Moonlight & Maxipads Chapter 1

 Here is the first chapter of my book.  Please keep in mind that this is not appropriate for those under 18 years of age due to explicit language and sex that is in the book (though may not be in this chapter itself).  If you are reading this, you are doing so with this understanding.

Copyright

Copyright © 2016 by Danielle Dignin

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

 

Chapter 1

Life isn’t easy.  Life isn’t easy.  That bullshit line is just that, bullshit.  Because for some people life is easy, the rich and famous have life easy, but for the rest of us, the normal people or average people, life just sucks sometimes. For example, it can suck to struggle to pay the bills, struggle to find the right way to raise your children, sometimes alone. For average or normal people these daily struggles are real, but the rich may never understand or experience any of these struggles. I took a deep breath and let it out quickly. Today is shaping up to be one of those really sucky noneasy days. 

                Rant over now so I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Skye Summerfield. I should warn you right now, if you are one of those people that can’t take swear words, stop reading this right now. My father likes to tell me that I cuss like a sailor and I won’t change my ways for anyone. I also tend to create new words that fit the situation, not always, but sometimes…so you have been warned. This is probably why I have had one of the worst days that anyone could possibly have and it didn’t stop with just one day. The day, I admit, is just what started the weirdness that changed my life in a pretty radical way.

                Well my day wasn’t completely bad, some parts of the day were entertaining to say the least, but the majority of it really sucked. First off, it started way too early. I run my own business, making soaps and body care products. I started the business a few years ago after being fired from my job, because we had some horrible weather here and I wouldn’t drive the hour to work in snowy, icy, nasty days.  You know, I was trying to think of my own safety and the safety of my child, but no one cared about that, only that I couldn’t make it to work.  I took another deep breath to keep from ranting on you again, sorry. 

                Let’s get back to the present now that I have hashed over that brief period of crappiness.  First, like I said, today started way too early.  Normally, my day starts around 6 am.  In my opinion, this is still too early, but my daughter’s school has the mistaken opinion that school should start at 8 and no amount of argument, convincing, or pleading has worked to get them to change the start of school to 10 every day, so I am stuck having to get her off to school at the required time.  This morning started earlier than 6 with the phone ringing.

                Now, anyone who knows me knows that they do not call me before 10 am at the risk to their own life so getting a call at 4 am usually means something bad.  This call was no different. 

                “Hello”, this was said both groggily and with some anger at being woken up.

                “Is this Ms. Skye Summerfield?”, the voice was way too cheerful at 4 am and in my groggy state I couldn’t quite tell if the voice was male or female.

                “Yes, what is it that you want at 4 am that couldn’t wait until 10 am.”

                “It is more along the line of what you want.”

                “You called me, and let me tell you that this better be good at 4 am.”

                “Well, Ms. Summerfield what is the one thing you have always wanted?”

                “Look, it is way too early to play games so just tell me what it is that you want to tell me so that I can go back to bed for a bit,” I said with a groan of annoyance. 

                “Oh, now that would be way to easy, wouldn’t it?”, the voice was losing its cheerfulness and was taking on an amused sound, though I was pretty sure at this point that it was a male that had called.

                “Look, buddy, I have a kid to get up in a few hours and this mommy doesn’t take kindly to having her woken up earlier than necessary, so spit it out already or hang up”.

                “Well, then I guess I will just hang up so that you can ponder my question.  You will hear from me another time.”

                “Grrr”, was the last thing out of my mouth as I heard the click and dial tone on the other end. 

                See the reason I hate people calling so early is because once I am awake, I have a difficult time going back to sleep, so now at 4 a.m. I am wide awake, don’t have to get my daughter up for another 2 hours, and I can’t go back to sleep to save my life.  I tried closing my eyes and going back to sleep, but my brain decided to make a list of all the things I needed to get done today.  Grrr…again why I hate early morning calls.

                After about 10 minutes, I gave up.  I stomped my way to the bathroom, muttering under my breath the entire time.

                “Asshole, only assholes call at 4 am.  Only assholes call at 4 am and are cryptic.  Don’t all the assholes know that 4 am is not the time to be cryptic?  Damn, asshole”.  This muttering continued through my entire shower, though some of the words were much harsher as I built up steam on my anger.  I decided to use my anger to be productive. 

                I pulled out ingredients, molds, and additives until my counter was covered with bins, containers, packages, and jars.  Before I started, I set an alarm so that I wouldn’t miss waking my daughter up for school.  I certainly didn’t want to wake her up too early either since she is just like her momma on not wanting to get up in the morning.  After setting the alarm, I pulled out my order sheets and recipe book and decided what I needed to get made first and what would wait until after she went to school this morning. 

                I looked over my list of orders.  I had 2 orders of lotion bars, 2 orders of lip balm in orange, 2 orders of Orange Creamsicle body scrub, and an order for 10 bottles of Cucumber Melon lotion.  I also was running low on many products for the shop including soap cupcakes, bath truffles, bath bombs, and bars of soap.  I sat and thought for a moment, the soap cupcakes and bars of soap would need time to set up, time to pipe and decorate, and then curing time.  These were the most time consuming.  I also needed more lip balms for the shop, I thought to myself as an afterthought. 

                I needed coffee before I started on anything.  I filled my coffee pot with water, Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla coffee grounds and started the brewing process while I debated on what to start first.  I glanced at the clock, acknowledged that I had about an hour and a half before my alarm would go off to wake up my daughter.  I had stalled for half an hour just looking at my list of orders.  That was mainly because I wasn’t quite alert enough to register what the paper said, it was damn early after all.  I filled my cup with the dark, heavenly coffee.  I stirred in sugar and creamer and looked at my ingredients again.  Yes, damn it I was still stalling, but again, it was early as hell. 

                With a sigh, I took a sip of my coffee and then set the cup aside.  I had stalled enough, now it was time to get something accomplished before waking the breathing devil in the other room.  I got up to gather my containers for all the products that I needed to make.  I pulled out jars with lids, lip balm pots and tubes, bottles for lotion, and my silicone cupcake molds.  I set the molds aside, these I would wait until after I got my daughter on the bus. 

                “God, it is too early for this shit,” I said to myself, taking another sip of my coffee.  Sighing deeply as the warm brew sent caffeine shooting through my veins.  The French Vanilla taste rolling around my mouth, giving me a moment of pleasure.  Enough, I told myself, get to work now.

                I pulled out my double boiler and decided to start with the lip balms.  I moved all of the ingredients I did not need to the table and out of my way.  I started measuring out coconut oil.  I figured if I was going to make lip balm, I would make some for the shop as well; the orange lip balm wasn’t low, but better to have some ready to go before inventory was low.  I needed 2 orange lip balms for my online order, so I decided to make the required ones for the order, but make a batch of unscented and unflavored base so that I could finish the ones I needed for the shop later. 

                I ran my fingers over my hair, taking a deep breath to wake up a bit more, then rewashed my hands, drying them thoroughly, and putting gloves on to keep all of the ingredients and products sanitary and sterile.  I turned the heat on low and added water to the bottom of the double boiler and waited for the water to come to a simmer while I measured out the rest of the ingredients for my lip balm.  Shea butter and beeswax added to the top of the double boiler as the water started to simmer.  I turned down the heat to maintain the simmer and added the top to the double boiler.  As the mixture melted, I slowly stirred to combine the melted oils and butter.  Since some people like pots and some like their lip balm in tube, I set up both items for filling.

                I looked at the clock, groaning, it was still too early to be awake, let alone functioning. 

                Stirring the melting mixture, I continued to think about why someone would feel the need to call me at 4am.  “What kind of jerk calls someone with a kid at 4 am?  When it’s not an emergency?  What an asshole?”  I thought to myself repeatedly, stewing over the early morning wake up call.  Still steaming at having been woken up before it was even light outside, before I had to get up, and excessively early for anyone to be awake. 

 Once the mixture was liquid, I turned off the heat and let them cool for a few minutes before adding the orange essential oil to the mixture.  Even half asleep, I knew if I added the essential oil too soon, the heat of the oils would just burn the scent off.  I stirred again to incorporate in the essential oil, slowly filled the tubes and pots I had standing by, then setting them aside to cool and set up.  I glanced angrily at the phone just as it rang again, for the second time today.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before answering.

                “This had better be good,” was my greeting this time.

                “Well, that is no way to speak to your mother,” well shit, I thought.  Figures this time it was a legit call.

                “Sorry, mom.  It’s been a crazy morning already.  What’s going on?”  I said, closing my eyes and shaking my head to clear more of the cobwebs still floating around.

                “I know it is early, but I thought you should know that someone called here looking for you.  They said they went to school with you and had been trying to reach you for a while.  I gave them your number.”

                “Who was it, mom?”

                “Now, that I think about it, I don’t think they gave me their name, but I am pretty sure it was a man.  I know you haven’t really dated since Heaven was born and I thought it was sweet that someone was trying to get a hold of you.”  I didn’t have to see her to know she was shaking her head at my life, not disappointed with me, but worried about me being alone.

                “Mom, you have got to stop trying to fix me up with strange men.  You have no idea who this person was and you gave them my number?  Are you serious?”

                “I was just trying to help you out, dear.  Heaven is almost 8 years old now and it is time you start dating again.  I know you had a disastrous first marriage, then a bad situation with Heaven’s father, but it is time you start looking at men again.”

                “Fine, mom.  If this mystery guy calls me, I will consider it.  I have to go now, the alarm is going off and I have to get Heaven up for school.  Besides, I don’t have to date to have sex and we both know that is really what you are telling me.  I need to get laid so I won’t be such a bitch in the morning.  Love you.”

 I didn’t wait for her response before I hung up the phone and quickly turned off the alarm.  Damn, but she is at it again.  I was shaking my head as I headed down the hall to wake my daughter up for school.  I’m not proud of the fact that I did giggle at my last comments to my mom, knowing she would be a bit surprised at what I said, especially since I was just repeating what she has told me in previous conversations.  Ok, I didn’t just giggle, I stopped in the living room to have a good laugh.  No one needs to know that though. 

                “Heaven, it is time to get up for school.”  I shook my daughter slightly to wake her up.

                “Uhhhh.”  I rolled my eyes at the typical response in the morning to our wake up routine. 

                “Come on, you know you have to get up for school.  No arguing, get up so that you have time for a shower and breakfast.” 

                She rolled over, pulling the covers over her head, trying desperately not to wake up.

                I pulled the covers off the bed, leaving her lying in the middle of the bed trying desperately to keep the light out of her eyes.

                “I said, time to get up,” I said, chuckling a bit.  “Get up, get up.  Wake up, sleepyhead, it is time for school.”  I shook her again and began tickling her. 

                She giggled while trying to squeeze her eyes as tightly as possible. 

                “Don’t make the tickle monster come out, come on, it is time to get up.”

                She giggled again and blinked at me.  Then groaned and tried to roll over again, pulling the pillow over her head.

                “Nope, time to get up.”   

                “But, mom, it is too early,” she whined half-heartedly.  “It is still dark outside.  I don’t want to get up.”

                “You never want to get up, so how is today any different from yesterday.  Get up and get in the shower.  I will bring you clothes to put on when you get out.  Hurry up now or you won’t have time for breakfast.”

                “Mornings suck.”

                “Yes, baby, I know.  Watch the language though, little one.  Go get in the shower, I have turned the water on for you.”  I agree, kiddo, I agree.  I thought to myself.

                She grumbled under her breath, and slowly made her way to the bathroom for her shower.

                “Pick up the pace, slow poke, or you won’t have time for breakfast.”

                “Can I have ice cream?”

                “Sure.”

                “Really?”  She was super excited at the thought of ice cream for breakfast.

                “Nope,” I told her, chuckling.

                “Mom, that isn’t very nice,” she said, half pouting half giggling.

                “I know, but I have to get some pleasure out of being up this early in the morning.  Now go take your shower.  I will have a bowl of cereal on the table for when you get out.”

                “Cocoa Pebbles please.”

                “I know kiddo; go get in the shower, the water is running.”

                I chuckled as she stomped off to take her shower, pulling down her box of cereal from the pantry and grabbing a bowl once I walked back into the kitchen.  I put those on the table and waited to hear the sound of the water shutting off before pouring out the cereal, since soggy cereal is not a pleasant thing to argue over in the morning.  Not that there is anything pleasant to argue about period, but it’s always much worse first thing in the morning. 

                “Mom, you forgot my clothes!”  Heaven yelled from the bathroom.

                “Sorry, I am coming.”  I yelled back as I ran to get clean clothes.  I knocked on the bathroom door and handed Heaven the clothes.  “Hurry up baby, not much time left before the bus comes.”

                “I will, mom, now that I have my clothes,” she told me, voice telling me it was my fault she was behind. 

                I shook my head, sighing deeply, as I headed back into the kitchen.  The lip balm tubes and pots were setting up nicely on the counter.  I sighed as the phone rang again, closing my eyes again, fingers pinching the bridge of my nose.  I didn’t have time for this right now, I thought. 

                “Grand Central Station.”

                “Busy morning?”  My mystery voice was back again and amused.

                “Yeah, well that happens at times.  Who are you and what do you want?”

                “I would tell you, but that would make this too easy for you.  Have you pondered my question?”

                “What question is that?  And who the hell says ‘ponder’,” I asked, irritably. 

                “I am sure you remember my question.”

                “If I remembered, I wouldn’t have asked,” I said pinching my nose again in frustration.  “You did call me at the butt crack of dawn, woke me up, and want me to remember the words you uttered in my semi catatonic state?  It is still too early for this.”  I said, shaking my head, not that he could see that.

                “Think about it and get back with me.”

                “Are you the one who called my mother?  Who are you?  And how the hell can I get back with you if I don’t know who you are or how to contact you?” My irritation rising. 

                “If you thought about it you would know who I was.”

                “It is too early for games.  What the hell do you want?”

                “For you to get what you want the most.”

                “And you think you know what that is?  Who the hell are you?  You don’t know me or anything about me.  Don’t call me again.” 

                “Are you sure you don’t want me to call again?”

                “Dude, I have no clue who you are and you keep calling at the butt crack of dawn.  How about you call at a decent time and then I may just have the patience for your games.  This early I don’t have the patience for anything.”

                “I will remember that for our next talk.  Be careful now.”  I stared at the phone in surprise, blinking a few times, as I heard the click in my ear, shaking my head as I hung up the phone. 

                “Son of a bitch.  I don’t have time for this shit right now,” I said aloud to myself.  “Heaven, hurry up in there, it is time for you to go to the bus.”

                “I don’t want to go to school today, I think I am sick.”

                “Nice try, kiddo.  Get your coat on and get your stuff.”  

Check out Chapter 2 tomorrow and Chapter 3 on Friday or purchase the full book at:
 http://www.lulu.com/shop/danielle-dignin/moonlight-maxipads/ebook/product-22607936.html