TARYN ROSE ALEXANDER (Character from "A Safe Place to Land")

Four years ago

Elkhart, Indiana

It was on Taryn's thirteenth birthday that Mama revealed the realities of Taryn's life to her. Well, she had always known Mama had never been married to Taryn's father--his absence was a never-ending incompleteness that sometimes woke Taryn up in the middle of the night or tried to ruin her happiest moments. But Mama remained hushed about the details.

Questions Taryn posed to her grandparents, Mama's parents, were always met with, "That's for your mom to tell you when she feels it's the right time." Taryn learned to stop asking, though the wondering never left her.

The evening of Taryn's thirteenth birthday, though, Mama opened up a bit. After Grandma and Grandpa had gone and the leftover lasagna and birthday cake were put away, Mama sank into the worn-but-comfy leather sofa and patted the seat beside her. Taryn settled in close to Mama's side, rested her head on Mama's shoulder, and felt motherly arms wrap around her.

"Taryn," Mama said thoughtfully, as she brushed the stray strands of golden hair away from Taryn's face with one hand. "There are some things we should talk about now that you're growing up." Mama sighed and seemed to be struggling to find the right words. "I know sometimes you wonder about your father and how you came to be in existence . . ."

"Mama!" Taryn hissed in exasperation. "You've already told me the facts of life. I really don't want to discuss that on my birthday!"

Mama chuckled quietly. "No, honey. I mean . . . it's time to tell you more than . . . well, more than what applies to everyone. Everyone enters the world in basically the same way, yet, well, everyone has his or her own unique story."

"Oh." Taryn wondered if she might be about to learn something interesting. "So, what's my story?"

 

 

To learn more about Taryn's story and how it influences her as a seventeen-year-old, be sure to read A Safe Place to Land, available August 11 on Amazon Kindle!