Copyright Melanie Greenwood
My mother’s mouth resembles a newly-stitched operation scar, her eyes steely.
David’s mother, Katje, is pale and quivering; the bolt of animosity that shot between the pair in the Arrivals Hall had been almost palpable.
“How’s Bill?” Katje whispers.
“He died.”
My mother spits the words with relish, and I turn, astonished to hear her speak of Dad this way.
Katje slumps.
David and I exchange worried glances.
“About our wedding arrangements…” I falter, gripping David’s hand.
But catching sight of our reflections in the mirrored corridor, our shared red hair, our green eyes, I see there can be no wedding.
I hope all Friday Fictioneers enjoyed the festive season and that we’ve returned refreshed and revitalised, ready to punch some wonderful tales into our lap-tops in 2016. Thanks to Rochelle, our able and multi-talented leader, for guiding our group through 2015; happy to see her at the helm again for 2016.
castelsarrasin 
Dear Sandra,
Oh dear. As the song says, Papa was a rolling stone. I gasped at the end of this one. You’re at the top of your game on this one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle. Papa couldn’t have guessed how his misdemeanours would bring pain down through the years. Hope all is well with you.
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Jezz, judging by our stories we are one depresed bunch of peeps. I wonder how it even came to the matter of the wedding? Full of sucker punches, this story is.
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Aren’t we just?
Thanks for reading 🙂
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So good. I had to read it twice to figure out who was who but wham. Nicely done.
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Sorry if it confused you. 😦
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Excellent piece
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Thank you!
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Complicated relationships here! And a great story. I remember reading a while ago about a German couple who found out they were brother and sister, after they were married and had children.
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How awful!!!
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I suppose it happens. It must be dreadful. Thanks for reading.
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I got a shiver that went up and down my whole body!
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Thanks for reading Dale, despite that. 🙂
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Your description of the mother is so haunting. And that last line was so heartbreaking. A tragic family story but so well written!
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Thanks Nortina, glad you liked it.
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Oh boy …. poor couple.
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Poor couple indeed. Thanks for reading.
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Complicated relationships… well written as always. 🙂
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Thanks Dee. Hope all is well with you.
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Great idea for this prompt. Love it!
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Thanks Caerlynn. 🙂
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Oh so very well done. Kudos, Sandra.
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Thanks Alicia, glad you liked it.
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I had to read this twice, not because I didn’t get the story. I think i got it the first time but that was so cruel to those young lovers that I thought if I re-read I can get a different meaning.
Well crafted story and excellently written.
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Thanks Ansumani, it wasn’t easy getting this across in 100. 🙂
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Some secrets you just can’t hide.
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Secrets have a habit of breaking their way through from the past, I think. 🙂
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Ooops, poor kids! Oh well, it’s good they found out before the wedding!
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Yes, it might get a bit complicated afterwards. 😦
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Oh la la! Great powerful story. Very enjoyable to read.
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Thanks Graham! 🙂
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Wow! I didn’t see it coming, but it works. “Bill” must have “got around”, as they say. Nicely told.
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Bill was a bit of boy-o, I guess.
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Superb story Sandra. Loved the twist at the end. I can just see it unfolding.
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Thanks Irene! 🙂
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Took me several readings to get it. Subtle, powerful, and unique as usual.
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Thanks Perry, good to have you back. 🙂
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Wow. That was a bit of a sucker punch. Beautifully written.
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Thanks! 🙂
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Oh dear, no happy ending here I fear. What a terrible moment as they realise the truth.
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A terrible moment, yes 😦 Thanks for reading.
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Rochelle nailed the comment here, Sandra. It’s a novel in 100 words, with a truly shocking ending! I love that your brain goes to these amazing places, and pulls us along!
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Thank you Dawn. I just wish my brain wouldn’t go to these places in the wee small hours of the morning. 🙂
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I know what you mean… I lie in bed and the stories poke me over and over. Menopause has nothing on writer’s nag. 😉
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Magnificent.
You packed 5 lives, 3 love affairs, a death and a couple of heart-breaks into 100 words.
I am in awe, Sandra.
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Thanks CE! 🙂 When the idea came to me, I didn’t think I could get anywhere near it in 100 words. I’m still not convinced it works all that well, but I might try again in 500.
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Yes, what ceayr said. I didn’t see it coming, and it was a shock. Great writing (a always).
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Thank you gah, glad it worked for you. 🙂
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Oh dear. What a way, what a place to find out. Brilliant.
Visit Keith’s Ramblings!
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Thanks for reading, Keith.)
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Oh, my! I didn’t see that ending coming. Scrumptious story, Sandra, and well written.
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Thanks for reading Amy, hope all is well with you.
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Hits close to home. My wife and her brother were told they were siblings once they wanted to start dating. Both had been abandoned by their birth mother with neighbors.
DJ
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How amazing! What are the chances of that happening, I wonder?
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I wonder how many other half-siblings they had scattered around the planet? Had Bill not died, one of those two women would be killing him now.
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Well if not killing him, at least rendering him incapable of doing something similar again. 🙂 Thanks for visiting Russell.
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Sandra I read this story then read it again out loud to my wife. I agree with Rochelle you are at the top of your game. I don’t read FF every week any more but if I do, I always read yours because you always seem to set the bar. Another beautifully crafted piece that makes wonderful use of what is not said to add substance to the tale. Superb. 🙂
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I’m blushing like mad here! 🙂 Glad you liked it jwd, I love the challenge of trying to get a ‘situation’ into print, without having to explain it. Sometimes it works, others not, and I thought this might fall into the latter category. Thanks for your reassurance.
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not so fast. they need a dna test to be real sure. 🙂
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There’s always that possibility. I love an optimist, Plaridel. 🙂
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Good story, Sandra. I wouldn’t have had to read it twice if I’d have paid more attention to the title. What a tragedy. The only good thing was they found out before they married. Well written as always. — Suzanne
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Thanks for reading Suzanne, glad you got it on the second read. I’m a big believer in choosing the right title for a 100 word story so that it fills in the gaps – but I’ve only recently realised that not everyone registers the title. Hope all is well.
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Red hair AND green eyes…Whoops!
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Wow! This is really well put together – like Suzanne said, I would have had to read this twice to catch on if I hadn’t read the title! I read it twice anyway, because it was so good.
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What a shock! How awful for them that their relationship got so far before they realised – but who would? The mothers’ reactions to each other bring understanding to everyone. Great storytelling.
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Oh my what a terrible way to come to the truth. I think therapy is in order.
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Nicely built story Sandra, with a real punch at the end
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Oh, my! I read it once and thought…is that what I think she’s saying? Then I read it again…yup. Yikes. Bad boy, Bill. Good story, Sandra! 🙂
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Well done for spinning the story without mentioning the secret – letting it emerge so stealthily. Really worth a reread for the drama.
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Have you read “The Good Daughters” by Joyce Maynard? This reminded me of that novel. Excellent story, Sandra.
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What a kicker! So much said, and yet so clear as to the meaning, a perfect example of “less is more”. 🙂
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