Beautifully Insightful
K.C. Lynn
Beautifully Insightful Copyright © 2015 K.C. LYNN
Kindle Edition
Published by: K.C. LYNN
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without written permission except for use of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my girl Kim, aka Ryder’s girl. Kimmie – thank you for always being there to listen to me talk out my stories, and boosting me up when I need it. You never let me second-guess myself, and you were a huge part of this story. Thank you for loving my books as much as I do. You are one of the best things to happen to me in this Indie world. We have an amazing year ahead of us; Rome is going to be epic and a memory of a lifetime. I’m so happy I’m experiencing it with you. Love you forever, girl.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
Dear Reader
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Chapter 1
Emily
My heart pounds fast and my stomach twists with nerves as I run my hands down the front of my dress, smoothing out any possible wrinkles there might be. “Well, Summer, what do you think, do I look okay?” I ask my dog who stands close to my left side. She gives a low whine and brushes against my leg. With a smile I lean down and run my fingers through her soft fur. “I know, girl, I’m going to miss you too. I’ll be back before you know it then you will be my partner once again.” She releases another whine and nudges my cheek with the side of her nose. Giggling, I kiss the top of her head then hear my bedroom door open as I stand back up. I instantly tense, thinking it’s my mother, then expel a sigh of relief when the familiar scent of warm sugar penetrates the air.
“Oh, Emily, sweetheart, you look so pretty,” Rosa, our housekeeper, says sweetly as she steps into my room.
I turn toward the direction of her voice. “Really? I look okay? Do I look… normal?”
I feel her step closer before framing my face between her well-worn hands. “You look perfect, because you are perfect.”
I smile softly and wonder why she couldn’t have been my mother. Although, I suppose she has been in every way that matters. “Thanks, Rosa, but we both know that’s because my mother wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Nonsense!” she replies heatedly, her accent thickening like it does every time she gets upset. “She can fuss with you all she wants, but she does not control what is in here.” Her voice softens as she lays her warm hand over my heart.
I swallow past the sudden ache in my throat and voice my biggest fear. “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m scared my parents are right and that I’m going to be nothing but a joke.”
“Oh, Emily, you must know by now that your parents’ perceptions are very misguided. We’ve talked about this.”
“I know, and I’m trying to remember that. It’s just… Going back to school after all these years? What on earth am I thinking?”
“You’re thinking that you want to spend your senior year with society, and not be locked up here like you have been for the past ten years.”
“What happens if my parents are right and I’m not accepted by the others?”
“Then it’s their loss, not yours.” When I don’t say anything she moves her hands to my shoulders in a gentle, yet firm grip. “This is going to be a good thing, Emily, I know it. You are going to shine like you always do. Besides, you will know a lot of the kids, and you always have Cece.”
I think about the one girl who is the closest person I have to a real friend. “Yeah, but a lot of the people I know are ones I wish I didn’t. I have a hard time relating to them.”
“That’s why you are going to make new friends,” she responds strongly.
I shake myself out of my pity party and stand up straighter. “You’re right. Besides, I am doing this for myself, to prove that I can. It does not matter what anyone else thinks.”
“There’s my girl.” I sense Rosa lean in and feel her press a familiar kiss to my cheek. “Now let’s go downstairs, Cece will be here soon to pick you up.”
I lean down and give Summer, my guide dog, one more kiss on the head before grabbing my bag and following Rosa out of my room.
I try to ignore the sudden emptiness I feel without her and Rosa senses it. “She will be okay, Emily. I’ll watch over her while you’re gone.”
I smile and nod. Leaving her is harder than I thought it would be. She’s my very best friend, and has been by my side for the last four years. If there is ever a time I misjudge something I know I can always count on her. You will be fine, I remind myself. I’ve walked that school repeatedly over the entire summer. I probably know it better than any person who can see, and if I do need help I will have Cece.
I grab onto the wooden railing that edges the long hallway leading to my stairs, and feel Rosa follow close behind me as I start my descent. I’m just about to ask her if my mother has come down yet but I don’t need to because I can sense her as I get closer to the bottom of the stairs. Her overwhelming perfume penetrates my senses and I swear the air drops in temperature as I feel her disapproving stare.
“Good morning, Mother.” I greet her carefully, knowing she’s going to be in even more of a foul mood than usual today.
“I guess you’re still planning to go through with this stupid idea of yours.”
I don’t let her condescending tone deter me. “Yes. I told you I am not changing my mind.”
I hear her huff then feel her step closer. I try not to roll my eyes as she fixes my hair and fusses with my dress; I’m clearly not up to her standards. I also get a whiff of vodka on her breath, something that isn’t uncommon. “I don’t remember your dress being this snug.”
I grind my teeth and restrain myself from replying back with a snide remark. I learned long ago not to waste my breath on my mother. Nothing I say will ever change who she is. Hopefully this will be my last year in this house and all my plans will fall into place after I graduate.