An Excerpt from McCudahy's Merger
By
Pamela Johnson

In her world, Caroline Riggs thought Flannel was a man's cologne. She's about to have her world turned upside down by Devin McCudahy.     

Twenty-seven years ago ~

    Devin's eyes grew wide as saucers. He'd never before felt a baby kick.
    "Here, place your hand right here, Devin. You can feel a foot."
    The woman smiled down at him as he sat beside her on the sagging olive couch.
    With cautious curiosity Devin slid his small hand, blistered and scarred by his constant whittling, over the woman's belly, following her direction. Just as he did the woman's belly pitched and rolled as strange as an ocean tide, and a decisive thump thwacked against his palm.
    "Leave Lila alone now, Devin. Tis not polite to be bothering our guests." His mother reprimanded from the kitchen doorway.
    He frowned in frustration, wanting to know more about how babies came from a woman's belly. His inquisitive nature made him an excellent student, but often the same curiosity got him into hot water.
    "Move on upstairs now and get your bath. You're covered from head to toe in sawdust as much time as you've spent today with your Da in the basement."
    He pushed from the couch and grabbed a butterscotch disk from the candy dish as he headed for the stairs.
    "Aw now, Irene, he's done no harm. Besides won't be it something to tell then how they played together when they were young?"
    Devin paused, wiping the back of his hand over his nose. "Guess it better be a boy then."
    His Ma stepped out from the kitchen and swatted his backside with her dishtowel.
    "Get on up there." She issued her warning.
    Devin gave his Ma an ornery grin as he looked over her shoulder at the pretty lady with the baby in her stomach.
    The woman's husband carried a large glass of milk to his very large pregnant wife. "Irene says it will help the baby to sleep."
    "Promise me that our children will have the chance to at least be friends someday."
    He patted her hand. "Of course, I promise."

Present Day ~

Chapter Two
Building Pathology Glossary of Terms;
Regulations; requirements laid down by the law, or which satisfy the law in some respect.

    “Now honestly, wouldn't it make more sense to have sliding glass doors?” Caroline stood elbow to elbow with Devin, her expression deep into envisioning her thoughts.
    He chewed the lining of his cheek. Hard to believe she'd only been   more >>