An Imperfect Family

By Tricia Drammeh

On the verge of making their engagement official, Zach and Claudia must face down their greatest adversaries – his family.

 

Zach and Claudia have always believed their love for each other could overcome any obstacle, but when Zach's teenage children come for a summer visit, an unforeseen challenge threatens to destroy their love and everything they have planned for their future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Flower Books
• Release date: Jun 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201713485

Tricia Drammeh

Tricia Drammeh is a wife and mother of four children who lives in New Hampshire. Her published works include The Fifth Circle, The Seance, Better than Perfect, and the Spellbringers series. She is currently working on her ninth novel. When Tricia isn't writing, she can be found hanging out with her dog, devouring books, or drinking record-breaking amounts of coffee.

Book preview

An Imperfect Family

Tricia Drammeh

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THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

An Imperfect Family Copyright © 2018 by Tricia Drammeh

Cover Art by Canva

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Previously published in A Loving Mix: Loving Day Anthology (out of print)

Publishing History:

First Edition, Michel Prince Books, 2018

Second Edition, Blue Flower Books 2021

Published in the United States of America

An Imperfect Family

On the verge of making their engagement official, Zach and Claudia must face down their greatest adversaries – his family.

Zach and Claudia have always believed their love for each other could overcome any obstacle, but when Zach’s teenage children come for a summer visit, an unforeseen challenge threatens to destroy their love and everything they have planned for their future.

Dedication:

This story is dedicated to Richard and Mildred Loving, whose fight for equal rights under the law cleared the way for interracial couples to marry the person they love.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Epilogue

About the Author

Chapter One

Zach and Claudia walked hand in hand, soaking up what might be the last kid-free time they’d have together this summer. Only two more days, he said, lifting her hand and kissing it.

Two days? she asked, her brow furrowed in mock confusion. Why haven’t you mentioned anything before?

Haha. Okay, so I’ve might have brought it up a time or two.

Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed. She nudged him jokingly as they continued along the tree-lined trail that wound past the river.

Sorry, Zach said contritely. I know I’m probably getting on your nerves with the daily countdown.

Nothing to be sorry about. I love that you love your kids.

"And I love that you love your kids." Zach stopped walking and tugged gently on Claudia’s arm to pull her in for a kiss.

When they came up for air, she said, I love that all our kids are going to be together this summer. I can’t wait for them to meet each other.

Me too. Did I mention that I’ve always wanted a huge family?

Yep. And once we’re married, you’ll have that huge family you’ve always wanted, she said. Claudia’s daughters, ages six and eight, plus his fifteen-year-old twins would be a full house – at least during the holidays and summers when Zach’s kids came to stay.

Placing one hand on her stomach he said, Four isn’t really a huge family. I’m thinking more like six kids. Or eight.

Not on your life, she said, brushing his hand away and laughing. I think four is the perfect number.

You know what I think? I think I can change your mind. I can be pretty persuasive. He pulled her close, her body soft and yielding against his. Tongues intertwined as he deepened the kiss. They were alone on this fairly popular hiking trail, but probably not for long. It took every bit of energy he had to end the kiss and resume walking.

You ready to head back to the car? Claudia asked, surprising him. Maybe go back to my house for lunch?

Let’s go, Zach replied, pulling his keys out of his pocket and flashing a hopeful grin. Maybe ‘lunch’ meant more than lunch. If not, he’d make damn sure to make time for a little bit of dessert afterwards.

SO, DAD. ARE YOU GOING to tell us more about this girlfriend of yours? Ethan asked.

You wouldn’t have to tell us anything if you joined the twenty-first century and got on Facebook like a normal person, Emma teased.

Facebook, snackchat...

"Snapchat, not snackchat," Emma burst out, dissolving into peals of laughter at her dad’s expense.

Zach smiled at Emma’s obvious enjoyment of his social media ignorance. You’re going to like Claudia. And her kids are just fantastic.

Kids, huh?

Yes, kids. What’s wrong with her having kids? You two used to be kids once until you turned into cell-phone carrying zombies. Zach held his ancient flip phone in front of him and pretended to be gazing at it while he stumbled around the kitchen, moaning like a brain-eating member of the undead.

"Well,