Stolen Words

By Frank and Yonda Fletcher

Upon graduation, poet Taylor Maxwell was determined to build a business. After opening a small cafe and hiring a few friends she finds her life in turmoil. she is forced to overcome her fears and confront those she trusted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 30, 2011
• ISBN: 9781467873871

Frank and Yonda Fletcher

Yonda Morrison Fletcher has been writing poetry since high school. She is the author of five poetry books and has won a few poetry awards. Stolen Words is Frank Fletcher Jr.'s first book. Most of my writing consisted of emails, Tweets and Facebook messages. Taylor, Denise and friends caused many sleepless nights with all their chatter inside our heads. We enjoyed the time spent with them as they allowed us to peek into their lives.

Book preview

Contents

Dedications

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

About the Authors

Dedications

Frank Fletcher Jr.

To my entire family with love,

To the dozens of sources of inspiration and

To my wife Yonda, thanks for letting me be a part of the world of authors

Yonda Morrison Fletcher

To my husband Frank, who helped in writing this book

And to my siblings, who always inspire me to do and be more.

I love you.

Chapter 1

Taylor Maxwell was tired of arguing with her boyfriend. She felt he’d put her down constantly and finally she’d had enough. The least he could do is support me she thought to herself. I’ve always tried to be there for him She continued. Taylor packed her few belongings into her car and returned to his dorm room. This time he blocked her from entering. She pushed past his arm and grabbed her last bag. As she walked away she suddenly stopped, turned and tossed his keys to him. Taylor looked him in the eye and told him she was going to make it. Somehow, someway her dream would happen. Of that much she was certain. He gave her a smug goodbye and with that Taylor took off. She was now more determined than ever to prove her detractors wrong. She felt no one believed in her dream. No problem, she believed and that’s all that mattered as far as she was concerned. Taylor daydreamed as she drove down several streets with storefronts that fit her vision. She hit the highway still angry. Her only solace was the distance she was putting between herself and her past. As she drove she continued eyeing the occasional storefront. One day….one day she nodded as she repeated the words. If she had to be her biggest cheerleader then so be it. Taylor could feel her heart racing from the tension building within her. As she made her way home she began thinking back on her final semester. She’d just graduated and in spite of her tense send off she had much to look forward to. If nothing else, Taylor had determination in abundance. Also a ton of motivation fueled by the ever-present sibling rivalry with her brother Andrew. She felt somewhat pressured to create something of her own. As her car sped down the highway she pondered over her need for financing and finding a location for the café she longed to own. With her mind preoccupied she halfway ignored the incoming call on her bluetooth headset. Hello? she answered. Hi Taylor, how long will it be before you get home? her brother asked. Hi Andrew, maybe 30 minutes or so, I don’t like talking and driving but I’ll be there soon. Hey! Is dinner almost ready? I’m hungry. She told him. Yes, dinner’s ready. See you soon he answered. Once Andrew hung up, Taylor tossed her headset onto the passenger seat and returned to her thoughts. A honking horn from behind snapped her out of her daydream. She didn’t realize the light had changed. After some time, she was pulling into the driveway of her parent’s home. Andrew came out to greet her with a hug. He asked about her drive. I beat the rush hour, not that much traffic she told him. Let me get your bags. Is this all of it? he asked. Yeah, I sold some things in order to have money on hand for the ride. Taylor said. Need to rest before dinner? he asked. Nope, I’m fine. Let’s eat, I’m starving".

As Andrew prepared the food, Taylor set out the dinnerware. During dinner they reminisced about how the years had passed and discussed old friends who still lived in the area. I still see Austin now and then. Andrew informed his sister. I need to call him to let him know I’m back. She said. They finally broached the subject of the death of their parents. It was still an uncomfortable topic but something they had to face. They had each coped fairly well. Thanks for dinner said Taylor. Anything for you said Andrew. So Taylor, what are your plans now that you’re back home? he asked. Caught off guard, Taylor paused, chewed and swallowed a piece of chicken. I have some interviews set up at a few restaurants and cafes. I’d like to get some real experience if I want to open one of my own. She answered. Really? That’s great! What kind of restaurant? He asked. I kind of envision a small coffee bar that serves light snacks. You know, a place where people recite poetry. I’m into that kind of stuff. She told him. I already have the name picked out and everything What’s the name? he asked. She walked over to the sofa and opened a small briefcase. She removed a folder and took out a sheet of paper. Andrew looked at the logo she had designed. Xpressions Poetry Cafe, I like it, Taylor that’s really cool! he told her. He noticed a furrow in Taylor’s brow. What else is going on? he asked. Well, I have written some new poems. I’d like to get your opinion on them if you wouldn’t mind. I need your honest opinion she told him. She handed him a thumb drive. You can let me know in the morning." Taylor cleared the table while Andrew headed toward his room to read. She took a minute to send a text to Austin letting him know she was home. Moments later he responded saying he’d see her soon. With the kitchen clean, Taylor headed to bed. She quietly walked past the one room she had yet to gather the strength to enter, her mom’s bedroom. She rose before dawn and stood in the hallway letting her eyes scan her childhood home. She tipped slowly toward her mom’s room. The stairway railing brought back memories of being a kid, walking throughout the house in search of her mother. She recalled listening for the familiar sound of typewriter keys tapping where she’d knock gently on the bedroom door. Her mom would be at the typewriter banging away as little Taylor would stand and watch. She would gently pinch Taylor on the cheek and smile then return to her letter.

With the room bathed in dim moonlight, Taylor stood in front of the cloth that now served as a typewriter cover and let her hands touch it for the first time since she’d lost her mom. Just that simple act sent shivers down her spine. She turned and reached out to touch the bedpost. Taylor placed her forehead against her forearms as she cried silently. She walked toward the dust-covered dresser, then turned once again to face reality. Her mom was no longer here. She let her hands come to rest on her mom’s old electric typewriter. Taylor had stood in this very spot many a time as her mother wrote letters to relatives, friends and the occasional note excusing her absence from school. Taylor hesitated for a minute or so then removed the cloth and got the shock of her life. She turned on a lamp. At first she just stared at the sheet of paper still in the typewriter. It was her mom’s last letter. Her mom had begun writing a letter to Taylor and Andrew but never got to finish. She was telling them how much she loved them and for them to look out for each other. Taylor stood there reading the lines over and over. She sat on the bed and buried her face into the pillow and wept. In her moment of grief she squeezed and pounded the pillow. She relaxed her hands and lay there a minute to compose herself. As she carefully removed her mom’s letter Taylor called Andrew. As she showed the letter, Andrew asked Taylor to read it to him. Wow, she knew all along. Andrew said. Taylor stared at the letter for a long moment. I can’t imagine how hard it was for her to write this. Do you ever come in here? Taylor asked. No, I don’t come into her room much. It’s still pretty much the way she left it. He told her. They reminisced for a while longer then Andrew began to get sleepy. He said he’d see Taylor later on that morning. Taylor gently placed the letter in her own room then returned to the typewriter. She struck a few keys and listened to the sound as it banged against the ribbon. A half smile crossed her face. She slipped a sheet of paper into the machine and grinned as she began composing. She at once felt a connection with her mom. Back in his room, Andrew put the thumb drive into the laptop and propped himself on a few pillows.

As he read her poems he could feel the hairs on his arms rising. His heart began to beat faster and he heard himself laugh out loud a few times. After a few more poems he let himself drift to sleep. Later he was awakened by the smell of breakfast. He took a quick shower and headed toward the kitchen. Smells good he told Taylor as he took a seat at the table. So? she looked at him. Did you read it? she asked. Andrew caught on a few seconds later. You’re good. You’re writing has gotten a whole lot better, let me tell you. "You don’t