Amboi

By Andi Guimont

I’m standing in my kitchen watching my daughter leave for school. Coffee in hand, I go to my bathroom to get ready for work. I start to dream back to my first husband and our kids. When I was Amanda Hugh, maiden name Bittle. Married to Max Hugh for sixty-eight years. Died at the age of eighty-nine. Amboi.

Amogny (Ah-mog-knee) is the

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andi Guimont
• Release date: Aug 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781641115230

Book preview

chapter 1

I

’m standing in my kitchen watching my daughter leave for school. Coffee in hand, I go to my bathroom to get ready for work. I start to dream back to my first husband and our kids. When I was Amanda Hugh, maiden name Bittle. Married to Max Hugh for sixty-eight years. Died at the age of eighty-nine. Amboi.

Amogny (Ah-mog-knee) is the mediator of sorts in the Amboi world. He helps the transitions between lives go smoother, and even explains to newcomers what is going on. The only thing different between us and humans is that we live several lives. How many lives we have is unique to each Amboi.

I think about my past family as I do my hair and makeup. I had three children: Charlotte, Rose, and Peter Hugh. Though I loved my family so dearly, I find it hard to hold on to those feelings of love. Amogny said that I would lose feelings for those of past lives, some Amboi faster than others. I have yet to meet another Amboi. Amogny said there aren’t a lot of Amboi in the world, and we are spread throughout.

I listen to Garrett stir at the sound of his alarm clock to bring me back to this life, where I am Amanda Kramer, forty-five, married to Garrett Kramer, forty-seven, for twenty-one years. Where I am brunette not blond, chubby not thin, and a few inches taller, with brown eyes instead of blue.

Babe, your alarm clock. I poke at him.

I know, he grumbles, mocking sadness.

Though only a half hour, we make the most of our mornings together. We get ready for work by kissing as we move by each other in the bathroom, or while passing out clothes from the closet, firing sassy comments as we go. Soon I am out the door, coffee in hand, and off to work.

Roger’s law firm is a short drive from my house. I walk in and settle into my space before greeting everybody. The lawyers are having a morning meeting that seems to have been going on for a while now. Feeling that everyone could use new drinks, I make my rounds. Two lattes, a smoothie, and muffin later, everyone looks like their spirits have lifted a little. Feeling as though I’ve done my good deed for the day, I go back to my desk. The meeting wraps up shortly, and everyone makes a break for their offices—everyone except Mary.

Ugh, thanks for the muffin. Saved my life. She huffs while laying across my desk dramatically.

Sure, no problem. So what was up with the meeting, anyways?

She rolls her eyes. Boss man is hiring someone new and wants us to play nice. She pauses, then says, Oh yeah, he is making him partner.

I practically feel my mouth fall to the ground. What? Who? Why?

Not sure. I will feel it out today, though, and let you know at lunch.

And with that she’s off.

I greet customers and point them in the directions they need to go while reading through emails from Brynn’s school. Part of me wishes I had sent her to the private school my other children went to. I know that Charlotte and Rose would never meet her, but I want the homey feeling just the same. However, I was not born in New York this time. I was born in Texas, and Evangel Christian school is too far to send Brynn.

Living in this second life I found myself to be a lot more free-spirited. I’m not so afraid. Still too overbearing, Brynn would tease. Rose grew to resent me for the way I parented in my late life. When she had her own children and moved away, she thought my methods harsh. Learning from my mistakes in the first life, I loosened up with Brynn. Let her go out with her friends and party, even. Charlotte would praise me for taking positive steps forward. For opening my mind. Was I so terrible to them? Finding myself lost in thoughts of my past life again, I switch to reading the gossip email thread about the new partner being brought in.

By the time lunch rolls around, everyone has guesses. Some guess a family member, or childhood friend. Some go as far to say it’s his wife bitching about not being showcased enough. I sit with Mary and Cindy and eavesdrop on people’s conversations, and we make snide remarks to each other.

Sorry, Lynda, but no one cares about the color your cat threw up today, Cindy mumbles to us.

Really, though, that has to be fake, right? Mary asks, looking up from her phone. I mean, really brown, green, yellow; today is a light red. What’s tomorrow? A light purple?

We snicker at the sarcastic remark and then dive into our own conversation. So, Brynn is going to a party tomorrow, I say as if I just told her secret.

How’s Momma Bear doing with that? Cindy asks.

I’m okay with it. She is seventeen, after all. I feel it’s about time. Something on my face tells them I’m lying.

Just knowing it in your head is different than feeling it, Mary states.

I know. She is seventeen. I should be fine with this, right? All kids go to parties, and she is responsible. Still, I’ve been young. Twice. And I know what young men think.

Just let her go. Have a date night with Garrett tomorrow, Mary says, still trying to convince my racing heart.

figure

H

ours later, Brynn is working on homework while I make dinner. Garrett comes stomping in the house. I can’t wait to retire.

He plops down on the couch and turns the TV on but the volume low. Smells good, honey, he says, half sarcastic.

Wait until you taste it. I think you’ll like this one.

He takes his shoes off and walks over to where I’m cooking. He opens his mouth and makes a noise. Knowing he wants to taste it, I put a sample on his tongue. He makes a face, then drops his shoes by the door. I think I hear him whisper bluh under his breath. During dinner Garrett thanks me for cooking, and he and Brynn offer to clean up. We share about our days and plans we have for the weekend. Brynn and I are going shopping for jewelry tomorrow while Garrett golfs with his work friends, then we are going to have a dinner party while Brynn is off at her party. On Sunday we are going to church, and then spending the day together doing family activities.

I got accepted to the University of Texas today. Brynn beams.

Garrett and I sling compliments at her.

Oh, wow! I knew you would.

Congrats, honey! I’m proud of you.

She looks overjoyed with our praise, and continues eating her spaghetti.

Any ideas what you are going for yet? Garret asks.

Garrett and I ask her this about every other week to emphasize that she needs to pick something, and before school starts.

She rolls her eyes. No, I still don’t know. Can’t I do my generals and then see what I’d like to decide then?

Well, how would you know what classes to take the first year if you don’t even know what you are studying? Garrett doesn’t let up that easy.

Brynn shoots me a pleading gaze to step in before he goes any farther, and they start fighting again. Brynn, I interject. That sounds like an okay idea. Just make sure you take classes that can easily transfer to whatever field you would want.

Garrett looks like he isn’t done speaking on the matter, but I know it will be a conversation for just the two of us tonight. We finish eating, and as promised, they do the cleaning.

Cards? Brynn asks.

Sounds great. I smile.

We sit and play cards the rest of the evening, and Brynn tells us about her friend and the party tomorrow.

Her name is Amber. Mom, you would really like her. She glances at me over her cards. "Anyways, her parents have a lot of money, I guess, and don’t care that she throws parties. I promise to