Forgiven

By Vicki Connellan

Kyle was in the wrong place at the wrong time and when things happened that changed the course of his life forever, life, as he knew it ended. Now he's home and looking to get things back on track. All he wants is to make his Gran proud, to find a job, and settle back into a normal life. Falling in love with Maggie, his Gran's neighbour and friend wasn't part of the plan, but it's happening and he can’t stop it, no matter how much he tries.

Forgiven is the story of love, life, forgiveness and eventually happiness.

I hope you enjoy reading the story of Kyle and Maggie as much as I enjoyed writing it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vicki Connellan
• Release date: Nov 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9780994421920

Vicki Connellan

Vicki was born in Orange, NSW. When she was two years old her family moved to Dapto, a southern suburb of Wollongong. She was kicked out of pre-school at the age of four (for reasons that she will keep to herself).   When she was sixteen she moved with her parents and two sisters (Vicki is the typically misunderstood middle child) to the ACT where, ironically she studied Child Care so she could work in a pre-school. Now, at the age of 45 she still lives in Canberra with her husband and three adult/teenage children.   Vicki works full time (not in the child care industry!) and is an avid baker. She spends her time taxiing her kids around and baking cup cakes for all the kids who constantly fill the house.    Vicki has always enjoyed writing and is now taking the time to put her stories to print.  You can contact Vicki via email at [e-mail] with any questions or  feedback on her book.  If you enjoyed the book please take the time to leave a quick review. 

Book preview

About the Author

Vicki was born in Orange, NSW. When she was two years old her family moved to Dapto, a southern suburb of Wollongong.

When she was sixteen she moved with her parents and two sisters to the ACT where she studied Child Care.

Now, at the age of 46 she still lives in Canberra with her husband and three adult/teenage children. 

Vicki works full time (not in the child care industry!) and is an avid baker.

She has always enjoyed writing and is now taking the time to put her stories to print.

You can contact Vicki via email at

[e-mail] with any questions or

feedback on her books.

If you enjoyed the book please take the time to leave a quick review on the site you downloaded it from.

Acknowledgement

Fred, you are the best husband a girl could ever want. You’re amazing in every way, thanks for choosing me. After twenty-five years I still can’t believe how lucky I am.

The awesome kids are a bonus.

Kim and Deb you two are simply the best editors and friends. You make me laugh all the time but mostly you make me want to keep writing. Thanks for all of your encouragement and feedback. Love you to bits girls, I’d be lost without you both.

Chapter 1

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Maggie

It was just after seven by the time I left work. I wanted to put in some extra hours seeing as though I was coming in late tomorrow. I called May as I was heading home to see if there was anything she needed, just as I did every afternoon as I was leaving work. Since her eyesight had started to deteriorate she’d given up driving. I didn’t mind running errands for her, she had no other family around and neither did I. That’s how we became friends. I moved into the townhouse next door to May almost three years ago and we’d become instant friends. It wasn’t long after we met that my own grandma passed away as the result of a stroke. With my brother being over a thousand kilometres away and Mum and Dad overseas, May was there to help me grieve. We spent a lot of time together. I’d take her to bingo and to visit with her friends. I’d take her shopping and to the movies when it was classics night. She loved the old black and white movies and I’d often look at her as she watched the big screen and ogled a young Cary Grant, Rock Hudson or James Dean like she was sixteen again. I also took her to see her grandson every Sunday.

I loved May like she was my own grandma and I was so happy for her that her grandson was coming home tomorrow. He was coming to live with her and she was beside herself with excitement. She told me that she’d raised him from when he was twelve years old. His father had been killed in a motorbike accident when he was just a baby and his mother, May’s daughter, had died of breast cancer when the boy was just twelve. He was twenty-seven now and he’d been away for the past three years. Even though I’d taken May to see him every Sunday for almost three years I’d never met him. I always waited in the car while she visited with him. It wasn’t that I had anything against going into the prison, I just wanted to give them their privacy. May looked forward to her visit every Sunday and I didn’t want to intrude on the little time she had with her grandson. I stopped off at the local supermarket to get some milk and coffee for myself, and a couple of things for May. It was almost eight when I knocked on her door. Hi May, I gave her a hug as she ushered me into her kitchen.

You had a late day at work love, have you eaten dinner yet? She put her groceries into the fridge and turned to me.

No, but it’s okay, I’ll just make a sandwich when I get home. She started shaking her head and telling me that she was having none of that as she pulled a plate from the cupboard. So, what time are we picking Kyle up tomorrow?

As soon as I mentioned her grandson’s name her face lit up. We need to be there at ten o’clock, she beamed over at me. Are you still right to take me dear or do you need to go into work?

I’m still good to take you. I’ve organised to have the morning off, they’re not expecting me until lunch time, she looked relieved. Is there anything else you need me to do tonight? If I know you, you’ll have everything already organised, I smiled at her. We’d been and bought new bed linen for Kyle’s bed and we’d decorated his room so it was nice and manly. May had given me some of her old photos, one of Kyle and his mum when he was younger, one of him as a baby in his fathers arms and one of the three of them together. I’d had them digitised and put on canvas and now they hung on his walls. Between the two of us we’d washed his entire wardrobes worth of clothes so they smelt nice and fresh and they were all hanging in his wardrobe or neatly folded into draws.

No, I’m all set dear. I made his favourite chocolate cake today and some of the chocolate chip cookies he use to love. The pantry and fridge are full of his favourite foods too thanks to you, she smiled at me as she served me up some left over meatloaf and veg. I don’t think I’ll get a wink of sleep tonight I’m that excited. I can only imagine how excited Kyle is to be coming home tomorrow, May sat opposite me at the table and we chatted while I ate. Just after nine o’clock I said goodbye to May and headed home. It was only a short walk, about thirty metres all up but she always watched me until I had my door unlocked and went inside. I gave her one last wave then closed my door.

Hello puss puss, I reached down to pick up my cat Sherbet. What have you been up to today? I walked into the kitchen and put her down on the stool. Seriously, I shook my head. Now I’m a sad pathetic twenty five year old single girl who talks to her cat. Every year I thought that it’d be my year to find that special someone and every year I’d still be alone come Christmas time. There’s still hope this year Sherbie, it’s only just the start of May, I still have six months left, I gave the cat some milk then settled on the couch with my cuppa and flicked on the telly. After flicking through one sad reality show after another I settled on a re-run of Friends. I put my head back and closed my eyes. Seriously, things have to turn around for me soon. I wasn’t destined to become a spinster, was I? No way, the spinster life wasn’t for me. One, I wanted kids. I’d already decided that if I hadn’t found the right man by the time I was thirty-three then I’d go down the sperm donor road. Two, if Sheila the cranky horrible dog face across the road could find a man then so could I. And three, I needed sex. I hadn’t had sex in so long and it was becoming something of an issue for me. Every time a hot guy came into work all I could think about was leaping over the counter, ripping his clothes off and taking him right there on the waiting room coffee table. Things were getting so bad I was even starting to look at creepy Leo as a possible release. Shit what was I thinking? I’d never go there. Leo was the typical salesman, slick, creepy and disgusting. No way, not Leo, not ever. Until I found a man I’d just stick with Rodger, my trusty battery operated Rodger. So named after a famous cartoon rabbit. I flicked off the telly, shoved Sherbet off my lap and headed for the kitchen to put my cup in the sink. Time to go wake up Rodger I sighed to myself as I locked the doors and turned off the lights.

I knocked on May’s door a little before nine. It was just over an hours drive to the prison where Kyle had spent the last three years, and I knew she wouldn’t want to be late. Hi May, ready to go?

I’ve been up and dressed since six o’clock love, I can’t wait to bring my boy home, she was smiling from ear to ear. May talked non-stop for the hour-long trip. I heard more stories of Kyle as a baby, Kyle as a young boy in school, Kyle as a teenager and then Kyle as a man.  I could tell by her voice that she was worried about him. She was worried that he wouldn’t be okay once he got home. She was worried that he wouldn’t be happy and if he’d be able to adjust back into normal life. She was worried that he wouldn’t be able to find a job and that people would look at him differently because he’d been in jail. I just want him to be happy dear, he’s a lovely boy. He has a heart of gold and I just want him to be happy, she looked over at me as she spoke. You two would make a lovely couple dear, I whipped my head around to look at her.

I don't even know Kyle, and don't you go playing match maker. Let the man have some time to focus on himself and get his life sorted before you go trying to set him up with someone, I shook my head at her. Besides, once he hooks up with his old friends he’ll be fine. If he’s as lovely as you say he is then he’ll have no trouble finding a girl on his own, I smiled at her as we pulled into the car park of the prison. I’ll wait here, you take your time, I reached over and gave her a hug before she got out of the car.

***

Kyle

I’d been sitting in the reception area with my bag between my feet for the past fifteen minutes while I waited for Gran. The guards had all come by and said goodbye to me and wished me well. They knew I wouldn’t be back. This was a one-time thing for me. I didn’t belong here, right from the beginning everyone said I didn’t belong here but the truth was, I did. I killed a man. Yes, he was a horrible man with a record as long as your arm but he was still a person, a living breathing person that I killed. Yes it was an accident, but that doesn’t bring him back. Fact was, I killed a man and I needed to live with that for the rest of my life. Whether I was in jail or at home, that would never go away. It was always in my head. I’d just looked at my watch again when I saw Gran coming across the car park. Her friend Margaret was driving her again, probably why she’s late, old people tend to take their time when they’re driving. I didn’t mind that her friend drove her here to pick me up, she’d been bringing her here every Sunday for the past three years. Least the old girl still had her license and could get about, but Gran didn’t need to rely on her anymore. I’d be able to take her out and about now. Kyle, Gran came rushing through the door at what she considered a fast pace. Oh Kyle, I’m so happy. This day has been a long time coming, she hugged me tight. I had to bend a fair way to hug her. I swear every time I saw her she’d gotten shorter. Come on, let’s get you out of here. Maggie’s waiting in the car.

I picked up my bag, took Gran’s hand and walked out into the sunshine. I had to fight back the tears as it hit me. I was going home. No more locked doors. No more slops for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No more room inspections, no more lining up for role call. No more strip searches, no more watching my back. No more communal bathrooms. No more restrictions on where I could go and when. I squeezed Gran’s hand as she led me to the car. Home. I was going home.

I watched as a young girl got out of the car as we approached. Gran squeezed my hand and smiled at me then looked at the girl. Margaret this is my grandson Kyle, she looked up at me and smiled again. Kyle this is my friend Margaret, I looked at the beautiful young woman standing in front of us. It was a moment before I realised she was holding her hand out to me.

Hi, nice to meet you, but please, just Maggie. Margaret makes me sound so old, she smiled at me as she shook my hand. I feel like I already know you, your Gran talks about you all the time. Damn that smile was the most beautiful thing I’d seen in a long, long time.

You’re not old, I said as I pulled my hand back and shoved it in my pocket. I thought you’d be old, the words came out as more of an accusation than a statement. From the look on her face she’d picked up on that too. The three of us stood in an awkward silence for a few seconds before she turned and went to the boot of the car.

You can put your bag in here, she didn’t look at me as she spoke. A couple of minutes later we were pulling out of the prison car park and heading home. Gran kept turning and looking at me and each time she gave me the biggest smile. It was good to see her happy again. She never looked this happy on our Sunday visits, especially when it came time to say goodbye. For the first half hour of the trip Gran talked non-stop. She told me about my room, the chocolate cake, the cookies. The pantry full of food that her and Maggie had shopped for and the dinner she had planned for tonight. When she asked Maggie to join us for dinner I looked at the girl’s face in the rear view mirror. She looked in the mirror at the same time and for a few seconds we looked straight into each other’s eyes before she quickly looked away. Thanks May but I’ll pass. You two need some time together, just the two of you, she looked over at Gran and flashed her that killer smile again.

What was her agenda? Why was she friends with my gran? I didn’t speak for the rest of the trip home. As we got closer to home and into the suburbs that I knew, the ones I once called home it really started to sink in. I was free. Free to choose what I wanted to do and when. I hadn’t even noticed that we’d pulled into Gran’s driveway until the car stopped and Maggie got out. She was standing by the boot waiting for me to get my bag. It was nice to meet you Kyle, she smiled at me again only this time her smile wasn’t as big. I’ll see you later, I gave her a little nod then turned towards the townhouse. I stopped on the step and watched as she gave my gran a hug. I’ll see you tomorrow May. Call if you need anything, she rubbed my grans back then turned to go back to her car. Just before she got in her car she looked back at me and our eyes locked for a few seconds. I was not going to be the first one to look away, she needed to know that I was onto her.

Come inside dear, Gran’s words broke into my thoughts as I watched Maggie drive away. I gave her a big smile as I turned and walked inside. The place looked like it had been given a make over of sorts. There was a relatively new couch, a nice modern coffee table and some new prints on the walls.

Wow, you’ve redecorated, I looked around the room.

Yes I have, well, with Maggie’s help. I wanted to make the place look a bit more modern for you. I didn’t think you’d want to live in an old lady house with lace doilies and porcelain teacups everywhere. Come and see your room, she headed off down the hall and I followed. I hope you like it, we can change anything you don't like, she stopped at the doorway to the main bedroom and let me go in. The room looked great, totally not what I expected. It was freshly painted, three grey walls with a red feature wall. There were some black floating shelves and a flat screen television on the wall. I put my bag on the big queen size bed then looked at the prints on the walls. Photos of Mum, Dad and I. Once again I found myself fighting back the tears. What the hell was going on? I wasn’t a crier, what the hell was happening? I turned to Gran who stood in the doorway looking worried. Do you like it? She sounded anxious. We can change anything you don't like, she added quickly.

It’s fine Gran, it looks great. But this was your room, I went over to her.

I know love but I thought it would be nice for you to have the bigger room and this one has the ensuite so you get your own bathroom as well. Maggie helped me move all of my things to the other room then we set this one up for you. She looked pretty happy with herself but when she turned and saw the look on my face she quickly added. It was my idea, not Maggie’s, she patted my arm. She’s a good girl that one, I’d be lost without her, again I found myself wondering what the purpose was to the friendship. What did Maggie get out of it?

I might go have a shower and get changed, I went to unpack my bag. Not that I had any clothes in there, just my toiletries and a few books.

All of your clothes have been washed so they’re all fresh for you and the ensuite should have everything you need, but if there’s anything missing we can go get it later, I went to give her a hug. She was so excited to have me home and I knew she’d gone to a lot of trouble to make things welcoming for me.

Thanks Gran, for everything. It’s good to be home, I stepped back and smiled at her.

I stood in the shower for a long time, letting the water run down over me. When the hot water didn’t come to an abrupt end after two minutes I lifted my face up to the shower head and smiled. After a twenty-minute shower I headed to the kitchen for some lunch. Gran had made a feast of sandwiches and was just sitting down to eat. Are you hungry love? she looked over at me and went to get up.

Stay sitting Gran, I can get a plate, I patted her shoulder on my way past. This looks great, I went to sit opposite her and put a few sandwiches onto my plate.

Let me know if you don't like the fillings love, I can make some more, she sounded worried again.

They’re fine Gran really, I smiled over at her. Anything you make would be just perfect, she started to relax a little now as she sat back and ate. She told me all about her friends and how happy they were that I was finally home. She told me all about her knitting group and the ins and outs of each of their lives. She told me about the latest repairs she’d done on the house and the list of jobs that still needed doing.

Maggie helped me do a few things on the list but some of them are just out of her league, some of the jobs need more muscle than what she’s got, she sipped tea. I’d have been lost without Maggie while you were away. She’s been a great friend to me. I knew that they had a strong friendship, Gran had talked about her on most of her Sunday visits to the jail, but I still didn’t get what Maggie got from the friendship. Why would she want to hang around with an old lady? Was she after Grans money? What’s wrong love?

Nothings wrong, I smiled at her. I just thought your friend Margaret was older, the same age as you. I didn’t expect her to be so young, I sat back in my chair as I finished off my second sandwich.

She’s twenty five love and she’s a lovely young lady. I hope you two can be friends. I really want to invite her over to dinner so you can get to know each other. I love her like a granddaughter, I’d hate it if you two didn’t get along, she looked worried again. I didn’t think that was going to happen, Maggie and I getting along, but I’d do anything to make Gran happy so I’d just have to suck it up and make an effort.

I’m sure we’ll get along fine, I reached over and patted her hand. So, what have you got planned for the rest of the day? I needed to change the subject.

Nothing love, I thought we could just stay home and you can relax or we can go and do something if you like, she got up and started to clear the table.

You sit down Gran, I’ll do this, I reached over and took the plate off her. How about once I get these dishes cleared away you show me that list of jobs that need doing. I don't want to sit around doing nothing, I’ve done enough of that over the past three years, I smiled at her. Maybe I can work on the list for the next few days then I’ll need to start looking for a job, she came to stand beside me in the kitchen. She really was getting shorter.

You don't have to worry about that yet dear, take your time. You’re welcome to live here as long as you want, you know that, she put her arm around my waist and leaned into me. I just want you to be happy love.

I know, but I need to find a job, I have limited savings and I can’t live off you forever. Although, I’m not sure how easy it’ll be to get a job now. Once they find out where I’ve been and why there’s no chance, I looked out the kitchen window into Gran’s little back yard. It was no bigger than the exercise yard at the prison. I think finding a job and getting my life back on track was going to be more difficult than Gran thought. I knew it’d be tough but she looked at me through rose coloured glasses, only seeing the good boy that I once was. Not the man who’d spent the last three years in jail. I reached down and kissed her head. I’ll be fine Gran, don't worry about me, I smiled at her just to reinforce what I’d said. I hope I convinced her that things were going to be okay, because I hadn’t convinced myself of that yet.

The next week went by pretty quickly. I’d taken care of all the jobs on Grans list and made some calls about some jobs. Of course nothing came of the enquiries. As soon as they asked where I’d worked for the past couple of years that was pretty much where the call ended. I’d expected as much but I wasn’t going to give up. I called a couple of mates from before I went to jail but they said they didn’t know of anything going. We promised to catch up for a beer but I knew that wouldn’t happen either. They’d moved on with their lives, most were married now and a couple of them even had babies. An ex con didn’t really fit into their lifestyle now. I called the place where I use to work but it had new owners who didn’t know my work history or me so that was a no go as well. Gran came over behind me and rubbed my back, she knew I was getting frustrated but she didn’t say anything. I hugged her and told her it would be okay, that something would come up. I think I might go for a run, I kissed the top of her head then went to get changed.

Ten minutes later I was hitting the pavement. My late afternoon runs had become a regular thing since I got out. I loved the freedom of being able to run anywhere, not just in laps around the yard. I really liked running but it gave me too much time to think. I thought about finding a job, about getting myself back on track to live a normal life, about Gran and about her friend Maggie. I’d only seen her a couple of times in the past week and each time it left me feeling mixed up. I didn’t want to like her but I did. I couldn’t help it. There was something about her. I was still determined to find out why she’d befriended my Gran. Maybe it was time that Gran invited her round for dinner like she wanted to. I’d been running for just over an hour when I turned into the driveway of the townhouse complex.

I slowed to a jog to warm down as I approached Grans place and it wasn’t until I came round the small bend that I saw her there talking to Gran. They hadn’t seen me yet

Reviews for Forgiven

[readunderthemoon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sweet story and characters but the grammar and writing could be improved and it is pretty outlandish story