If you need a refresher or haven’t read the last chapter of Noble Doubt, click HERE.
From the Diary of Amy Noble:
Dear Diary, my friends and I stood around my ever-growing money tree in awe.
“Someone say something,” I finally said.
“This is unbelievable,” Harlow said. “If I wasn’t standing here, staring at it, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
“It’s nuts,” Tom mumbled while Jude closed his eyes and held his palm to his forehead as if that would make the money tree disappear.
“So what are you going to buy?” Harlow asked.
Buy? I hadn’t even thought that far ahead, which is probably strange because all the girls where we live could only dream of having a money tree to go shopping with.
Then I realized. My mom hadn’t reacted so well to this magical finding.
“I don’t think my mom will let me spend it,” I said.
“Can we have some, then?” Tom asked. “I mean, if you can’t use it, why shouldn’t we?”
I considered this for a moment. I mean, on the one hand, my grandfather gave it to me as a gift. Would he be angered if I gave the money away? Would more grow in its place? On the other hand, what was the harm in giving it away if I couldn’t use it myself?
After thinking it through, I shrugged. “Sure, you guys take as much as you want. It’s not useful to me.”
Tom practically lunged forward and began plucking the money leaves from the tree’s branches.
After a moment, Jude’s eyes met mine. “Are you sure?”
“Sure, why not?”
Then he began plucking money leaves, too.
“Aren’t you going to take any?” I asked Harlow.
Her lips turned up into a smile before she answered. “I’m spending the night, so I’ll get some later if I decide I feel like it.”
I loved how she didn’t follow the crowd but always stood her own ground, doing as she pleased. Was I like that? I hoped so. I didn’t want to be someone who only did things my friends did.
Dolly nudged up against my leg and I leaned down to pet behind her ears just as she liked.
She gave me an appreciative glance before trotting off between the trees. I often wondered what adventures she got up to, and I also wondered if I put a little camera on her collar, would it stay there? How fun would that be if it worked?
“You boys don’t need to take them all,” Harlow said, stomping her foot, and bringing me back to my senses.
“Oh, it’s fine. You guys tell us later what you bought with it.”
They agreed they would before they left for their respective houses.
And then there we were, Harlow and me alone.
By ourselves.
Taking a deep breath, I couldn’t help but notice her perfume. She always smelled so good. It was intoxicating.
“Hey,” I said, licking my lower lip, trying to muster up the nerve to ask her this question, “What perfume do you wear?”
We walked toward the back of the house where the slider doors were.
“It’s called Passion & Power. Isn’t it nice? My mother got it for me on her business trip to the mainland.” Then she winked at me and as she spoke the next words, a pain stabbed at my heart. “And Tom loves it. Like, whenever I have it on, he practically attacks me.”
“TMI,” I moaned as I thought about how lucky Tom was.
We passed through the kitchen, grabbing cookies as we went, then raced up the stairs to my bedroom. Even though Harlow and Tom were crazy about each other, it was hard to think of them together in that way.
Only recently had I allowed myself the realization that I wanted Harlow in my life, like as a girlfriend. She, of course, didn’t have a clue. Or did she? I was so confused.
Because after closing my bedroom door, she opened her little designer purse to pull out a dainty travel perfume bottle with a small bow made of glass on it. She sprayed two puffs of it into the air and at once, I could smell that it was Passon & Power.
“C’mere,” she laughed, taking my hand and pulling me close to her.
We were standing toe to toe, with me a little taller than she was. She held the perfume bottle with its little glass pink bow near the tender skin on my neck, then squeezed. Then a puff of Passion & Power had me smelling good, too.
Leaning to her side toward her purse, which was on my bed, she reached inside and pulled out a lipstick. She removed the lid, then held the nude tone next to my face. Smiling, she nodded, then dabbed it onto my lips. With a nod of approval, held a compact mirror to my face, her hot breath on my cheek.
Something in me I think had been dormant for a long time woke up. It was slow at first, while I admired Harlow’s lips as she smiled at me. Then it grew into something more, engulfing me in a maddening flame. What the hello-kitty was happening to me?
Her eyes danced, and I wondered, could I be reading her right? Was she flirting with me?
“Let’s see if dinner’s ready,” I blurted.
When I turned, I grasped the door handle with a sweaty, slippery hand and all it did was rattle. What was wrong with me?
Laughing, Harlow gently pushed me aside, opening the door with ease.
“What is going on with you?”
Before I could answer, Gil yelled up the stairs, “Come and get it!”
Then I heard mom say, “When I told you to tell the girls dinner was ready, I didn’t mean yell it up the stairs at them.”
“Your brother is so goofy,” Harlow said with another laugh.
During dinner, I could barely eat. Harlow acted like everything was as normal as ever.
After we ate, we got our pajamas on. Was it creepy that I couldn’t keep my eyes from peeking at her bare form as she changed?
“Let’s go for a walk,” Harlow said.
Good idea. I thought the fresh air might help whatever was wrong with me.
We walked a ways down the beach, then headed back, stopping at the picnic table. Harlow hopped onto it, sitting in front of me where I stood.
“It’s so beautiful out tonight.”
“It sure is,” I agreed, staring into her eyes.
Was she feeling what I was feeling? Was it possible?
When she put her hand on my waist, I thought perhaps she felt the same as me.
“Do you think I’m pretty?”
Her nose crinkled as she giggled. “Of course.”
We stared into each other’s eyes, then I leaned forward, my lips touching hers. She opened her mouth, deepening the kiss. My chest was tight and I could barely breathe. Slowly, my hand moved upward and brushed her breast.
All at once, she pulled away, shoving me. Tears welled in my eyes as she pointed at me.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“I thought-I thought-” my voice trailed off as the tears ran down my face.
“I’m not gay!” she yelled. “I don’t know why you did that!”
“You were kissing me, too,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“That’s a lie,” she hissed.
Then, she was hopping down from the picnic table and running.
Running away from me as fast as she could.
I don’t know how long I stood there, the entire scene running through my head again and again.
Finally, I turned toward the sliding glass doors that led to the family room. And my grandfather appeared out of nowhere.
“I just drove your friend home.”
Hot tears stung my face all over again as I tried to tell him, “thank you.”
His eyes narrowed, his lips becoming a thin, straight line.
“She seemed upset.”
All I could do was nod, then bow my head in shame.
He crossed his arms in front of himself.
“You do not have to say anything. It’s all right, everything will be fine.”
“But how? I don’t see how anything will ever be the same again.”
“Come with me.”
I followed him to the water where he liked to go on our daily constitutionals.
After a time, he said, “It is time you learned some things.”
While we stood side by side, he spent the rest of the night telling me the most fantastical story you could ever imagine.
As the sun rose, I stared at the water, almost unable to comprehend what he was telling me.
Mom was not my mother, she was my aunt… My real mother died during a battle against my father Laris. She protected me until the end, but what Grandfather wanted me to know is that my real mother was more powerful than any person he’d ever met. She had powers that I may have inherited.
Remember when I joked Grandfather thought he was a vampire? I had dismissed him as delusional or senile. Well, guess what? He is indeed a vampire! I know, I know, vampires aren’t supposed to exist, but then he showed me his eyes. There is no denying something is going on with him. If he says he’s a vampire, then I reckon that’s true. I mean, who gives their granddaughter a money tree? Someone with amazing abilities, that’s who.
Anyway, Grandfather told me everything, I suppose. He said when Sebastian was only a young man, he turned him into a vampire. Which explains their love-hate relationship. When Sebastian fell in love with mom… or, I mean, Aunt Sophie? I’ll deal with that once it all absorbs… Sebastian gave up everything, even eternal life, just to be with her.
To top it all off, Grandfather has been using a spell on me to quash my memory of life before moving here, and to repress my powers if they exist. I’m so angry about this! Grandfather insisted he thought it was best for me since mom wasn’t explaining anything at all.
Right now, my insides feel all jiggly, and I can’t really describe how I feel. I’m in love with Harlow. I might have powerful abilities. My mom isn’t my mom and my real parents died battling each other. Vampires are real, and my grandfather is one. I can’t sort it all out. It’s too much at once.
Before we went inside, Grandfather told me to read mom’s diary, that it would explain so much more.
I’m sure mom will not let me, so this is something I have to do on my own, to help myself sort this all out.
From the Diary of Sophie Woodbury-Noble:
“Soph, what’s wrong?” Sebastian asked as he pulled me into a warm embrace.
“It’s Amy. She was out all night with Gerrard. When they came inside, she screamed at me I’m a liar and she demanded to read the family diary!”
“He must have told her everything!”
When we pulled away from our hug, he looked into my eyes. “Would that really be so bad?”
“You’re joking, right?”
“No. I have always thought she had the right to know.”
“I realize that, but it wasn’t for Gerrard to tell her!”
He shook his head, and his eyes became angry now, too. “Look how long you’ve had to explain things to her. I agree it wasn’t for him to tell her, but you weren’t stepping up, Soph. It should have come from you, yes, but you never planned on telling her.”
“That’s not true! I was going to tell her when she was ready!”
“She was ready last night,” Gerrard said as he joined us in the kitchen.
It was all I could do not to beat him within an inch of his life. It’s a silly thing to say about a vampire, but that’s how I felt.
“You!” I yelled, my voice rising an octave. “You had no right to decide that!”
“I’m her grandfather. I had a right.”
“You’re not her grandfather! You’re not even really related to Sebastian!”
As I suspected it would, that got him going. His nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed to slits.
“I have been Amelia’s grandfather her entire life, related or not. I think you need to reassess your reaction to all of this. I’m through spelling her to suppress her powers. We need to take better care of this child.”
I wanted to scream at him, pound on his chest, knock his head in. How dare these two men judge me! Who do they even think they are? They’re not Amy’s blood like I am.
So they wouldn’t see me cry, I ran from them, shutting myself in the greenhouse.
I tried to hold it in, but the tears came anyway.
Something tugged on the hem of my shirt. Looking down, I realized Gilbert had let himself in.
“Are you really my mom?” he asked.
My little man had apparently heard everything.
Kneeling down, I pulled him into a tight hug.
“I’m really your momma, and daddy is really your daddy. I’m so sorry you heard everything. It’s not right.”
And Gerrard would pay dearly for his meddling.
Special thanks to Bee (Stories by Bee / Poses by Bee) for the poses used in this chapter: Convo/Emotion Poses – Set 2, First, Second, Third Base – Teens, Emo Male Set 2, and Emotions – Adult.
Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting!
Other Credits:
World: Winchester Farming Community
Lot: Woodland Cottage
Tough situation for all of them. True, it wasn’t really for Gerard to tell, but when was Sophie going to do it?
Right? I don’t think she was planning on ever telling her. But I reckon we will never know now.
“Passion & Power” – that sounds like a fierce perfume, I want some! I’d also really, really love a money tree. But it does feel a little ominous, like the money might be tainted and cursed.
“What the hello-kitty was happening to me?” Hahaha, I’ve actually said this before!! 😂 I have a HK obsession.
Aaaanyway. Poor Amy, that’s a lot to happen in one night. Finding you have feelings for a friend, and that you may be gay. Finding your mum isn’t your mum, that the life you have is a cover for so many deep secrets. That you might have powers! What a mind boggle.
Poor Soph. I guess Gerrard waited for Soph to come clean but she didn’t and he felt Amy had a right to know. It did at least take away a difficult task for Soph to contemplate, but obviously she’s going to be peeved that the choice was taken out of her hands. I’d be peeved too (and a little relieved that I didn’t have to do the grand reveal myself!) xx
Thanks so much, Caz! And woot woot, you made it! LOLOL Dumb ol’ Jetpack. 😜
That is such a good point about the money tree! Is there a price to pay for using it? I think you’d get a kick out of Generation 3 where the money tree first appears. LOLOL Not that you have to go back and read it.
What the Hello-Kitty! My daughter Katy says that all the time! LOL I’m so tickled you do, too! I’d love to hear about your HK obsession some day. 😀
Mind boggle is a good way to put it. Her whole life is a lie, or so she probably feels. Wait till next week. Oh wait, I mean wait till you read yesterday’s. LOL
I say poor Soph, too. She has sacrificed to much for Amy and Amy doesn’t even know about that part. But it is all in the diary if she’d give it to Amy to read. Gerrard taking it into his own hands is such a Gerrard thing to do. LOLOL I agree about it being both peeving and relieving. xo
[…] If you need a refresher or haven’t read Chapter 9.24 of Noble Doubt (it didn’t show up in the reader and was released last Saturday), please click HERE. […]
First … Welcome Back!!! 🎉🎉🎉. And wow, just wow! You returned with a bang! That last chapter was just the tip of the iceberg! Poor Sophie! She was rejected by her crush and then found out everything she believed was wrong. 😞 Now her ‘grandfather’ is on her ‘mother’s s-list. Watch out Gerard! That’s scary. I hope she gets the diary. But as far as Harlow goes, I think she freaked out and ran… (I hope so for Sophie’s sake and she comes around). But regardless, I’m on the edge of my seat now to see what happens next! Great chapter! 🤗
Thank you, Audrey! 🎉🎉 Gerrard is in deep! LOL Sophie’s not playing around now that he’s crossed this line. Time will tell if Sophie gives the diary to Amy. Harlow feels like a wild card right now, and Amy is left hanging in the meantime. If they don’t become a couple, I hope their friendship won’t be harmed by what happened.
Oh my goodness! I confused Sophie and Amy! I’m soooo sorry. I think you figured it out though. 🫣. Ugh. It’s been too long for my old mind! 😂 But yes, even if they don’t become a couple I hope AMY and Harlow stay friends. She’s gonna need some friends.
No worries, I knew who you were talking about. 😀 You are so right that Amy is going to need friends. Hopefully, it all works out.
Dang. One night and Amy’s life was turned upside down.
Amy shows more maturity than most adults (me, I’m talking about me). To share her money tree so freely with her friends. Such a generous soul. I need to find a friend like Amy lol.
Aw young, new love/crushes. What a challenging time, and this is compounded by her feelings for her (female) best friend who is dating Tom. That’s a lot to deal with already. Amy was very bold/brave and told Harlow how she felt, even if she did it through a deep-kiss sesh, and despite Harlow’s reaction, Amy handled the situation with maturity and grace. It certainly isn’t easy being vulnerable, and at such a tender age, goodness. Seeing as how this is Amy’s perspective, we don’t know how Harlow is processing her BFFs sudden move from friend to girlfriendly. It is possible that Harlow harbors romantic feelings for Amy… but also possible that she doesn’t. Clearly, she could have handled things more amicably, and told Amy what she was feeling, but I’m guessing that Harlow is handling things as a “normal” teen would, and Amy is not – because Amy is not normal/average.
Gerald vs. Sophie vs. Sebastian : Gaaaawd, what a mess. I don’t like that Gerald took it upon himself to go against Sophie’s. Whether or not he agrees with her, she is Amy’s mother and he disrespected her parenting. It makes little difference that Amy is not the biological mother of Amy, she raised her in the same capacity someone fostering/adopting a child.
Sebastian is also on my shit-list. He certainly acts like he is siding with Gerald in the matter. Not a united husband/wife front. If he didn’t agree with how Amy was being raised, he could have asserted himself instead of going along with it and then not being supportive of his wife.
I do not think what Sophie did was right either. I understand protecting a child, but Amy is not a little child who might not understand the situation. I personally think protecting a child is informing them of dangers to avoid, and if that means telling Amy about her real parents and that she has powers, then that’s what has to be done.
I do think that Sebastian enabled Sophie by not speaking up or having a plan when THEY would tell Amy the truth. If he is parenting with Sophie then it his duty to argue in behalf of Amy when necessary.
Anyways, that’s a total mess and I would recommend therapy because boundaries are not being respected lol and Sophie is just being attacked by Amy, Sebastian and Gerald. That poor woman.
PS What the Hello-Kitty is the best expression I’ve heard and I’m going to start saying that in everyday life. 😀
Thank you so much. 🙂 You couldn’t be more right about this entire situation. It is definitely a huge mess. I especially liked what you said about Sebastian and the part he has to play here. Sophie has sacrificed so much of herself to be a mother to Amy, it does seem a little unfair how she is being beat up upon at the moment.
Another important thing you said was the fact that telling a child where the dangers are and protecting them that way is the way to go. You hit the nail on the head and you can probably expect this to come up in the near future.
As far as what happened between Harlow and Amy goes, you couldn’t have said it more correctly! Let’s hope this turns out okay for both involved.
I love that you’re adopting What in the Hello-Kitty. hahaha It’s something my daughter says all the time. 😀
So nice to see you back! This line sums up the episode perfectly- What the hello-kitty was happening to me?
Can’t wait to see what happens next 🙂
Thank you, Jacquie! It’s really nice to be back. Hahaha I’m so glad you liked that line. I think you’re right that it sums it all up. 😀
Dear Kymber. Artwork and story line. Amazing.
Thank you so much, John. I really appreciate your kind words.
You are welcome dear Kymber.
What a busy episode. It was fun to catch up after the break, Kymber. Looking forward to seeing how this all turns out!
Thank you, Diana. ❤ I appreciate your kind words.
Ohhhhhhhh dear. Can’t say I’m mad at Gerrard because I’ve been saying this whole time she needed to know. But it was definitely not his place to tell her.
Thank you, Jess. Gerrard was just being himself. You’re right it wasn’t his place to tell, but on the other hand, as you said, she needed to know.
So happy you are back and things are well in your world. They must stay that way!
That slipper pic spoke volumns! What a great picture. Harlow is either flirting or deep down she knows Amy is attracted to her and stepping a toe over the line to see what it would be like. “I kissed a girl and I like it.”
But NO, I only like boys. Really a terrible thing to be doing to her best friend. Immature and mean. Amy is doomed to be hurt if this is how she swings.
I mean really, is anyone surprised Gerrard did what he did?
Thank you so much, Bee. Yes, they must stay that way. I agree! 😀
The slipper pic is one of your poses, which I thought was perfect for what was happening in the scene.
I agree with your assessment of Harlow. It seems both girls are just confused and maybe she was indeed attracted to Amy.
LOLOLOL I know, right? Gerrard is just being himself.
I’m sorry Amy had to find out like that. Imagine learning all of this right after Harlow rejected her (kind of?). I would argue with Gerrard whether or not she was ready right that very moment. Oh my! The whirlwind of emotions she must be feeling right now.
And of course, Harlow. I think she is so confused right now, but she must be attracted to Amy in a way, considering she didn’t reject her right away. Being attracted to both her boyfriend and her best friend must be even more disorientating than just the best friend. And she probably repressed those feelings even more considering her relationship, and didn’t take the time to ponder them like Amy did.
Not related, but I wonder about the money tree. Considering the watermarks and all the extra security added to limit forgery, could her friends be arrested for using those bills? It is such a weird concept.
Can’t wait for the confrontation between Amy and Sophie. I’m sure it’ll be intense.
That is a very interesting thought about the money tree. I did wonder the same thing. We’ll see if the story leads me there or not. 😀
Amy has had quite a night, hasn’t she? I think you’re spot on that the emotions she is having right now must be such a whirlwind.
I think you’re also right about Harlow. She was the one to deepen the kiss. How confused she must be feeling. I liked how you said it must be disorientating; good word for exactly what’s happening with her, too.
That confrontation is unavoidable, and I’m sure you’re right that it will be intense. 😀
Missed these updates! I’m glad everyone in your life is okay.
I can’t, well, maybe I can, believe Gerrard took it upon himself to do what Sophie should have done the moment Amy became a teenager. Oh boy. Stuff’s hitting the fan and it’s flying everywhere!!!
Thank you so much, Hilly. 💗 That’s a good point about Gerrard. Time will tell. 😀 It’s definitely flying everywhere. LOLOL
It’s a pleasure to read and lurk, Kymber! 💕🙂
I know this comment is from before when the chapter was accidentally published early, but I wanted to thank you, Harmony. Your presence is valued!