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© 2009, D.M
Dulton, Tigra-Luna LeMar Reviews For JENNIFER'S WAGER by D.M Dulton & Tigra-Luna LeMar Tigra Luna LeMar and D.M. Dulton wrote
a gut wrenching, heart aching and tearjerker tale. Jennifer's Wager
is a touching story of loss, rebuilding love and respect. I thoroughly enjoyed Jennifer’s Wager. Actually, I read it in one day. The authors were authentic in mentioning real concerns and scenarios for mixed couples. The emotions of the hero and heroine were genuine, making it easy to see through their eyes. ~Jessica Coulter Smith, TheNovelBlog The conflicts of being in an interracial relationship are touched upon, as are the eccentricities of falling in love following the loss of a spouse. The theme of Jennifer’s Wager carries an underlying emotional context throughout, and you’ll experience it as you get to know the characters. This makes it a worthy read. ~Fern, Whipped Cream Reviews Sample Chapter For JENNIFER'S WAGER by D.M Dulton & Tigra-Luna LeMar “One and one and one makes three.” The two girls sat cross-legged in the back yard playing clap hands and singing the rhyme. “We are sisters let us be…” It seemed as though they had not a care in the world and that was a good feeling to have. They were, after all, children. Even though they were different races, Sydney and her new sister got along famously, for they were all each other had now that their mother had a new man. He was constantly taking her out and leaving the two girls all alone in the house. “Damn it, woman!” the voice echoed from inside the house and both girls gasped while leaping off the ground. A shriek came from the house followed by things crashing. The kids may not have known what it was but they were scared. They darted in through the back door and slammed into the hard body of a man. …and the nightmares began… * * * * It had taken all she was worth not to haul off and beat the little ignoramus into the ground. Who did he think he was dealing with? He had made a giant mistake. She wasn’t like every other woman who would tuck their tails between their legs and run the moment he began huffing. She could sue him for being racially biased and not paying her for the job she was hired to do. He didn’t want the work because she was black, but she wasn’t in the mood and who would want him anywhere around them? He said he had wanted the best and suddenly she wasn’t the best anymore. She hated people like that, but if she were to beat them up every time someone acted like an idiot she would never see sunlight again. Sydney stood and picked up her portfolio. “First of all, Mr. Matterson,” she spoke slowly and deliberately, “I am going to use small words because I don’t think your little brain can understand anything else.” Gasps came from behind her but she didn’t care. It was as if everyone was afraid of this pitiful excuse of a man and he knew it. But she wasn’t everyone, he had messed with the wrong sista this time and he was going to pay for it. “Since no one died and made you God, you’re going to sit down, shut the hell up and listen. I didn’t ask for this job. You asked for my services. You made the mistake of sending your assistant and not coming to see me for yourself. You owe me five thousand, three hundred and eighty-seven dollars and ninety-five cents. You have twenty-four hours to pay us. If not, you will hear from my lawyers. That clear enough for ya?” Sydney leaned in closer. “Come anywhere near me or Mary again, and you’re going to wish you had stayed under the rock you’ve been living under for the last four hundred years.” With that she scooped up her things and walked from the room, swinging her ass proudly, with her head held high. He probably thought when he barked like a Neanderthal she would apologize like a wilting flower. Matterson was in for a big surprise. Sydney was no shrinking violet and she would be damned if she allowed anyone, especially a little idiot like him, to walk all over her. When she walked into her offices again, her assistant and best friend Mary came flying around the front desk, “What happened? Tell me everything! Don’t leave anything out!” “The man’s a giant ass!” Sydney spat. “And to think the world sees him as a genius! Some genius! More of a jackass if you ask me! Who the hell does he think he is? If he thinks I am going to back down from this, he’s got me twisted.” “Ah…what?” “He doesn’t want the photographs because I’m black…can you believe that shit? He doesn’t like the ‘style’ or some bullshit like that. Thinks it’s too ‘hood’ and I’m too black. I could have wrung his scrawny little neck with my bare hands.” Sydney twisted a piece of paper she had in her hand as though it was Matterson’s neck and took great pleasure when she yanked. The paper snapped. Mary’s eyes widened and Sydney stormed off for her office with Mary following close behind. “So he won’t pay? He said that in those exact words?” “That’s what he thinks.” Sydney flopped down into her seat and crossed her legs as Mary closed the door. Sydney was already forming a plan. Mary sat in the other chair. “This isn’t going to turn out well, is it?” “For him. I have no intentions of getting screwed on this deal. I’ll handle it…” Sydney smiled evilly. “When I’m through he’s going to know the real meaning of the term ‘a woman scorned’. Know what I mean?” “No,” Mary eyed Sydney nervously. “And now I’m scared…” “Mare, you worry too much. Relax! How would you like to knock off early today? It’s a nice day out and I’m aching to start my partying a little early and put this Matterson stuff away for a while.” Sydney grinned at Mary’s excited giggle. “Sure thing. boss lady. I need to shave these legs and that takes a hell of a lot of time. It’s like I grew a forest! Why do you think I’ve been wearing pants this week?” “There I go thinking it was because your skirts are way too sexy for the workplace.” Sydney lifted her keyboard to see if her pen had rolled under it. She frowned when it wasn’t there. When Mary cleared her throat, Sydney looked up to see Mary handing her a pen. “Thanks.” “My skirts aren’t too sexy.” She pouted and shifted in her seat. “They’re ventilated, so there! And, oh, before I forget and we leave for the weekend, Cover Girl called again.” Sydney moaned. “I’ll get to them next week. I still have to finish Maybelline and NV.” She scribbled something down and shoved the paper into her pocket before standing. “Well, it’s that time of day again…” “Great, I’m so outta here!” Mary grinned and stood to give her a hug. “You have fun with that sexy man of yours this weekend…this is one of the times when I simply have to say, do everything I would do and more. I mean that.” Sydney laughed so hard she thought she was going to burst a lung. “I don’t think I could do everything you would do in one weekend, Mare.” “It’s tiring, let me tell you.” Mary winked at her and darted out the door to grab her purse. “Drop me off at the subway, will you, doll? I left my car at home this morning. Emission in the air, hole in the ozone and all that jazz.” “Sure thing. On second thought, I still have plenty of time, why don’t I just drop you home?” Mary giggled. “Even better!” * * * * Dinner went a little strange when Dwayne choked on a piece of fish. The restaurant, being scared of a lawsuit had called the ambulance even after Sydney had done the Heimlich and Dwayne said he was fine. The ambulance departed and they were promptly asked to leave and were told that the dinner was ‘on the house.’ It made perfect business sense to Sydney for a lawsuit would cost the restaurant more than a free meal. That was one experience Sydney could have done without. With the thought that they could somehow salvage what was left of their night, Sydney allowed Dwayne to drive her home. She didn’t normally let guys drive her home after dates. How bad could the night get after a near death experience? Sydney opened the door as Dwayne ran his hands over her butt. She could tell he was in the mood for some booty because he hadn’t kept his hands off her since she picked him up at the bar. He had explained that he had to meet some friends there before their dinner date. Leaving her convertible in the garage, Sydney had taken a cab to meet him and he had driven them to the restaurant. The door shut as she turned to him and slid her fingers over his shaven head before pulling him toward her for a kiss. Breaking the kiss she motioned for him to go into the living room. “I have to go freshen up,” she told him with a slight wink as she dropped the mail on the coffee table and walked off down the hall, swinging her hips more than was needed. Seduction was something Mary had taught her, though it wouldn’t take much to seduce Dwayne for he was more than ready to jump her in the car ride over. Eyeing the lingerie in the drawer, she wondered which would be fit for the night. How did she feel about Dwayne? She picked up a hot black number and turned it over in her hands. What outfit was he worth? When she had looked into his eyes, she could see he was nervous. All those times he had acted like such a macho man he was nothing but a timid little punk. Instead of hurrying to get back to him, she smirked and moved slower than she normally would. If he wanted any action he would have to wait on her. Raising her head proudly she continued what she was doing. Sydney made sure that she smelled amazing. She rubbed baby oil against her skin to give it a smooth, silky feel. Squirting perfume against her neck, she hummed softly before stopping to add a bit of the scent against her wrists. When she was finished, she stopped to watch television for a few minutes before getting up and getting dressed. “Well then,” Sydney grinned
at him as she walked slowly back toward him. “I wonder…”
She walked around the sofa and moved away from him. When he reached
for her, “Ah!” she wagged a finger at him and trailed her
free hand against the back of the sofa. Her gaze focused on Dwayne as he walked over and stood over her. She knew exactly what he was looking at. He was looking down at her short hair, dark skin, and slightly wide hips. The smile on his lips told her that he liked what he saw. That meant she had picked the perfect outfit for the occasion. She wore a sheer nightgown that barely shaded the red bra and bikini underwear beneath and left nothing to the imagination. Kneeling in front of her, Dwayne leaned forward and kissed her chest between her large breasts. A sigh escaped Sydney’s lips as she reached up and glided her palms against the smoothness of his shaved head. Pressing down slightly, Sydney bent her head to kiss his. The one thing Sydney hated about this man so far was that Dwayne wasn’t one for small talk. He simply spread her nightgown open and pulled down on the bra, letting her breasts spill out. A large grin appeared on his lips. Taking each of them in his hands, the man drew one nipple into his mouth, almost devouring it. His teeth bit down roughly into the soft flesh causing her to arch her back off the seat—but not in pleasure. What she was feeling wasn’t in the same ballpark as pleasure. A cry of pain left Sydney’s lips and she shoved him away. “What the hell are you doing? That hurts you jerk! Get off me!” “Come on, baby, you’ll like it if you give it a minute.” Dwayne released her breast and rubbed a hand along her stomach. “Maybe you’d like me to use my tongue somewhere else?” She shivered slightly, the pain forgotten. “Well…” “That’s what I thought,” he said as he lowered himself. Looking down at him, Sydney wondered what he was doing. It was as if he was going to taste an ice-cream cone but didn’t know what to expect. She wanted to tell him to take his ice-cream licking and go to hell but she wanted him. She figured why not give him the benefit of the doubt. Sure, he started off like an awkward teenager. Maybe he wasn’t as bad as she thought. When he started again, she rolled her eyes and bit down on her lower lip to keep from laughing. She sure knew how to pick her men and this one was no exception. What kind of grown man had no idea what to do with a woman? Sydney was wrong. He was worse than she thought. She shifted and sighed as she rested back against the seat. She might as well fake it to get it over with. She made a small sound in her throat. After a while Sydney felt like laughing but didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Taking deep breaths to control her mirth, she closed her eyes and wondered how much longer she could just sit there. One fake orgasm, coming up! Taking a deep breath, she squirmed her body to the left, then to the right, then moaned his name before letting her whole body go rigid. She tightened her muscles for a bit around his finger, then released before slumping back against the sofa. “You like that? I got more where it came from.” Oh, please don’t. But she smiled up at him from beneath heavy lashes and writhed her body in ‘anticipation’. Just when she thought he couldn’t possibly get any worse, he pushed in his finger and scraped it against her sensitive insides. Sydney winced in pain again and shoved at his shoulders as she got up, “I think we should stop,” she told him. As her mouth opened to speak again, her eyes caught the name on one of the envelopes on the coffee table. She reached down and picked it up. “You need to go. I have to take care of something.” The words were directed at him but her eyes were focused like a laser beam on the letter as her fingers ripped through the paper to open the envelope. No response came and Sydney looked up to see what the problem was. Confusion lit up his face that got Sydney wondering what was going on inside his head. “I said I’m sorry, baby. Don’t need to throw me out for something like that.” “I’m not throwing you out,” Sydney snapped, “but I will if you don’t leave. Now!” Backing up, she saw the surrender in his eyes. Sydney could tell that he had barely refrained from throwing an expletive at her before he closed the door. Biting her lower lip, she took a deep breath and looked down at the letter again. This time the handwriting called out to her. After reading the letter a few times over Sydney glared at it and frowned. Dear Sydney, my how the time flies when you’re having fun. I know this letter may be a surprise to you but I cannot help it. We have put off doing the things we should until sometimes it is too late. I’m sorry I haven’t gotten in touch with you earlier and I’m sorry that I didn’t return your emails but this is important. The regret of what happened the day you left here has eaten away at me over the years but my pride wouldn’t let me make any effort to return your calls or most of your emails. I feel horrible but I cannot let that affect what I have to say in this letter. I know you probably don’t want to have anything to do with me right now, but please, don’t crumple this letter. If you’re reading it, then I am happy you didn’t throw it out with the junk mail. I found out a year ago that I have cancer. They thought they could operate and get rid of it but nothing they did seemed to work. I’m dying, Syd. I have a husband, and a little less than a year ago, I had a son. A perfect little thing named Conner, after my dad. Remember we used to joke about that? His dad’s a kind and gentle man named Maximillian. With me gone, they won’t have anyone. I want you to promise that when I’m gone, you’ll come to my house and take care of them, Max and Conner. Promise me Sydney, I don’t trust anyone else with this because I care too much about them to leave them after I’m gone. They’re my life and I’d like them to be a part of yours... Sydney picked up the envelope and looked at the postmark. It had gotten to her on a bad day where every bit of news was something to drive her into a wall. It was one of those days that started out with her sleeping through her alarm clock and falling out of bed. Then when she got over the pain from her ribs smashing into the wooden floor, she hit her head into the bedside table and groaned a profanity that would make a prostitute cringe. To top things off, her boyfriend was a lousy lover; that was bad news for sure. Still, it wasn’t an excuse as to why she hadn’t seen the letter. Lately she hadn’t been very attentive to the mail because all she got were bills, proposals for jobs, offers to change her long distance plan and coupons that didn’t actually mean anything. Sydney should have paid more attention to who had sent it but she had simply glanced through the stack of mail and tossed them on the coffee table. She couldn’t believe her sister would put her in such a position. Sydney highly doubted Jenn told her husband about her. The day Syd had left Jenn declared she had no sister. She could see the look on her husband’s face when she walked in. “Hello, I’m Sydney, the sister you never knew your wife had. She wanted me to fill in for her now that she is dead!” A sigh left her lips and she tilted her neck from side to side to work out the kinks. The small popping sounds made her moan and she opened her eyes as though she thought that when she looked down again the letter would be gone. Again, Sydney looked at the letter. You are my sister and no matter how stupid I have been over the past few years for shutting you out of my life, I am sorry. God knows, I should have told Max about you but I didn’t. You saved me on so many occasions and we were so close. Sydney what happened to us? What happened to me? Was I so selfish that I couldn’t see that this town would have killed whatever light that was left in you after him? I was angry with you for going to Hollywood. I told Max that I had no family…but that’s not true, I have you…If you call and get the answering machine, do not leave a message, just call back. Please do this one last thing for me Sydney. Then if you don’t want to ever think of me again, I cannot say I blame you…Love always, Jenn. P.S., told you that the Curse of the Bambino would be broken soon. Sydney couldn’t help but smile at the Boston Red Sox joke but as soon as she looked down at the letter again, all happiness left her. Groaning, she got up from her seat and began pacing the room. Cancer? What the hell man? Her sister had cancer and she didn’t know. What kind of sister did that? If there was a hell, Sydney figured she was going to it, and with her luck, there was a hell. Not the kind where they played the ‘Love Boat’ theme over and over, but the hell with fire, prodding pitchforks and models that had brains enough not to need her. She was supposed to be a good sister but Jenn was dying and Sydney didn’t know until the letter showed up. A barrage of questions flooded Sydney’s mind as she looked down at the beautifully written letters on the piece of paper. Was Jenn in pain? Was her husband good to her while she was alive and well? Who was her husband anyway? Sydney’s heart fell at the thought of a nephew that she had never met. That hurt her more than all the calls Jenn never returned. Taking in a deep breath, Sydney squeezed her eyes shut to fight against the tears that were now stinging them. She had a nephew, a perfect, beautiful nephew. Walking over to the telephone she dialed the number in the letter but all she got was a voicemail. Her sister’s voice sounded so cheerful. “You’ve reached Jennifer Durant,” Jenn spoke cheerfully. “And Max Durant,” a deep voice joined in over the line that caused Sydney to shiver and guilt to wash over her like a cloud. “Leave a message,” Jenn
and Max said together and before the beep, Sydney heard her sister giggle
and a flood of old memories flashed before her eyes. “I’m sorry,” Jenn told her. “I kinda have to impress Brad today so he’ll ask me to dinner or something and you were sleeping and I didn’t want to wake you…” Sydney held up her hands and took a breath. “Alright. Can I borrow something from you?” Jenn nodded before darting across the room to hug her sister. Sydney’s anger dissipated at that moment even though she hated borrowing Jenn’s clothes. Jenn had smaller hips so the clothes never really fit right. After rummaging through the closet for what seemed like forever, Sydney found a short red skirt with black polka-dots. She topped that off with a black top, a large black belt and large hoop earrings. “Awesome!” Jenn giggled giving her sister the thumbs up. Grabbing their books they rushed out the door to run all the way to school because if they didn’t they would be late. Running seemed to have saved them again
because they had gotten to first period in time to dash into the room
just ahead of the teacher and crash into their seats. Panting for air,
a note fell on Sydney’s desk and she looked up to see Jenn giggling
at her. Arching a brow, Sydney unfolded the note. She beamed and turned around in her seat. Sydney sighed, wondering why her sister didn’t just ask the boy out. * * * * Following the instructions in the letter, Sydney did not leave a message. She hung up and flopped down on the bed beside the telephone with the letter still in her hand. She had to do it, didn’t she? After all, it was her sister. They grew up together but after Jenn got married she sort of disappeared. Throughout the years, with email becoming such a big deal, the two had finally begun ‘speaking’ again. They were always talking about getting together but they just never got around to it and after a few years, they never spoke at all. Music started pounding from next door and Sydney’s head pounded right along with it. She pulled open the small bedside drawer and picked up a bottle of Aspirin and shook it. She groaned as no noise emanated from the inside of the small white bottle, telling her that it was empty. Of all the times she was out of painkillers, it had to be then. She glanced at the clock beside her. “Those bastards,” she grumbled as midnight flashed on the face of the clock. Sydney walked to the window facing the other house and hung half her body out it. “Some of us work for a living!” she screamed even though she knew they wouldn’t hear her over Eminem and Dr. Dre. She slammed the window shut and headed for the shower. “Damn ingrains. Note to self, buy a house in the country, far, far away from people! Inconsiderate little jerks…” The shower hadn’t done much in the way of clearing her head, or her mood, and hours later Sydney tossed and turned, for the dream she was having would not go away. She brought her knees up under her chin like a scared little girl and tucked her face into them, but the dream still persisted. “Ready or not here I come!” Jenn called as Sydney hid behind a large oak tree in the back yard. “Syd!” Jenn called. “One, two, three…” Sydney giggled when Jenn stopped speaking. There was a thud and Sydney stuck her head out to see that her sister had tripped over the laundry basket. There was mud over everything. She ran over to them and moved Jenn away. “Go out front,” she whispered and Jenn nodded then took off running. The next thing Sydney knew, she was in a dark cellar. It was where her stepfather put them when they were bad, but Sydney would never let him put Jenn in the cold, dark, dampness. Sydney was used to the cellar, but Jenn would die in there. It was creepy. It felt like tiny fingers were dragging their nails against your neck once the door was shut, killing all light. Her stepfather had told her the ghosts in the cellar would teach them a lesson if they didn’t behave and that was why he locked them in there. Sydney knew better, deep down, but every time she thought about it she wanted to bang on the door. She knew that would only get him mad and he’d leave her there longer. Sydney’s heart lurched as the slam of the lock told her she wouldn’t be getting out until he came back to let her out or until Jenn snuck back with some food. Normally it was the latter because their stepfather lost all sense when he drank. His memory got shot and his temper dwindled down to a short fuse. Pulling her knees up under her chin, she sat down, buried her face into them and began rocking back and forth, “just two more hours…he’s got the whole world in his hands…” Bolting upright in bed, she looked around the room. It was still dark outside. She had to do what Jenn had asked in her letter. Sydney knew then, that she had to go into the cellar one more time. |