Author's Note: As they say, it's been a minute. Hard to believe the last time I posted a story was five years ago. But I have a new one here and I hope you enjoy it. It's set in a non-COVID world, which you can take as you will - pre-COVID, post-vaccine, or just in its own little bubble. I hope you all are safe and healthy, and can stay that way.
Worth the Effort
"It's really going to happen. It's really going to happen."
Morgan Blake repeated the mantra as she drove to her parents' house. She was psyched. Soon her graphic novel would be published, and she'd just received the first printed copies. She'd spent three years working on it. Three years writing and fine-tuning and illustrating the story. Now, at last, it would be out in the world.
Which was scary, but a good scary, she thought.
She'd had mostly positive feedback while working on it, but she knew was because she'd been working with biased sources: friends and family. Even knowing that, the first pushback from her editor had been a shock, and it had taken some time to adjust. Luckily, her editor, Irene, had understood and worked patiently with her.
Now it was all going to happen, and Morgan could hardly believe it. She glanced at the box on the seat next to her, which contained the first copies of
Angles of the Worlds
.
Her mother had invited Morgan and her sisters back home to celebrate, as was their family tradition. They'd marked honor rolls, high school and college graduations, and other milestones. Although the book wasn't out yet, they'd decided to celebrate anyway, and the hard copies made it all feel real.
Plus, if she was lucky, Morgan thought, her mom would make her delicious chocolate raspberry cake.
Smiling, she parked and went up to the house, hefting the box of books. Her mother came out before Morgan could get to the door.
"Morgan, congratulations!"
Morgan smiled as she was wrapped in a maternal hug. "Thanks, Mom. You look good. I like your hair."
"Thank you, sweetie." Elaine ran a hand over her sleek blond bob. "I can't believe it, you're a published author," Elaine marveled as Morgan stepped in. "It's so wonderful! Isn't it, John?"
Morgan's father chuckled. "It is. Congratulations, sweetheart." He kissed her cheekery. "Here, I'll take the box."
"Thanks, Dad."
"It's great!" Morgan's younger sister Jenna beamed and bounced over. "That is so awesome! Is that the book? How many do you have? Can I get an autographed copy?"
Morgan laughed. "Sure."
"Great. You can make it out to 'Jenna, my favorite sister, with thanks for all the hairstyle ideas,'" said Jenna. "Can't wait for it to hit the best-seller lists."
Morgan pulled Jenna into yet another hug. She loved her sister's optimism.
"Well, come on, let's celebrate," said Elaine. "I made chocolate raspberry cake, Morgan. Your favorite."
"I was hoping," Morgan said. "Thanks, Mom. I know that's a lot of work."
"How else could we celebrate for you? But it wasn't easy." Elaine cast a dry look at her husband. "I had to hide it from your father. You know how he is."
John Blake feigned innocence. "I only test for quality control."
"Quick, Morgan," said Jenna. "Let's get ours before Dad eats it all."
"He can have mine. I don't like chocolate raspberry."
Morgan sighed inwardly. She'd forgotten for a moment that her older sister wasn't usually thrilled if these events didn't focus on her. Which made Morgan wonder if Brianna had some kind of ulterior motive for showing up. Good god, she told herself, Brianna's making you paranoid. Stop it.
"I made you some cupcakes, Brianna," said Elaine. "Vanilla with strawberry frosting."
"Okay. I don't see why you'd make something we can't all eat." Brianna went to select a cupcake.
"It's Morgan's celebration," said John, "so she gets her cake. For your next celebration, you get yours. Elaine, sit down, we can get our own slices. Rest your knee."
"I'm fine for one piece. I'm even going back to the office for half days next week. Here you go, Morgan." Her mom put a big slice in front of her.
"Thanks, Mom. I shouldn't, but I will. I can't resist. And Dad's right, sit down and take it easy." Her mother had had surgery on her knee and although she was getting around well, Morgan didn't want to see her overdo.
"So will it go to book stores right away?" asked Jenna as she dug into her slice. "Are you going to do a signing tour?"
"I'm not entirely sure about distribution, but I'm sure I have an email somewhere. No, no tour, although we're going to have a party at the store. Casey insisted." Morgan owned what she thought of as a geek store with her friend, Casey Lu. They covered comics, gaming, and whatever else they thought fit the bill.
Brianna let out a noisy sigh. "I don't see what the big deal is. People publish books all the time. And it's not like it's a real book. It's a comic book. Okay, graphic novel, which is just a long comic book." She made a dismissive gesture. "How hard can it be?"
"Really? Have you done it?" Morgan asked.
"Please," said Brianna. "I'm an adult. I can read books without pictures."
"Now, girls, be good," said Elaine. She waited for the glares to subside and nodded. "It's so nice to have everyone here. I wish we could do it more often."
"Me too," said Jenna. "I'm so busy going between the two salons sometimes I don't even know where I am."
"Ugh, please." Brianna made a show of rolling her eyes. "Morgan sells comic books and you cut hair. Those are not exactly the most challenging jobs. I can't believe you get run that ragged."
"Knock it off, Brianna." Morgan shot a look at her older sister. "Jenna works hard. So do I. We don't insult your job, don't insult ours."
"Anyone can do those things. I'm an office manager for a non-profit. I'm in charge of people."
Three people, Morgan thought to herself, but managed not to say anything. Brianna wanted to pick a fight, and although it was hard to bite her tongue, Morgan held back. To be fair, Brianna probably was great at her job. She'd always had a knack for organizing and planning, and Morgan would bet her office ran more smoothly than most.
The doorbell rang, interrupting the conversation. "I've got it!" Brianna dashed from the table before anyone could say anything.
"Morgan, you shouldn't poke her like that," her mother admonished.
"I wasn't poking her," Morgan said. "I was defending myself and Jenna. I'm not going to let Brianna insult either of us."
"You know what Mom means," Jenna said. "It just gets her mad."
"Well, it makes me mad when she says things like that." Morgan arched an eyebrow at her sister. "I don't see why she gets to be mad and I have to suck it up. You want to explain that?" Jenna averted her eyes, and their parents exchanged a glance but said nothing. Morgan shook her head and went back to her cake. It was the same thing every time.
"Here we are, here we are." Brianna came back into the dining room with her boyfriend, Evan Delaney.
"Hello, Evan." Elaine stood up and went over to give him a hug. "Brianna didn't tell us you were coming tonight. Would you like some cake? It's chocolate raspberry. We're celebrating Morgan's book being published. Did Brianna tell you?"
"No, she didn't. That's great. Congratulations, Morgan," said Evan.
"Thanks, Evan. I have a copy if you want one."
"Oh, that would be great. Could you sign it for—"
Before Evan could say whether he wanted cake, or anything else, Brianna grabbed his hand and started walking towards the other room. "Come on, everyone, let's go in the living room."
"Well, all right, we should go then," said John after a moment. "I guess we're done. Go on out and sit, Elaine. I'll get the coffee going."
"All right. We can finish our cake later." Elaine stood up. "The living room is more comfortable for visiting anyway."
Morgan shook her head and stood up, taking her cake with her. Her mother and younger sister were good at trying to find the little silver linings when Brianna did things like this. They weren't wrong for doing it, and if it made things easier for them Morgan wasn't going to object. On the other hand, she felt that attitude snowballed and resulted in people giving in to Brianna on larger and larger things.
Rein it in, Morgan thought. She knew her parents could sense the tension between herself and Brianna; she knew it hurt them, and she wished it didn't. Tonight, she decided, she would not make waves. She could be quiet in return for chocolate raspberry cake.
She and Jenna and her parents found seats in the living room, where Brianna and Evan sat on the couch. Morgan sat in the love seat to their left, and Jenna joined her. Their parents settled in the occasional chairs opposite Morgan and Jenna.
"We'll have coffee in a few minutes," said Elaine. "So, Evan, how are you?"
"I'm good. And hopefully I'll be even better soon." Evan smiled and took Brianna's hands in his. "Mr. and Mrs. Blake, with your blessing, I'd like to ask Brianna to make me the happiest man on earth and marry me."
Morgan made a conscious effort to keep her face neutral as emotions tumbled inside her. She was sure Brianna had masterminded this to take the focus off her book news. Part of her was furious, and part of her was weary. Dealing with Brianna was sometimes like playing a game, and because Morgan didn't think as her sister did, Morgan came out on the losing end. Like tonight.
"Oh, oh, my." Elaine clasped her hands in front of her chest and her eyes teared up. "Of course you have our blessing, of course! Doesn't he, John?"
Her husband nodded. "If it's what Brianna wants, then certainly."
"Then there's only one thing to do," Evan said. "Brianna, will you marry me?"
"Do you have a ring?" Brianna teased.
Morgan wondered, if Evan didn't have a ring that met her sister's standards, if Brianna might say no. Then again, it was hard to imagine Brianna had left the ring selection to Evan.
"I am prepared," Evan said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He went down on one knee, opened the box and held it out. "I got the brightest stone I could, but it will never outshine you."
Morgan glanced at Jenna and had to hide a smile when her sister looked as green as she felt after the exchange.
