SHORTS FROM THE SHELF features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, administrator of SHANNON MUIR’S THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. The story line featured currently is “Doonah Cross Me,” a prequel for the character of Doonah Cross who premiered on Wattpad last year that will run over the next several days. This is Part Four.
Once inside, Doonah followed her Dad and Mathilda to the living room. She noticed they sat on the couch, though awkwardly far apart. She carefully put her guitar case down and sat in one of the armchairs.
“Doonah, sweetie, since you asked for honesty, I’m going to give it to you. However, be aware that I was still working on a good time to do this. You may still have questions after I’m done.”
“I’ve already got them, Dad,” she admitted. “Even though I think I know what you’re going to say.”
Mathilda got up.
“Maybe I should just let you two talk alone first.”
Doonah noted the use of the word first, which implied Mathilda expected to be seen around again. She then watched as her father grabbed for the woman’s hand and gently guided her back to the couch.
“Mattie, we should do this together.”
Noah returned his attention to Doonah.
“Doonah, please know that I loved your mother Donna very much. I wish I’d had many more years to spend with her, but that’s not the way life turned out for me. While you were growing up, I made sure that you were the only young lady I ever had eyes for, to make sure you grew up to be everything your mother wanted you to be. And now you are all grown up, and I, well I need to start trying to think about the next phase of my life.”
“And that’s Mattie,” Doonah said in return. She wasn’t mad at her Dad at all for feeling that way, but she did wish she’d known sooner he was serious about someone. From the way that the two of them behaved outside, that was totally clear. However, the big question remained exactly how serious they were. Again, her strong attention to detail already painted a picture, but she needed her father to be the one to tell.
