Matronly Duties
Melissa Kendall
Published by The Writers Coffee Shop
Genre: FICTION / Romance / General / Science Fiction
Hundreds of years after an asteroid slammed into Earth and sent it
into a new ice age, what remains of the human race lives on in underground
sanctuaries. Now, as the bicentennial anniversary of the impact approaches, a
Bethanie Greene’s life has
been planned out for her since the age of thirteen. Beautiful and intelligent,
she’s spent the last twelve years
training to become the next Matron of the underground nation of Oceania. But
when Bethanie is kidnapped by rogue extremists just six weeks shy of taking
office, her world is turned upside down by the handsome stranger who rescues
her.
Howard James’ life has
been the polar opposite of Bethanie’s.
Struggling to survive in a world where those in power wished he didn’t exist, he
harbors a deep-seated resentment of the government and all its representatives.
Together with his unconventional family, he shows Bethanie a life she never
knew was possible, while at the same time, opening her eyes to the injustices
of the government she is meant to lead.
But can she trust a stranger? And can a few days change everything
she believes and desires? Against all odds, Bethanie must decide if her heart
and her duties can coexist.
EXCERPT
My body shakes at the thought of what could have happened to me
yet again. I’ve heard
stories about the slums, and I have to take a few deep breaths to calm myself.
“I was silly
running away, I get it. I just couldn’t stay in your
home any longer.”
Howard sighs. “Just because
my parents raised us with traditionalist values doesn’t mean we
are anything like the Trads. You accused us of being a drain on society, but
you don’t even know
us.”
“You’re right, I
don’t. But you don’t know me
either. If you did, you would understand why it’s hard for
me to understand your way of life. It goes against every law, moral, and
convention I’ve been
taught. So I can’t be sorry
for what I said, even if I’m sorry I
ran out of the house.”
Howard takes a deep breath, then exhales long and slow. The
expression on his face looks a bit like pity but with a dash of guilt mixed in.
“Look, maybe I’ve judged
you unfairly based on preconceived notions, but—”
A loud bang echoes outside. Howard glances at me with a panicked
look on his face, and then pulls me off the crate onto the floor behind. I sit
up, and turn to yell at him, but male voices outside keep my mouth closed. I
instead huddle closer to Howard as he puts his hand around my shoulders. He pulls
me in until I’m tucked
against him.
“Did you see
where she went?” a man’s voice asks.
“Nah, she
just vanished.” The voice of
this one sounds young.
“Damn, the
boss isn’t going to
be pleased about this.”
The crunch of shoes against pavement indicates they are on the
move again. The sounds trail off until they’re no longer
audible. I sigh in relief, all the tension fleeing my body.
“Are you okay?’ Howard asks,
rubbing my shoulder.
I glance up, only then noticing how little space is between us.
His blue eyes have flecks of grey in them, and there’s a
smattering of freckles covering his nose and cheeks. His warm breath tickles my
cheek almost like a caress, and his jaw has the barest hint of a five o’clock
shadow. He really is captivating.
“I’m fine,” I eventually say, the words a mere whisper.
The butterflies in my stomach return with a vengeance. Howard
licks his lips as they turn up ever so slightly in a smile.
“Good.”
I can’t stop the
sigh that slips past my own lips. Howard leans forward a little, then moves
closer still until his mouth is pressed against mine. I don’t dare move.
A zing of something, I’m not sure
whether it’s pleasure
or fear, shoots through me. His lips are soft and wet, and the sensation is
unlike anything I’ve felt
before. I can’t even
decide if I want him to continue or stop. When he pulls away though, a feeling
of disappointment bubbles up inside me.
My first kiss.
Goosebumps cover me from head to toe, and unbidden, my fingers
move to my lips. Glancing at Howard, he stares at me for a minute, then moves
to sit further away.
“I’m sorry. I
shouldn’t have done
that.”
I shrug. “It’s okay.”
Howard frowns and then looks across the room.
Part of Matron training is learning not to form close
relationships. It doesn’t mean it
never happens. I’ve heard the
odd story here and there from the other women, and I realise that’s probably
what Gail was trying to tell me at breakfast the other day. But in all honesty,
I can’t remember the last time I had
real physical contact with anyone, above all with a man.
We sit in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. Tension rolls
off Howard in waves.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.
Come on,” Howard
whispers. “We need to
get to the house before those guys come back.”
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Melissa Kendall is an almost forty-year-old mother of two from
Perth, Western Australia, the second-most isolated capital city in the world.
Predominantly a stay-at-home mum, she works a few hours a week as a software
support consultant. She has always loved to read and write, and spent most of
her teens writing poetry and short stories. Over the years, daily life got in
the way and she lost the passion for it, but after the birth of her first
child, Melissa discovered e-books and her interest in writing rekindled. She is
now the author of two published short stories. Matronly Duties is her
first full-length novel.
~CONNECT WITH THE
AUTHOR~
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