing for NaNoWriMo. If you want to read it from the start, click here for the chapter index.
Suzanna Reeves
Suzanna looked down at little Claire as she nursed. It hurt. They had told her during birthing classes her nipples would “toughen up.” Nine weeks in, she knew they lied. But there was joy in it as well. A special closeness she felt with Claire, an intimacy only a mother and child could experience. She smiled in the dark nursery.
She detached Claire and gently flipped the babe to her left breast. She felt exhausted. The breast pump helped when John was home, but he was gone for “personal spiritual retreat” this week meaning she slept only for the 4 hour or less spurts Claire did. The messy parsonage yelled at her every time she entered a room. There was some unidentified smell emanating from the kitchen she was too weary to hunt down.
Suzanna grew up in the small town of Vanceburg, in Lewis County. Vanceburg sits on the Ohio River, 100 miles east of Cincinnati. When she was a girl, it was remote. When the AA Highway was finally finished in the ’90s, access to civilization became easier.
She grew up poor but never knew it. It was true for many in Vanceburg. Her father worked at a saw mill, sometimes felling timber for extra money. Her mother worked at the nursing home.
She spent her teenage years between Druther’s, DQ and Chiggers, the local burger joint owned by the ever widening Bill Tom Cooper. Friday nights were Lion’s football. Wednesday and Sunday morning were church. Sunday night was United Methodist Youth.
At UK she had majored in Elementary Ed. She planned to teach kindergarten or primary students. She loved working with children and it seemed a natural fit. She looked forward to changing lives.
When she first met John, she thought he was a bit of a show off. A frat boy. Sure he was cute, and funny, but in a crass sort of way. Sarcastic. Over time he had grown on her and she had seen his gentleness, his kindness and the sincerity of his faith.
When he felt the call to ministry, she was there. It stirred her. She was proud and her love for him grew.
Now, seemingly moments later, they were through college, and had a pastorate and a new family. Though it hadn’t been her plan, she knew it was everything she had ever wanted in life.
Finally, Clair was falling asleep, her eyes closed and her lips detached, still occasionally sucking the air. Suzanna moved Clair to her shoulder, burped her, then placed her back in her crib.
As she reached her own bed, she thought about John. He had called earlier when he had cell service, but it was a brief “I love you, bye” kind of talk and she craved a real conversation with him. Right now her bed seemed empty and cold. She grabbed her phone and texted him “I really miss you tonight. I love you.”
She fell asleep with her phone in hand, hoping for a text back.
What woke her was not a text, nor was it Claire. It was a loud knock at her door.
It’s taken on a realistic feel to me. I know where every town and city you’re referencing is, and have been to most. This is great thus far! 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I’m struggling with the writing today and it’s a little challenging to be struggling on day 2, but I am putting together a plan that I believe will work well going forward. We’ll see.
At least I should be able to get KY right…I lived there a long time
LikeLiked by 1 person
So far so good on the Kentucky thing. It’s my neck of the woods. I live within a 40 minute drive of Frankfort, Louisville, Lexington. I’m right there with your story. Just keep writing. It’ll come.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One more thing…I’m sure most people who saw this and liked it came because of the NaNoWriMo tag and didn’t read. I wouldn’t expect them to. But the fact you read and took time to comment is tremendously encouraging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh man. It’s my pleasure. Diggin’ it so far. But I hate that you had the dude go to sUcKs!
Go CARDS!!! 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Louisville is not actually a part of Kentucky. It’s a common misconception.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spoken like a true non-Jefferson Countian. Y’all don’t mind taking our tax dollars though. Just ask David Williams, Reeechie Farmer, Matt Bevin, etc, etc. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
David Williams is actual an acquaintance of mine…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. 😏
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can bribe him at a discount…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That may come in handy. Ya know, if you’ve got a Parkway to build or a bridge to paint. Of course, it’d have to be named after him, ‘cuz he’s so schmert and all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you don’t mind me asking, where in KY do you reside? Where is your abode? Upon which city do you lay your head each eve?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Born in Cincy, but lived in Florence til I was 3. Moved to Louisville at 3, both parents from there. Mom went to Mercy, dad Flaget. I grew up in Crescent Hill, Trinity High grad, UofL grad. Moved to a farm in Nelson County in 2000. I’ve lived and laid my head in many other places, but Louisville is my hometown, and I DO consider myself a proud Kentuckian…in spite of what Elmer and Cletus over in Pikeville think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you have good teeth? Cause that’s kinda a deal breaker, ya know what I means?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Remember, I’m from Louisville. Full set of choppers here. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Kevin, I’m not familiar with any of the locations in your story (I live in Australia) but this does not detract from the character; her actions, fears, desires. A good ending too, makes the reader want to read more! I hope you enjoy the nanowrimo, I shook to my bones at the thought of it, good work so far, kudos 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, my Aussie friend. I appreciate the encouragement.
And I don’t YET enjoy NaNo, but possibly I will come December 1.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just keep writing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m trying. Had to face the reality of what it’s going to take to hit 50K. That’s about 100 hours of “decent” writing for me. I might just not sleep this month.
LikeLiked by 1 person
good luck, its a challenge but think of how you’ll feel by the end of the month (exhausted but happy!):)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I will be. We’ll see.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It absolutely warms my heart that you have bonded with Beach, he is one of my favorite people here on WP! (Next to you, of course)
LikeLiked by 1 person