The Sweetest Thing

By Floridawn Lewis

It has always been hard for Kissandra McCarthy to make friends. Her nickname is Kissy, which used to cause a load of teasing in school. Back then, the boys liked her, and the girls hated her. She was in love with love, time after time after time.

Kissy is all grown up and living in Colorado in the Victorian house that she inherited from her grandmother. After one divorce, numerous encounters with ex-boyfriends from her earlier past, a life-changing health scare and six kids later, Kissy finds her happily-ever-after when she marries her childhood sweetheart, bringing the whole family together. Which is the sweetest thing...EVER.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Floridawn Lewis
• Release date: Aug 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311022981

Floridawn Lewis

Floridawn Lewis has been hooked on inventing stories for as long as she can remember. She even has many of her earlier works from school laminated in a nice leather bound folder. Her first pursuit in professional writing was in a journalistic fashion after she graduated from Metropolitan State College of Denver with a Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism working for numerous newspapers, radio stations, television stations and magazine publications throughout her career. Not one to stop her creativity at only writing, she also has a graphic arts, web master and video production degree from the Art Institute of Colorado. Her lifelong passion for writing has also led her to obtain a Master’s degree in Creative Writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University.

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The Sweetest Thing

Floridawn Lewis

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Smashwords Edition

License Notes

April Dawn Lewis aka Floridawn Lewis has asserted her moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, business establishments, events or locales are the product of the author’s imagination.

Smashwords Edition License Notes:

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this e-book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this e-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.

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All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this publication may be used, transmitted or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission by the author.

Copyright 2013 & 2017 Floridawn Lewis

Cover Art by Floridawn Designs

Music and Lyrics by April Dawn Lewis

Bucket

Man of Gold

That Summer’s Day

The Sweetest Thing

All songs registered with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and cannot be duplicated without express written consent of composer April Dawn Lewis. Copyright 2013.

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CHAPTER 1

Elm Grove, Louisiana, April 2004

The flickering of the turquoise and crimson water off the Red River in Elm Grove, Louisiana at the edge of the property where Kissandra Lynn Northridge and her family lived, caught her eye the minute she walked out on the back deck of her house. She sipped the black and orange pekoe tea from the porcelain teacup that once belonged to her grandmother. It was late in the day, right after she had spent half an hour soaking in her roman tub. Her dark chestnut hair had a sheen to it as a strand or two wisped back from her ear in the wind.

Her husband was away for the weekend, an inconvenience of his job as a Transportation Manager for an armed forces contractor. She herself was still on an extended leave from her job, as a television production manager, because her grandmother had just passed away. She sank into the white wrought iron patio chair, padded with a vivid green, coral and pink tiger lily print, as she thought about her children, some of whom were out at their friends’ houses for overnight visits.

Five kids. One on the way. Four different fathers. Only one husband. Three boyfriends that never resulted in pregnancy. The past twenty years have been a trial. So many mistakes made, she thought as she took another sip, tickling the edge of her mouth. I have loved all of them. I still love all of them. They all still love me, at least two out of the three boyfriends that I never had kids with, still do. How am I going to tell Sean? How? Jesus, I love that man.

My Kids:

Kris, also known as Kit. Kristopher Michael Torrez, he’s almost twenty years old, now. Dark and brooding. Devastatingly beautiful with those dark violet eyes and curly brunette hair. A computer geek, just like his father, Alex. His intelligent, quiet father. Both in Colorado. Kit, getting a degree from his father’s alma mater in Denver. Alexander Michael Torrez. My high school sweetheart. Married, family man, devastatingly gorgeous with dark skin, dark hair, dark eyes and great in bed. Both Kit and Alex so far away from my life here along the Red River.

Kyle. Kyle Brandon Carson, my handsome blue-eyed blonde athlete. Seventeen-going-on-eighteen years old and going to the university in Colorado on a football scholarship in the fall. He’s earth and ethereal. He’s his father’s son, in looks and ruggedness, but oh, he’s his momma’s boy, too. Brandon Ivan Carson. My first love. Handsome. The key to my heart. I would give everything to go back and start over again. No, I’m in love with Sean. I have to make this work out for the children. My children with Sean.

Everlee. Everlee Nichole Hart, a combination of my two oldest. My constant. Intelligent. Athletic. Gorgeous. Dark and light. The darkest blue eyes, an azure color, dark skin, dark hair, but full of life and smiles. She’s ready to go into the world and conquer. My Everloving, at the age of fourteen, gone to Phoenix to live with her father’s sister all those years ago. Jake and his family haven’t always been there for Everlee, but ever since she turned four, they have been a Godsend. Jacob Scott Hart. Fun in bed with light blue eyes and dark curls on top of his sexy head. A true friend when I needed one.

Savannah. Savannah Lynn Northridge, my green-eyed, blonde, impetuous, strong-willed daughter. Savannah. Bright. Energetic. True to the bone. My eight-year-old, Savan-na-nah. A hand-full, even more than Everlee was. Daddy’s girl. Sean Alan Northridge. Light brunette, amber eyes. My husband of nine years. He loves me. I love him. We’re at a crossroads, though. Will we be able to overcome the turmoil facing our relationship?

Kass. Kassidy Alan Northridge. Quiet. Kind. All sunshine and light. My little Koala Bear. My husband’s dream child. My little soccer playing, girl chasing, sweet seven-year-old light brunette-brown-eyed-baby-boy. He reminds me so much of Sean. Oh, Sean.

Then there’s this one. She caressed her tummy, still flat and not showing her condition. She took another sip of the lukewarm tea. Sex unknown, name unknown, a secret from Sean. A little something she picked up in Colorado when she was attending to her grandmother’s funeral. Without Sean.

The sun was starting to falter and there were only a few hours left until there would be a sunset to die for. Kissy, as she had been known throughout her life, sat on the deck, with another cup of tea, poured from a matching teapot. She began to read the fifth chapter of a book from her extensive collection of historical romance novels. Sean wouldn’t be home until the morning. Kissy couldn’t concentrate. Visions of her past life haunted her mind. Early childhood memories when she first discovered boys and met her best friend, who was still her best friend to this day. All of the boys, from one to…seven, came into view.

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CHAPTER 2

Mountain Range, Colorado, September 1977

It was always hard for Kissandra McCarthy to make friends. First of all, she was new to Berkeland Gardens Intermediate School in Mountain Range, Colorado, a suburb north of Denver. Second of all, her nickname was Kissy, which caused a load of teasing. Lastly, Kissy was pretty with long, dark chestnut hair and green eyes. She was smart and very well built for an eighth grader. The boys liked her, and the girls hated her. Then one day, at the beginning of the school year, Kissy met Karen Springer, and she finally had her first best friend, who also had long, dark chestnut hair and green eyes.

Kissy and Karen met in the girls’ bathroom. Kissy had been crying when Karen came in to wash her hands.

Karen asked her, while she washed her hands, What’s wrong, why are you crying? When Kissy didn’t answer, Karen put her hand on her shoulder and said, My name is Karen. What’s yours?

Kissy looked up and finally said, Kissy. My name is Kissy.

So, Kissy, what’s wrong, why are you crying? Karen asked her, again.

I just got my first period, and I don’t have a pad, Kissy said, embarrassed to say the P word.

That’s what Kissy’s mother called having a period. The P word. Like, there were no periods at the end of a sentence and it was a dirty word or something.

Hey, don’t worry about that, I’ll go ask the nurse if she has one, Karen said, leaving.

Karen showed up two minutes later, with a sanitary pad in hand and gave it to Kissy.

Kissy came out from the stall and washed her hands. Karen looked at Kissy with her pretty eyes and gave her a smile, then went back to class together.

That was weeks earlier. One day, Kissy and Karen were sitting together at a table near the outside court door. After lunch, everyone congregated outside in the court area and then stood around and talked to each other. Joline Price, who everyone called, Puppy, came up to Kissy and tried to pick a fight with her. Kissy had been talking with Joline’s boyfriend, Jason Shaw, hours before and Puppy didn’t like it. She started pushing Kissy around, taunting her.

You’re nothing but a little sneak, Kissy McCarthy, Joline said, while pushing Kissy into Karen, who grabbed Kissy by the shoulders to steady her.

There was a crowd of other girls gathering and they all started chanting, Hussy, hussy, hussy.

Leave her alone, she can't help it if she’s prettier than you are, Karen shouted, You wanna know why everyone calls you Puppy? It’s not because you’re pretty, Joline Price!

Joline gave up trying to hurt Kissy and then moved to another part of the court.

Wow, you’re something else, Kissy said, taking a deep breath.

While they were standing there, Michaela Kristofferson walked over towards them.

Oh, no, here comes trouble, Karen said, looking towards Michaela.

Why would you say that? Kissy said.

I’ll tell you after she leaves. Here she comes, Karen said, shutting up.

Hi, Kissy, I came by to tell you that David Baio has a crush on you. Jason Shaw told me that is what you were talking about to him when Joline pushed the panic button, Michaela said ignoring Karen.

I didn’t know you liked David Baio, Karen said, accusatorily.

I’m sorry, I never got a chance to, Kissy whispered.

I thought you had a crush on Todd Tomasino, Karen badgered her.

Todd Tomasino was a tall, dark and very masculine boy in their class who already had a moustache, and he was David Baio’s rival.

Well, I did, but I’ve come to like David, better, Kissy told Karen.

Well, just thought I’d let you know, Michaela said, Maybe the two of you could get together and make three, Michaela jokingly said.

Gee, she can count, let’s give Miss Mathology a hand everyone, Karen shouted, while clapping.

Kissy held back a snicker and said, That’s not funny, Karen.

Just joking, see ya later, Michaela said, glaring at Karen.

What did I tell you, I just don’t like her, and she certainly doesn’t like me, Karen said, as the bell rang for next period.

But why doesn’t she like you? Kissy asked, following next to Karen as they walked towards their lockers.

Okay, I’ll tell you. Last year, my sister, Kaye, and Michaela’s brother, Hilary, were seniors in high school. They were sweethearts, but then he broke up with her. He broke Kaye’s heart. Michaela blames Kaye for breaking his heart, Karen revealed.

It sounds like maybe you blame Hilary, Kissy said, looking straight into Karen’s eyes.

Are you on her side, then? Karen asked, raising her voice.

No, Karen. I just wish you and Michaela could be friends, that’s all, Kissy said, then the bell rang and both of them went to class.

On Saturdays everyone went to the hill. The hill was a local hangout, where there were dusty bike trails to ride on. The neighborhood kids loved to go there on weekends and challenge each other. Kissy and Karen, got on their bikes and rode the half mile it took to get to the hill. At the hill, several boys were riding down the fifteen-foot slopes, but Puppy was there, too.

Kissy saw her and said, Let’s think of something else to do.

I’ll take care of this, myself, Karen said, moving forward.

No, maybe she won’t even pick a fight with me, this time, Kissy said, not really believing it.

To Kissy’s surprise, Joline approached her and said, "I’m sorry about the fight. Jason told me that you just asked him