Always

By Lian Clement

Do you remember when you were younger about having a happily ever after like you used to read about in the fairy-tale books? Or do you remember in your high school days when you thought about what life will be like once you graduate? For example, going to a university, moving out into a dorm, graduating after four years, getting a job, having a special someone in your life, get married, etc.

What happens when your whole life changes overnight? Will the secret from the diary tear their family apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662463990

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Always

Lian Clement

Copyright © 2022 Lian Clement

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-6624-6398-3 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-6399-0 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Let me ask you a few questions. Do you remember what you were doing in your twenties? What are most twenty-years-olds doing? Do you remember what you were doing when you were twenty-five years old? What are most twenty-five-year-olds doing? To answer the questions, I highly doubt most think about losing their parents and raising their siblings.

Right?

Family, a six-letter word that can mean love, hope, heartbreak, truth, compassion, and forgiveness. Family doesn’t always have to be blood related, but they are the ones you can always count on.

Always.

On a stormy night, the house doorbell rings. After waking up from a deep sleep, she answers the door, and in one split second, Marianna Carmen Elizibeth Santiago’s life is changed as well as her siblings’ lives forever.

Chapter 1

The breeze of the autumn morning brought a chill to Marianna’s bones; the light from the morning sun crept through the curtains, waking her from her sleep. Marianna opened her heavy eyes to check the time before she would have to roll out of bed for a hectic day that was ahead.

Marianna is twenty-five and a half years old. She is Samoan, White, and Cuban mix, average height, long curly black hair, and dark-brown eyes. She is the oldest of six, strong-willed, protected over her siblings, and is there for her friends and family no matter what.

Next is Adam who is fourteen and a half, tall (especially for someone his age), a jocky built, and has dark-brown almost-black short modern-style hair. He just started high school, plays football, and made the varsity team where he plays linebacker.

Mia is twelve. She is tall, has medium-length straight dark-brown hair and hazel eyes. She cheers and does gymnastics. She loves makeup, taking selfies and, of course, is your typical preteen who knows everything but is still learning about herself.

Then there are the seven-year-old triplets (yes, not joking, triplets, three, thres——), whom I will start describing.

Tommy is the oldest, roughest, and toughest out of them all. He loves baseball and football but mostly loves baseball. He is average height for his age, short straight dark-brown hair, brown eyes, and sometimes thinks he is the real-life Tarzan or Bamm-Bamm. He loves to climb and swing on things. He uses that just to annoy his siblings. Him and Joseph (Jojo) are identical only in looks.

Jojo loves books, especially history books. He can tell you about almost any wars and presidents. He can be a know-it-all as far as his siblings are concerned. He is the sweet one. He also loves playing baseball. That is one of the only times he and Tommy get along.

Last but certainly not least is Natalie. She is (of course) the youngest of the triplets and the baby of the family, which she uses to her advantage most of the time. Natalie is short for her age, she has brown eyes, and curly long black hair. She is sassy. She loves to follow Marianna and Mia around and tries to be like them. She loves helping and loves playing with her cousin Annalyse.

Unfortunately, five years ago, their parents died in a horrible car accident. They were hit by a drunk driver head-on. They both died at the scene. Ever since that night when she opened the door to the police, the one and only priority in Marianna’s life was keeping her family together, being there for her siblings or as she calls them her kids (so to speak), and making sure they stay busy. Three years ago, Marianna was able to adopt her siblings freeing her from the government eye and the fear of someone coming in to take them. That day, July 15, 2018, will always be the shining light of the new chapter of their lives since that horrible night when they lost their parents.

They live in their parents’ home, which is out in the country, a sky-blue-and-white two-story home. The house was built in the 1980s, has a wraparound bottom porch, and a big yard that is fenced in. They have a playground set in their backyard and hanging plants once you come up the steps to the front door, which their mother started because it lived up the house as their mother used to say.

The clock finally goes off, and she throws her blankets off. As she heads downstairs, she looks at the quote her mom wrote and placed in her mirror, Never give up. Never give in. She heads downstairs to start getting breakfast ready and finish up the kids’ lunches. Already downstairs are Tommy and Jojo. Tommy has one of Jojo’s history books and is running around screaming while Jojo is chasing him to get his book back. Marianna rolls her eyes and yells, Tommy! It is too early. Give him his book back now!

Just then, her phone rings. With one hand, she is getting the bowls out of the cabinet and spoons out of the drawer, and in the other hand, she has the phone and puts the speaker on.

Hello, Marianna says.

Hey, little mama! a voice says on the other end of the phone.

Hey, Ana! What’s up? Marianna responds.

Anastasia, also known as Ana, is one of Marianna’s closest and dearest friends. They have been friends since fourth grade when she moved to Jacksonville. She is tall, Caucasian and has long brown hair and hazel eyes. She loves music, makeup, and she is a big flirt. She sometimes has no control of her mouth, and she will say it like it is whether you like it or not. No matter what, she has always had Marianna’s back.

Oh, you know, checking on my girl and seeing how the kiddos are doing, Ana replies.

Seriously, what did you do or sign me up for this time? Marianna laughingly replies.

Well, since you mentioned the words signing up, I do have to talk to you about something.

Can you come by around ten this morning? We can talk then, okay? Marianna says.

See you then. Thanks, girlie, Ana replies.

Once they hang up, she goes on with setting up the table and getting the cereal boxes down. Marianna makes sure all the kids are dressed, has breakfast, get their lunches, and takes them to school. After running to the grocery store and paying some bills, she gets home just in time to meet with Ana.

As Ana walks in the front door as she normally does, she says, Knock, knock.

Come on in, Ana. I’m in the kitchen! Marianna yells.

Ana shuts the door behind her and goes to sit at the old wooden kitchen table in the kitchen. While Marianna is putting up the groceries, she asks Ana if she wants anything to drink.

Ana replies that she is fine and continues, "So since you