The Point

For my friends and family

Other Books by M J Lumbert

Flora’s Trilogy

Sketches of Time – Molly’s Story

The Good Fight

Other Lesbian Books by M J Lumbert

Seasons – A Love Story

The Culling

Promise Me

Night-Sky

Holiday Treats

Hello, Can You Hear Me?

Weekends

This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

The Point copyright © 2020 Melissa Lumbert

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission by the author.

ISBN: 978-1-09834-699-7

Description

Those folks who are fortunate enough to live in an area of beauty, know of a place that they referred to growing up as The Point. It’s that place where you can look out over the view in front of you and just be in awe of what lies before you. No matter what part of the country you live in, there is beauty to behold everywhere if you see beyond yourself.

This point, that was so important to two little girls, Anna and Beth, had been enjoyed often as they dreamed about a future life together. What happens to each could put an end to those dreams, if they allow it. They struggle and fight and just try to survive the day to day of life. Both feel their opportunity was lost many years ago. Sadness and desperation initiate a series of events that may just bring them back to their point where it all began.

Contents

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

EPILOGUE

FROM THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ONE

Beth, you are my best friend. Thank you for the bracelet. You did a really great job making it. It’s beautiful. Anna admired the braided string that now encircled her wrist. She brought her eyes back up to meet Beth’s eyes. Puppy love was all encompassing. Beth was more than just her best friend forever. Anna wanted to spend her life with Beth.

This was Anna’s most favorite place in the whole world. At the end of the road where her family lived there was a trail that came to this point. It overlooked the valley below and the mountains that protected that valley. She was an only child and loved it when Beth came over to spend time with her.

Anna was as much in love with Beth as Beth was with her. Beth… Anna was wary to say the words she felt. She was so infatuated with Beth and couldn’t wait until they were old enough to be together forever. Anna’s big brown eyes glistened with anticipation. I… I love you Beth. She blinked then leaned in to kiss Beth quickly.

Beth took a quick breath in and started to reply. Oh Anna, I love… she was interrupted.

I’m going to tell. I’m going to tell on you. Beth, I’m going to tell Mom right now. I saw you kissing with Anna and I’m going to tell her right now. He was standing at the edge of the trail. He had followed the two girls down the trail after school. Mike was the typical younger brother, always nosing around and a big tattler about anything he could.

Mike, you stop right now. You stop telling lies about us. If you tell Mom, I’ll never speak to you again. Mike, do you hear me? Beth was running now to try and catch her brother.

Anna was trying to catch up to them both. Beth, just ignore him. He’s just a little boy.

You don’t understand. He will cause trouble for us.

But we didn’t do anything wrong Beth. We love each other. We’re best friends. Don’t you think that’s a good thing?

Beth stopped then, and turned to Anna. She was just catching up with her. Yes of course I think it’s great. I want us to be best friends forever. But you know Mike will be a pain in the butt. He will make a big deal of it and my parents will too. She took Anna’s hands into hers. I better go home and try to fix it with them. I’ll see you tomorrow Anna, love you. Beth ran off after her brother.

**

Anna Baker, come in here. Her mother was not very happy.

What is it Mom? Anna sat across from her at the kitchen table.

I just got off the phone with Beth’s mother. Is it true?

Is what true Mom?

Were you and she kissing?

Yes, it’s true. I love her. She’s my best friend. We didn’t do anything wrong Mom.

Good girls don’t do that. Anna, it’s wrong.

What? I’ve seen you and Dad kissing.

Yes, but he is my husband and he is a man. You are both little girls and should not be doing that.

So it would be ok if I kissed a boy but not a girl. Anna was getting frustrated with her mother.

No Anna, it would not. You are too young to be kissing anyone in that way. When you are older, you will understand and know that you will want to kiss a boy not a girl. Beth was your best friend, but she is not allowed to come here anymore. You will see her at school and that is it. You can’t go to her house either. You are grounded now, home and school and home; that’s it. Am I clear?

I hate you for this. Anna started crying and ran to her room.

Her mother sat at the table and cried as well. Her beautiful little girl had never said such hurtful words to her before. Tears ran from her eyes with the realization that their relationship would never be the same again.

**

Kathy Carter had a similar conversation with her daughter Beth, in Beth’s room.

You can’t do that Mom. It’s not fair. She is my best friend. Mike is an idiot. He doesn’t know what he saw. He’s a stupid little pain in the ass Mom. He should be getting in trouble for spying on me, not the other way around. Come on Mom, you know this is not fair.

Beth, I don’t want to hear it again. You are grounded. You will go to school and come home. You can’t go to her house and she can’t come here. It’s over now. I don’t want to hear any more about it. Am I clear Beth?

YES! Beth walked from her room to her brother’s.

I hate you Michael Carter. I will hate you for the rest of my life. I will never speak to you or even acknowledge that I have a brother, ever again. Don’t ever speak to me again. She slammed his door closed and walked back to her room.

Beth’s mother had gone back downstairs so she slammed that door as well then lay on her bed and cried herself to sleep.

As they all sat silently at the dinner table that evening, Beth’s father made an announcement.

So, I was given an opportunity today for a promotion at work. It would involve moving out west. How does that sound to everyone? He was clueless about what had happened.

Beth’s older sister Susan was excited to be going on a new adventure. Beth’s mother thought this would be a good move for the family. Beth’s brother didn’t say much about it but was happy for his dad. Beth herself was not speaking to anyone, but inside, she was devastated.

Well I was hoping for a little more enthusiasm, but whatever. We will be moving by the month’s end. So, start packing your stuff and help your mother with the household stuff.

**

We could run away together. We could live in the woods together and they wouldn’t find us.

Yes, they would. It’s so not fair. I miss you.

Once we move, I could run away and come back here. You could hide me in your barn or something.

My place would be the first place they would search. I don’t want you to do that Beth, something bad could happen to you.

Something bad already happened to me. I hate this Anna. I hate my brother and my mother. I don’t want to move. As soon as I get there, I’ll write to you so you can know where to send me a letter. She was sniffling.

It will be ok Beth. I will always be your best friend and I will always love you. Don’t do anything crazy Beth, please for me. We will find our way back to each other someday, I promise. As soon as I turn eighteen, I’ll come and find you. Then we will be together forever and they won’t be able to do anything about it.

The two girls had been sitting on the bench in front of the school. When the bus pulled up, Anna had to get on it. She tried to smile at Beth as she made her way to a seat.

Mike watched from the doorway of the school. He saw his sister crying on the bench, so he walked over to sit with her.

I can ride the bus with you when it comes if you want. Did he want to make up for what he’d done?

If looks could kill, he would be dead. She had such hate in her eyes for him when she looked up at him. Beth turned away without a word; just the hate filled look was given to him.

Each day went the same for the next two weeks. On the last day they saw each other, Anna was sad to be losing her friend. Beth was just so angry at her own family; she couldn’t get beyond it.

Please Beth; don’t let this spoil your life. We will be together again soon; I promise we will. Anna smiled at her friend. No one else will ever take your place for me.

Beth tried to smile back at her now. Anna, you will always be my best friend as well. I will miss you. Her smile left her now, forever. She watched as Anna stood to go to the waiting bus that would bring her home.

TWO

Why have you stopped writing to me? I miss you so much. We had been talking about trying to go to the same college when we graduate or at least meeting up if our college plans aren’t the same. I hate it so much here and I miss the point. Do you still walk out there every day? Did I say something wrong or write something wrong? Please, please, write to me again. I’m sorry for whatever I did. Have you gotten the date for you driver’s permit yet? I go for mine this summer when I turn sixteen. I can’t wait to see you.

I miss you so very much, it hurts,

XO Beth

**

I have been writing you every single day now. I think your parents or one of your siblings caught on to us and they are blockading our conversing. This is so unfair. Beth, you did nothing wrong. I miss you totally. I am going to write every single day, in hopes that one slips through the barrier and you get it. I can’t wait until I get my license. I want to just take off and go to find you then take you away from them. I can’t believe they are doing this to us still. We are old enough to know that we love each other and want to be with each other. Damn them all. We will find our way back to each other.

I miss you and I love you,

XO Anna

**

I am losing hope that you will ever write to me again. Maybe there is someone new in your life and you don’t love me anymore. Its ok, I won’t be mad at you. I know it was all on account of my horrible brother. I will never forgive him. I have decided on nursing school. I wish I knew what you were going to do. I don’t feel like I can just go there after graduation not knowing if you still want to be with me. I wish I knew. Why won’t you tell me?

I still miss you and love you,

XO Beth

**

This is my last letter. I graduate this weekend and I am taking off on Monday. I am coming to get you Beth, or at least to be with you. I can go to college anywhere; it doesn’t matter to me. If you get this letter, be ready to go Babe. I’m coming for you, soon.

I still love you,

XO Anna

THREE

The woman walked down the private road, as she did every day for the past fifteen years. She listened to the birds chirping in the trees and the squirrels chattering as they ran around looking for food. Each day was the same.

At the end of the road was a post and lock-box. When she got there, she would remove the backpack and place the items into it. She would strap it on and make her way back to the cabin she lived in. Once those items were taken care of, she would go out and walk to the point. It was her place of solace. She looked over the valley admiring the view. If she could paint, she would be able to do a precise copy of it from any season since she had spent everyday watching life pass by. After a few minutes of reflecting on what was once her dream, she would turn and walk sadly away.

All the people living in town knew who she was, the famous author of the macabre. She had a very loyal following and she never failed them. She also never left her property. What she couldn’t get delivered, he friend Bill would deliver to her, when he came once a week.

**

Excuse me. Hello, can you help me, please? Beth walked up to the woman working in her garden.

The woman looked up from her beets with apprehension. She didn’t speak, just observed.

My car broke down out on route 12 and I walked in the road. My phone is dead. Please can you help me?

What is it you expect me to do?

I’m trying to find my friend. The last address I had was this street.

What is your friend’s name?

Anna, her name is Anna Baker. Have you heard of her? Do you know her?

No, I don’t know her. How long ago did you say she lived on this street? The woman just kept working, pulling weeds and looking for insects. She spent the day, every day in her garden. She never left the property here.

I’m afraid it’s been awhile. We went to school together, elementary school, here in town. We kept in touch with letters for a number of years but lost touch in high school. I’m not sure when she may have moved away. I was just taking a chance I guess, sorry to bother you. Can I please use your phone so I can have my car towed and checked out?

The woman got up, with difficulty. She was stiff from a morning of weeding. Her hat and kerchief covered most of her head, face, and neck. Large sunglasses protected her eyes. What is your name, if I may ask?

Beth, my name is Beth Carter. It’s nice to meet you...? She reached her hand out to shake.

The woman just turned away toward the cabin where she lived. Beth followed silently behind.

**

As they came up on the porch, Beth noticed the view out and across the valley. Wow, this is amazing. You must enjoy sitting out here often. The sunsets must be incredible. She smiled taking in the awe-inspiring field and river then forest growing into the mountain peaks ahead of her.

Yes, it is quiet and peaceful. The woman opened the door and stepped inside. She took the hat and kerchief off then removed her sunglasses. Please don’t be frightened when you see me. I was in a bad fire and have many scars. I have learned to live with them, but they aren’t pretty. You can come in now.

As Beth stepped through the door, her eyes wandered everywhere. She noticed all the little knickknacks placed around the area. Most were wildlife related. Bear and deer