Switch

By Q. Kelly

Ellora Landry and June Blue Sky meet after they find out a nurse switched them when they were newborns. Ellora and June are forty years old and have led vastly different lives. June, raised by hippie parents, is an out lesbian who has not had the best experiences in the love department. Ellora, from a conservative family, is coming to terms with her lesbian identity and has just left her husband.

Ellora and June experience an undeniable attraction. However, they are reluctant to risk their hearts, especially since that means revealing secrets and telling the entire story behind half truths.

Will they realize that perhaps they were fated to be together since their births?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Q. Kelly
• Release date: Apr 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476076492

Q. Kelly

I live in Washington state, where I am a writer and an editor. I also have a master's degree in deaf education. In my free time, I hike and savor frappuccinos.Fact One: I like corny jokes. If you have any good ones, send them my way!Fact Two: My favorite color is purple, but my writing is gray. Life is not black and white. I often write about issues and characters where there is no "right" answer.Fact Three: I'm weird. I like being weird.Email me at [e-mail]. I'd love to hear from you.Check out my blogs at qkelly.wordpress.com and qkelly.blogspot.com.

Book preview

SWITCH

Q. Kelly

Thanks and acknowledgements

Melanie, my wife, deserves a medal for her support and patience.

Thank you to all my readers. I mean everyone: my beta readers, including Erin Saluta, my editorial readers, the people who have bought my books and the people who took the time to review them and/or email me. Thank you all. You are a big part of what keeps me going.

Last, but not least, many thanks to cover designer Leigh Ann Britt. Love the cover!

Ride the Rainbow Books

www.ridetherainbowbooks.com

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead or actual events is coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced without the permission of the author.

Switch Copyright © 2011 by Q. Kelly

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Q. Kelly on the Web:

http://qkellybooks.com

http://qkelly.wordpress.com

I would love to hear from you!

Email me at [e-mail]

Q. Kelly's Other Books

Waiting

Strange Bedfellows

Third

The Odd Couple

All in the Family

The Old Woman and Other Lesbian Stories

Miss Lucy Parker and Other Short Stories

Cupid Pulls a Prank and Other Lesbian Tales (coming soon)

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

Q. Kelly's Other Works

First Chapter of Third

Chapter One

Ellora sipped from her Coke. Good stuff, an experience indeed. The burst of flavor. The temporary grasp of perfection. The mouthgasm. Coke engaged Ellora's taste buds, her mouth, her brain, and this Coke was one of the best. She would gladly return here just for the Coke, no matter that Groovy Beans was a coffee shop.

Jeffrey was a Pepsi guy, and they'd had many good-natured quarrels over their differing tastes. Ellora claimed that Pepsi was a teeny tiny step above medicine, which possessed a You need me to get well, so I'm trying to mask my horridness quality. Coke, on the other hand, clicked on all cylinders. Jeffrey grinned and said Ellora had it wrong. Coke was the medicine. Pepsi was the nirvana. Not that it mattered anymore. Ellora and Jeffrey were done. In soda terminology, they had fizzled out years ago, had gone flat. Truth was, they had always been flat.

Ellora savored another sip of Coke and glanced around Groovy Beans. Still no woman in red, which was good. Ellora was not sure how she would react if June was crazy early, too. The coffee shop was hopping with summer-school students from James Madison University, and Ellora had been lucky to land her seat near the windows. She was not sure she liked Groovy Beans, other than the Coke. The place was too crowded, but maybe June wanted safety in numbers. Ellora had a new favorite number: one million. As in dollars. Maybe after the divorce was finalized, she would flee the environs of Harrisonburg, Virginia. She would live in Manhattan or Paris or Rome. Yeah, right. A million would net her maybe six months' worth of living in these cities.

She got an envelope and a thick black Sharpie from her purse. The mail had come right before she left the house, and one of the envelopes was addressed to her and Jeffrey. It was nothing important, little more than junk mail.

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Landry

768 Paulette Court

Harrisonburg, VA 22802

Ellora crossed out the bottom line. Then the middle line. She read and reread Mrs. Jeffrey Landry, a phrase spat out by an impersonal printer. She was nothing more than an extension of her husband, was she? Wrong.

Ellora's life had changed in a heartbeat three months ago in the hospital administrator's plush, luxurious office. Not when the man, Mr. Cleveland, confirmed the switch, nor a few instants later, when he raised his toothpick-thin eyebrows and said settlement and one million dollars. Jeffrey only grunted a laugh at Mr. Cleveland. We're not settling, Jeffrey said. We'll see you in court. That was the instant Ellora knew the time had come to upend her life. Her skin burned every time she replayed Jeffrey’s reaction. How could she and her husband have drifted so far apart that he did not ask her opinion on the settlement? Ellora could overlook much, could forgive much. Not this last straw, and she had to accept she and Jeffrey had never loved each other like a husband and wife should. Ellora got a lawyer last month, unbeknownst to Jeffrey. Her lawyer took care of everything. One million dollars after taxes. One freaking million dollars Jeffrey had no clue about. On Monday, Ellora would ask her lawyer to handle the divorce. Leaving Jeffrey just might be easy, quite easy.

Ellora buried Mrs. Jeffrey Landry under a stern black line. Then again. And again. She checked the time on her phone. Forty-five minutes until six o'clock. Forty-five minutes to kill. Ellora's nervousness would not allow her to sit still and drink Coke, however good it was. Maybe she would buy a newspaper. Groovy Beans sold The New York Times, The Washington Post and a couple of local papers. But that might lead to unsightly ink smudges, and Ellora was determined to look as good as possible for June.

She had curled her long blond hair and applied green eye shadow to bring out her eyes. One thing she knew for sure, she was a good-looking woman. Taking care with her diet and workouts ensured she had the body of a twenty-year-old and not the forty-year-old she was. Maybe June would be plump. Nothing wrong with that. Ellora wore the low-cut green blouse she told June she would wear. However, Ellora had said green blouse. Nothing about it being low cut. Ellora loved the shirt. It represented the new her: more daring, more bold.

Some Mad Libs were on sale near the front counter, but Ellora could hardly go tapping random people on the shoulder and ask them to play. She refused to play alone because…well, she just did. These stories were for laughing, for intimacy. Playing alone was pathetic. Why hadn't she brought a book? Or something. Something! Arriving an hour early had been foolish. Thirty minutes early, eh. Maybe a bit too early but not extreme. Fifteen minutes early, okay, sure. That was reasonable. An hour early was just plain dumb.

Ellora checked her email and a couple of news sites on her phone. A table for two opened up, and Ellora grabbed it. She also threw the Mrs. Jeffrey Landry envelope away. She surfed more websites, and the minutes on her phone ticked on and on. Six o'clock arrived. June was late. One minute late, then two, then five. Then ten. Then fifteen. Ellora wanted to cry, and she was not sure why. June had stood her up or forgotten about her. So what? June was nothing to her, and she was nothing to June. Never mind that Ellora wondered about June's appearance, her car, what foods she liked, her personality, everything. Ellora did not mind this obsessing, because many normal people would do it. Ellora was supposed to be June, for goodness' sakes! But Ellora drew the line at a picture and at Googling.

Ellora's parents—that is, the people she called Mom and Dad—had Googled June. Ellora told them she preferred to not know about June before they met. Nancy and Lincoln had probably been relieved. Helped avoid awkward conversations. No doubt Nancy and Lincoln had unearthed many pictures of their biological daughter, no doubt they knew where she worked, no doubt they knew many little facts about her. Imagination was better. Ellora liked to envision June as a rebel, as a free spirit who would take Ellora under her wing and guide her in this new life.

Except June was not showing up.

Give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe June was delayed for a good, practical reason. Maybe she had a child, or children, who had gotten spaghetti all over their faces or who had hidden where their father or June or the baby sitter could not find them. A kid was the reason Ellora married Jeffrey. Her heart pinged, as it did every time she remembered William, small, pathetic and purple.

Maybe June had cold feet. Certainly she was not perfect. She had sounded nice on the phone, not like someone who would stand Ellora up. June had a soft, lilting voice, different from the hoarse voice belonging to Ellora's biological mother. Probably hoarse because of cigarettes. Pot cigarettes. Hippies loved them, right? Ellora had not Googled her biological mother either. In fact, she had Googled no one, but Understanding Summerstar Blue Sky's name gave away that she was a hippie. Plus Understanding had said on the phone that she was a hippie. She had been brimming with excitement. No caution. June's voice had been soft and lilting, yes, but cautious. Very cautious, very restrained. Ellora did not blame her. She herself was cautious about how to approach June. Nothing in the etiquette books covered how to deal with the woman who had been leading the life you were supposed to live.

Ellora debated her next move. She could call June. Or decide how long she was willing to stay. Or or or or or…

Ellora surveyed Groovy Beans again, looking for women her age. The thought perhaps was absurd, but it was possible June had shown up wearing something other than red. Maybe she wanted to observe Ellora in secret. Ellora found two women who could be about her age, but she saw nothing of herself or her family in them. June probably resembled Ellora, at least vaguely. They had looked similar as newborns, and their parents resembled each other. At least, that was what the nurse said when she explained in her diary why she switched them. The nurse had died last year, and six months passed before her son stumbled across the diary. He found entries that simply could not be true. Five switched pairs of babies across a span of fifteen years. Except, yeah, true. Sure enough true.

The door to Groovy Beans opened, and a woman in a flowing, loose red dress entered. The woman was June. Had to be. She looked so much like Robby it was ridiculous. Ellora's chest squeezed, and she had never missed her brother more than in that moment. Robby and June were the same tall, lithe and delicate. Their facial bones were precisely carved, their lips full. They had the same shade of blond hair, the same everything, except June's features were feminine.

Ellora's heart hammered, and the butterflies in her stomach intensified. Dear God. Hallelujah.

Over the past year, Ellora had gotten into the habit of rating women on a scale from one to ten. Smiles and eyes did it for her, usually. Unnaturally thin and fake women could take a hike. Rating women was not politically correct, far from it, but Ellora enjoyed her little secret. At least rating women was proactive. It was a way for her to admit to herself that, yeah, she was sexually attracted to women.

But she could not rate June. No way. Ratings were not meant for exquisite creatures such as Robby and June. It was like Robby had come back to life. Ellora did not believe in reincarnation, but this was close. She wanted to stare and stare and stare at June, to drink in every detail of her. Ellora wanted to make June into a museum exhibit and get a bench. She would sit on the bench and study June for hours.

June's gaze found Ellora's, swept over her face. A swallow from June. A forced smile. White, even teeth. June waved, and Ellora returned the wave.

June made her way over. She walked gracefully, easily. She was different from Robby in that way, at least. Robby had walked like, well, like a man. June was one hundred percent a woman, a woman who took her time. Robby was always in a hurry, always eager to get to the next exciting thing.

Ellora?

June?

They sized each other up. June smelled fresh, of perfume, of lavender. Robby had smoked cigarettes, one of his many vices. His smell had never been pleasant, per se. So, this was Ellora's parents' biological daughter. This was Robby's biological sister.

Five months had passed since Ellora found out about the possibility of a switch.

Three months since the DNA test confirmations.

One and a half months since June and Ellora gave permission for their contact information to be distributed to the other's family.

Two weeks since the phone conversation, and here June was.

June had brown eyes, deep, soulful brown eyes that caused Ellora’s pulse to race. Both Ellora and June had been born with blue eyes. Many babies were. William too, purple William. Robby also, but his eyes turned hazel later.

June wore a necklace that looked like it was made of beads, and at the same time, not. She also wore a rainbow bracelet, probably hemp. Ellora and June shook hands. June's skin was smooth, soft, like she had just lotioned up. Ellora liked the feel of her. June ventured another smile, putting Ellora more at ease. June was as nervous as she was, if not more so.

I'm sorry I'm late. It's a long story, and I won't waste more of your time. Anyway, I...hey. Are you okay?

Ellora tried to shoo off thoughts of Robby, but he remained in her mind. Good old stubborn reincarnated Robby. Ellora proffered a wide grin. I'm fine.

Okay. June tilted her head toward the order counter. I'm gonna get something. You want anything? Your drink's watery.

N-no, I'm fine. Thank you.

Be right back.

June returned a few minutes later and sat. Her dress was low cut, a little more so than Ellora's blouse. Don't look at her breasts. Not looking was hard because the breasts were, well, they were there. Exposed. Somewhat, anyway.

I'm not looking.

So, June said. She gave Ellora a black, layered glance. Pardon my French, but we're in one fucked-up situation, aren't we?

Mmm. Yes. Ellora had never been a person who swore. First of all, strong language to her parents meant heck and darn. Jeffrey did not swear either. He said cursing was crass and uncouth, that many better ways existed to say something. Cursing was for Neanderthals. That was one of the few things Jeffrey and Robby had in common. They would ban cuss words if they could. So, Jeffrey and Robby. I was switched at birth, and it went undetected for more than thirty-nine years. What better phrase describes that than fucked-up situation? Yeah, I thought so.

June sighed and brought her cup to her mouth.

What did you get? Ellora asked.

Hot chocolate. June tasted tentatively. Shit, it's hot.

That’s two cuss words already. Supposed to be hot.

June chuckled. Good point. I'll let it cool off. She set her hot chocolate aside, and Ellora took the opportunity for a glance at June's cleavage. For a second. Only a second. Less than a second. Boobies. Yummy.

So, hot chocolate in July? Ellora asked.

Yeah, sure. Why not? People drink coffee all year.

Isn’t hot chocolate hotter?

No, June said. About the same.

Ellora tried to relax, but it was hard with June's enticing breasts searing her mind. I'm a definite dyke. She liked the feel of the sentence. She could say definitely a dyke, but it did not have the same sense of alliteration. Definite dyke, definite dyke. I’m a definite dyke.

I like your necklace, Ellora said.

Yeah? June grinned. Made it myself. The bracelet too.

Wow. Did they take long?

I’m quick. I sell these at my shop.

You have a store?

I own Hippie Times near here. Co-own it, really.

I know the place, Ellora said, but she did not. No clue.

Come by anytime. I’ll give you ten percent off.

I will. Is your necklace made of beads?

Nope, June said. This is called ladder trellis yarn. She took the necklace off and handed it to Ellora.

Ellora fingered the fabric. Definitely not beads. The necklace was comprised of four shades of purple, and Ellora gave it back.

So you like hot drinks? Ellora asked.

June raised an eyebrow. Sure. I gather you don’t do hot chocolate and coffee?

I like soup. Some kinds. But hot drinks, no. Way to go. This is good conversational lube. Ellora was glad June was not jumping into the particulars of the switch situation.

Did you give permission for the other switched people to contact you? June asked.

Spoke too soon. No. Just you and your family.

Same here, June said. I figure the less people who know my name, the better. So, hey, did you take the settlement?

Ellora hesitated before answering. I did, yes.

I took it too, June said. Maybe I should've waited and sued for more, but... She shrugged. I had my reasons.

Me too. Ellora remembered Jeffrey foaming at the prospect of a multimillion-dollar payout.

Do you work?

I was a bank teller, Ellora said.

Was?

I quit yesterday. Couldn't wait to do it. The expression on my boss's face was worth it.

June grinned. Naughty.

Ellora liked June’s grin, liked the fact she had made June grin. I figure I'll take a month or two off and then start looking for a new job.

That sounds great, June said. What do you want to do?

Make you grin again. Strip.

June’s eyes went wide, but only for a second. So you’d be handling money again, just in a little different way.

Ellora chuckled. Yeah, just a little different. Hmm. I don’t know what I want to do. I’ll figure it out. Plenty of time.

You didn’t like your boss?

He was okay. Sometimes he acted like he owned the whole bank chain, though.

Hey, can I ask you something? June said.

You just did.

Why did you look at me that way when I came in?

What way?

Like I... June shook her head. Never mind. Is it because I look like your brother? I'm sorry about what happened.

We don't have to talk about Robby now.

Why?

It's depressing, Ellora said.

Then we'll get depressing out of the way.

Ellora wished she had let June buy her another Coke. She could use a burst of deliciousness. I guess.

You were close? June prompted.

We tried to be.

When I saw his picture, it was like... June grimaced. It was odd seeing myself in a stranger. He was handsome.

That he was.

I Googled your parents. Googled you too, June said with a grin. Of course I did. I Googled you before everyone else. I couldn't believe it when you told me you hadn't looked me up online and weren't planning to.

The comment made Ellora smile. I'm weird.

It's not weird. It's awesome.

Awesome? Why?

June shrugged. I don't know. It just is. Delayed gratification. Patience. I don't know. Hey, your husband's good looking.

Right about now, Jeffrey would be getting home and wondering where Ellora was. The goodbye note was in the refrigerator with the wine; Jeffrey had a glass most days when he got home. Mmm, I guess he is, Ellora said.

You guess?

Ellora dropped her gaze to her bare fingers. A deep indentation showed where her ring was supposed to be.

Your husband's good looking. Ellora was tempted to tell June everything. Telling her would be easy because June had Robby's gaze, Robby's grin, Robby's mouth. Likely Robby's sympathy too.

Being with this lavender-smelling woman, this lovely June, this reincarnated Robby, gave Ellora a heady rush. Go ahead. Do it. Tell someone. That way it becomes real. That way there is no chance you'll return to him tonight.

About my husband, Ellora said.

Yeah?

We've separated.

June leaned in, her gaze understanding and concerned. You doing okay?

Great. It's for the best. He actually, he, uh...

He what? June asked.

He doesn't know.

Your husband doesn't know you're separated?

That's right. Ellora couldn't bring herself to meet June's gaze. Her plan seemed bizarre all of a sudden. Cowardly

Reviews for Switch

[walnut242 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I neither loved or disliked this book. I really do not know how to describe my feelings. The whole time I was reading I continued to ask myself "would/could this really happen this way?" When I say this I am not refering to the switching of babys. I refer to interactions between individuals. Things they did or maybe the way they did things. Other books I have read by Ms. Kelly I have enjoyed, just not this one. I felt that the concept was good but could have been developed a little differently.