MAURA CONLAN from Secret Horizons
Bio provided by author:
Maura Conlan was raised to believe that as the eldest in a family of five children, she had to be a role model for the siblings behind her. Though she tried to escape it at a young age, she inevitably found herself in trouble of losing the respect she had worked for all her life. Finding herself pregnant and without a husband, Maura had a baby and gave it up for adoption without telling the baby's father, and the man she loved, who didn't want a family to begin with. She returned home and took up where her mother left off in raising her siblings, sometimes against their will.
Now, after ten years, the man she loved has made a home for himself in Conlan's Glen. Unwilling to tell him the truth, she keeps him at arms length, even going so far as to get involved with another man, just to forget. To make matters worse, Maura's own sister and biggest rival, Jillie, has shown interest in her ex. With no other options, Maura simply watches as her sister enjoys what should have been hers.
SCENE #1:
The last thing in the world Maura wanted to do today of all days was go to her brother's engagement party. She stared sullenly out the window at the driveway below as her father called for Jillie and Piper. If she weren't so blue, she would think the Gone With the Wind scene playing out at the Conlan home amusing. She heard her own name being called and she threw open her window to reply.
"I'll be down in about ten minutes, Dad. I forgot to call Joanie and tell her today's special. I'll only be a few minutes," she called closing the window. Sitting on the edge of her bed, Maura pulled out the letter she'd gotten yesterday. It had been a complete surprise, pleasant but horrible at the same time. Her daughter's tenth birthday had been last week and her adopted parents had sent Maura a card with a single picture inside.
Maura was taken with her daughter immediately. Tristen's hair was long, almost as long as Maura's, and a deep chestnut color. Her eyes were a soft gray that looked at the camera with a child's innocence. Maura traced her outline, even running her fingers over her cone shaped birthday hat and felt a tear slip down her nose. She had never regretted giving the little girl to a loving family but she wanted more than anything to know her. To hug her. She wanted to hold her. And she knew she never would. The day she learned she was pregnant, she knew she would never hold her own child...this child.....November, 1990
Pink meant pregnant. She was pregnant. Maura dropped the stick into the trash and tied the garbage bag tightly, carrying it with her as she stalked to the dumpster before climbing into her car. She slipped a Throwing Muses tape into the stereo and drove. She didn't care where she went; she had decisions to make.
Rick didn't want a family. He didn't want children...they complicated life and he wanted a simple life. Hadn't he told her that a million times? He had and she had agreed. But now everything had changed because now she was pregnant. They were going to have a child whether he liked it or not. How would she tell him, she wondered. "Hi honey, how was your interview with the Chicago Tribune? Hope you got it because we'll need the income now that I'm going to have a baby." That wouldn't go over well.
Rick would be very unhappy. But she had no choice, she had to tell him. Surely he would get used to the idea, even like it after a while. Maura smiled to herself slightly as the picture of Rick as a father worked her way into her mind. It would be so sweet, she thought, a baby and Rick...they were going to get married anyway. If only he would keep an open mind!
She returned to their small apartment after stopping by a grocery store and picking up a few things for dinner. Throwing her keys on the shelf next to the front door, she spied Rick's blazer thrown on the back of the recliner.
"Rick?" Maura called lightly. He was home already, that was unexpected.
"In the bedroom!" He called back. She poked her head into the bedroom and watched as he undressed, carefully hanging his slacks and shirt back up in the closet.
"Sweetie?" She asked. "Did the interview okay?" Rick turned and grinned at her, pulling a t-shirt over his head.
"Better than okay, Mo. They offered me a job at the Tribune! Can you believe it!" He replied sweeping her up into an embrace. Maura pushed him away and stared at him.
"That's...great?" He nodded and she smiled. "Well? You told them no right?"
"Actually, Maura...I said yes. They want me in Chicago next week." She stared at him dumbfounded.
"What about it was just for practice? What about our plans?"
"You'll come with me of course!" He said reaching for her. She jerked away from him and glared at him accusingly.
"I've got a job waiting for me here, Rick. I don't want to move to Chicago," she said feeling sullen and angry. Why would he do this now? Why did all of this have to happen now?
"Maura, it's not like you couldn't find a job in Chicago," he told her sounding more like her father than her fiancé. "And it's not like we have a huge family to uproot. It's just us. You and me. No ties, like we always said." Like you always said, she thought angrily. She let him wrap his arms around her middle...her middle where their baby was growing. "I want to celebrate. Let's go out to dinner." She nodded, numb. She couldn't tell him about the pregnancy now. Not tonight...not after that.....