Warped Regrets: Warped Realities, #2

By Kara Leigh Miller

Brooke Sheffield's life is the worst...
So what if she snuck out to go to a party? Not the first time. But this party rages out of control, and no one is safe. Illegal drugs litter the house. Someone injures a cop. A kid is dead. And everyone is in a buttload of trouble, her most of all. Tired of her erratic behavior, her parents ship her off to Alaska to stay with her grandparents. 

All Cory McCormack wants are answers...
Life in Alaska is perfect—good grades, great friends, and work he loves. There's just one thing missing: his mom. Desperate to know her, Cory sets out to find the woman who abandoned him at birth. But a disastrous first meeting with his birth mom, leaves Cory stunned and ready to go back to his ordinary life in Alaska. With fate finding Cory and Brooke on the same flight, he couldn't be happier. 

Too bad getting on that plane will be the biggest regret of their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: FireChicken Press, LLC
• Release date: Apr 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224358373

Book preview

Chapter One

Cory McCormack

Itake a deep breath and swallow the bile rising in my throat. I’d come this far, and I couldn’t turn back now. With a trembling hand, I knock on the door. My stomach is in knots, and I have the urge to run away, but my feet are frozen on the porch. I spent all of my savings to get here, and the last two days searching for her. No way could I leave now, not when I was so close to finally meeting her.

I lift my hand to knock again when the door swings open. A large woman fills the doorway, and she stares at me like I’m a little green alien who just landed my spaceship in her front yard. I shift uncomfortably.

Uh, I’m looking for a Sarah Niles. Is she here? My voice catches on the question.

I know the woman standing in front of me isn’t Sarah because my mother isn’t Black. At least, I don’t think she is, but I’d never met her before so I could be wrong. Then again, I’m whiter than baby powder so the likelihood of being a mixed race is slim.

Who’s asking? The woman takes a step forward, blocking even more of the doorway. She crosses her arms over her massive chest and leers at me.

I clear my throat. Cory McCormack… I’m a… um… Shoot. What should I say? I’m Cory, the son she gave up at birth? Yeah, I don’t think so.

She grunts. Cory, huh? What kinda name is that?

Excuse me? I raise my eyebrows. What sort of question was that, especially when I’m a total stranger to her? Look, I think I might have the wrong house. I’m sorry to have bothered you. I turn to leave when she reaches out and grabs my arm.

Naw, you at the right place. Come on in. She releases my arm and nods toward the house. I’m Patricia. Sarah’s in the back room.

Thank you. I force a smile.

Now that I know she’s really here, I’m a nervous wreck. My palms sweat, my heart races, and my ears burn with fear of the unknown. What am I going to say to her? Hi, I think you’re my birth mom. Or, hi, I’m the son you never wanted. I never should’ve come here. My adoptive parents told me this wasn’t a good idea. I should’ve listened to them.

Patricia points me to the back room. I nod and walk in the direction she points, finding her behavior odd. Who lets a stranger wander through their house unaccompanied? I enter what appears to be some sort of home office. Sitting at a desk in the corner is a woman with long, stringy hair. She’s sickly thin and coughing up a lung. A puff of smoke billows out from in front of her, and the smell turns my stomach.

Sarah, girl, you got a visitor. The sound of Patricia’s voice startles me. I didn’t realize she followed me.

Sarah turns around and looks at me. Her eyes narrow as if she knows me, but then she shrugs. Who’re you?

Uh… I lose track of my thoughts. My name is Cory McCormack.

Her eyes glaze over as she stands. I don’t know any Cory McCormack.

No, of course she doesn’t. Why would she when she dumped me hours after I was born? I inhale deeply to calm my nerves, but it doesn’t work, and I end up coughing from the thick cloud of smoke in the room. My eyes water from how hard I’m coughing, and neither of them offer any help or even ask if I’m okay.

There’s really no easy way to say this, so I just blurt it out. I’m your son.

She studies me for a moment, then barks a harsh laugh. I had a feeling this day was coming. So, what do you want? A hug?

I flinch and take a step back. Her tone is so cold and uncaring. I’m not sure what I expected when I found her, but I honestly hadn’t expected her to be so mean. No. I shake my head. I-I… What do I want?

Ah, go on and get out of here, kid. She waves her hand to dismiss me, and my jaw drops. I didn’t want you eighteen years ago, and I sure don’t want you now either.

Her words and tone are sharp as a knife, and they cut into me deeply, leaving me stunned into silence. I want to tell her I didn’t come here for some warm, fuzzy reunion, that all I really want is some answers, but I’m pretty sure she won’t give me any. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t get my mouth to form any words. This isn’t at all how I’d hoped this would go.

Dang, Sarah. Had I known, I wouldn’t a let the kid in, Patricia says from the doorway.

I glance back at her, annoyed she’s butting into such a personal, private conversation. Maybe I should’ve called first, asked her to meet me somewhere neutral. My head is spinning, and the room is suddenly stifling. Would it kill them to open a window or two?

It’s all right, Pattie. Sarah crosses her arms and glares at me again. So, whatcha want?

An apology? I knew I’d never get that, so I had to try something else. I, um, do you know where my father is?

She snorts. Nope, and I don’t care.

I sigh. Why? I mean, why did you give me up? I couldn’t leave here without some answers.

I had the perfect life until you came along. She sticks out her chin defiantly. You destroyed everything. Because of you, I lost the love of my life, my self-respect, my body. She grunts in disgust.