Modern Arrangements: Complete Trilogy (Modern Arrangements #1-3) (73 page)

Not that he would admit it to Aidan or
me, but Walsh developed his first crush and it was on Phoebe and Oscar’s
daughter. It wasn’t hard to see why. She was a very bright and eloquent girl.
She had Oscar’s height and bright blue eyes, while she inherited Phoebe’s thin
frame and black hair. Adel was already on her way to being big in modeling, Phoebe
having used her in fashion shows since she was a baby and being featured in
multiple magazines. Adel enjoyed modeling, but her hobby was music. She played
the piano and guitar, two things that immediately put her on the very high
pedestal Walsh had created for her.

Jimmy grew up very close with both Walsh
and Livy. He was very much like his father and Walsh was very much like Aidan
so, needless to say, Elora and I have had to break up multiple fights between
the boys. We also realized that there was an ongoing competition over Adeline's
attention. It seemed, Jimmy too, had developed a crush.

Livy was fashion obsessed. It was like
Phoebe had found a way to mix her genetic fashion code into her. Livy is very
unique in her fashion choices and started designing clothes when she was six
years old. Though the first designs were for her Barbie’s, the ones that
followed were what caught Phoebe’s attention. So much so, that now, Livy spent
two days a week at Phoebe’s design studio as her protégé. I enjoyed that Livy
had this amazing opportunity but often felt as if I didn't connected to my
daughter the way Phoebe could.

Livy wasn't too much into guys.
"I
am far too career focused to deal with the Neanderthals I go to school with."
She
had once said when Viola asked her about having any boyfriends. We both
laughed. Aidan smiled proudly when I told him about it, clearly happy to not
have to deal with a boy crazy teenager. However, that did not mean that boys
didn't notice Livy and Aidan was the first to notice the way Ryan followed Livy
around.

Cole is now twelve and our little
technology geek. I should have seen his dismantling of all the remote controls in
the house to see how they worked as a sign of his future interests. Though,
what I found scarier was when he put them all back together and they worked.
His room was covered in soldering guns, circuit boards, computer parts, television
parts, etc.

Cole was a very smiley boy, but never
loud. He had red hair, but not like the twin’s auburn, and there were days you could
almost see Loreley looking back at you through his eyes. However, he had
Aidan’s skin tone and mouth. Having always been the quiet one, he was often walked
all over, especially when Alesandra is your baby sister.

Ah…Alesandra. She was exactly as Aidan had
said, she was my clone. Her wavy, long, dark hair with my hazel eyes and
complexion, she really didn't show any sign of Aidan physically.  Though, the
moment she was angry or upset, she was her father’s daughter. Not only was she daddy’s
little princess, but her jealousy and anger were just like Aidan’s, quick and
short fused. Her temper tantrum phase was almost enough to make me murder my
own child and she could tantrum for hours regardless of punishments. It was a
merciless process. Now that she was nine the tantrums had subsided, but she
could still be merciless.

Aidan spoiled her to death and Viola
swore it was because all he saw when he looked at her was me. I had to admit it
was a very reasonable assumption since I could get Aidan to do just about
anything I asked. And Ales ran to daddy to get whatever she wanted.

With the kids being older and still
having Kimberly in the house, I could devote more time to the foundation than previously.
Viola slowly phased herself into part time and handed me the main functions and
responsibilities. Once Viola stepped back and let me take complete control, I
pulled Elora in to help. It got her out of the house a few days a week and we
bonded as women and not just sisters.

Glancing up from the picture, I twisted
up my face at the stack of mail I still needed to go through. It had been
another long day at my office with the foundation. With a deep breath, I moved
the funding contract I'd been reading and pulled the mail in front of me. 

Pulling the stack toward me, I began
sorting through and reading invitations, proposed charity event ideas, requests
to host a charity auction for Isobel’s Heart, and other letters and
documentation. When I came across a thick plain envelope, I frowned. Flipping
it over in my hands, I examined it closely. There weren’t any postmarks to give
away who or where it was from. The only information was the foundation address
and my attention.

Keeping my eyes on the letter, I blindly
felt for my letter opener in the drawer on my left and slipped it between the
sealed paper folds. I didn’t know what it was about the letter, but something
made my stomach clench and tingle. Taking a large swallow, I reached in and
pulled out the plain white paper. The all too familiar handwriting brought
tears to my eyes.

Dearest
friend, Lilli,

No
words can express how sorry I am for all that I had caused and for all that I
am still causing now. I can only give you my simple apology and my deepest
expression of gratitude toward you and Aidan.

Having
recently acquired new photos of Cole, I couldn’t help but send you my utmost
love and thanks for raising him so wonderfully. He is truly an amazing child
and I wish that I could be with him. Since I cannot, I am more than happy that
you are. You have done a wonderful job with him.

Please
do not tell him of me in the present tense, at least, not until he is much
older and can understand the whole story.

Once
my father had shot me and I killed him, I knew that my fate was sealed. I could
never be anywhere without my father’s brothers or associates coming after me.
Nor could I stay and be sent to jail for murder. I had every intention of
killing my father if necessary and that would have been evident.

I
gave Cole all I could give him, a family full of love and happiness, along with
his freedom. Freedom from manipulation and heartache. Please never let him
believe that I did not love him, because I always have and always will.

You
have my promise that I will not intrude in your life again after this, but I
needed you to know the TRUTH. Because you have always deserved the truth, especially
after all that you have gone through.

My
deepest love and gratitude to all of you.

Lore

END

Note
from the author (ME):

            It's
a bittersweet moment when you complete a book, series, or trilogy.  It is the
end of an emotional journey, as an author, and I hope as a reader.

            Thank
you for joining Aidan and Lilli, and the whole MA Gang, on their journey to
find themselves, love, and family.  I'm so honored and blessed that you spent
your valuable time on this story.

                                                With
my sincerest gratitude,

                                                                       
Sadie

Coming
soon from Sadie Grubor…

All
Grown Up

           
Growing
up next door to the man you love - your soul mate, you would think love would
see you through everything. But sometimes, you don't get what you
want,sometimes you have to grow up. And often growing up means going separate
ways.

When
you've found your soul mate so young, but lost each other, is it possible be
happy with what you find? Is it possible to love again after you're All Grown
Up?

Tentative
Release – Summer 2013

Hidden
in the Stars (Falling Stars 2)

           
When
your heart has been broken, shattered by deceit, how do you hide your pain from
cameras and millions of fans?  You dull the ache with gorgeous women who look
nothing like the girl that tore you apart. You drown the pain with your two
best friends, Captain and Jack D.

            All
the bad boy behavior – super model girlfriend and major partying – splashed
across the tabloids is the ultimate revenge. It's also the perfect way to hide
among stars.

            Join
Jackson Shaw, guitarist for The Forgotten and step-brother of Christopher
Mason, as one small family of three discovers our hidden star. And, maybe,
makes him shine like he did once before.

Tentative Release – Mid-Summer 2013

Books by Sadie Grubor (& other pen
names):

Falling
Stars Series

Falling
Stars
Stellar
Evolution (a Falling Stars novella)

Hidden
in the Stars (coming soon…)

Live-In
Position

Under
pen name V.S. Tice

Young Adult Books as Saewod Tice:

Amongst
the Ruins

About
the Author:

To
keep up to date on upcoming releases, sneak peeks, cover reveals, and
inspirational music & images for the Falling Stars book(s) you can find
Sadie Grubor on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and her website.

Amazon
Author Page:        
Sadie Grubor

Facebook:                          
Author Sadie
Grubor

Goodreads:                        
Sadie Grubor

Website:                             
www.sadiegrubor.webs.com

Twitter:                              
https://twitter.com/SadieGrubor

You
can also find me on
Authorgraph
.

About
the Editor (& Script Savior):

It
has been my pleasure to work with Monica, and I look forward to working with
her in the future.  She already knows all the crazy I have planned for her.

THANK
YOU MONICA!!!

This
is where you can find her, but she's really, really, really, really, really,
busy, so she can't….  OKAY, perhaps I'm being a bit selfish.  I'll still be
pouty about it, just saying!

Monica
Black
– freelance editor

https://www.facebook.com/Monica.Black13

http://monicastormynightbooks.blogspot.com

TERMS AND
CONDITIONS

{Deleted
Scenes and Extras from the Modern Arrangements Trilogy}
Sadie Grubor

Scene:  Awaiting the Big V
{Set
Up:  Elora, James, and Aidan sitting

in waiting room of doctor's office for James
vasectomy.}
Aidan

"What
if they fuck up Elora? What if I can’t get it up after the surgery? What will
you do then, cause I won’t let you sleep with another guy?"

I
came along for moral support, plus it was something that Lilli and I had
discussed.

"James,
I am not having any more children and this is the most effective and less
evasive way to take care of it." She argued.

"Less
evasive?! They are going to put a scalpel near my dick, Lor, that’s pretty
fucking evasive to me!"

Elora
glanced around the room, horrified by James loud comments.

"Aidan,
tell her!" He pleaded.

"Um…James,
as a guy I get where you are coming from, but I have to admit Lilli has
suggested this to me as well." I rubbed the back of my head. "And,
well, it really does seem like the most effective and less evasive way to
go."

"Traitor."
He glared before turning back to Elora. "What if, and this is just
hypothetical, what if at some point you do decide you want just one more
child?"

Elora
narrowed her eyes on him.

"Now
look here, Henry James Iverson, I have given birth to five, count them; one,
two, three, four, five of your children." She ticked each number off on
her hand. "I have been pregnant for over five years of my life. It's
enough and this is the least that you can do, which will only be a couple of
days of discomfort in place of my five years."

James
tried to interrupt, but Elora was having none of it.

"If
you don’t do this, then you can say goodbye to my pussy for the rest of my
fertile life!"

My
eyes widened at Elora’s uncommon bluntness. When I glanced back to James, his
eyes reflected horror at the mention of celibacy. James stood and briskly
walked to the nurse's desk.

"Excuse
me." He tapped on the glass window. "I have an appointment this
afternoon."

I
turned to Elora.

"Nicely
played."

Settling
back in her seat, Elora smiled victoriously.