Interrupted, that was supposed to be their beginning of forever...
Interrupted, all of it had only been a dream...
"Lord, maintain my spirit as it is, but transform me in ways that will most benefit my child. I do not wish to be the mother who shares a series of sorrowful tales with my child. I am weary of being the one who plays second fiddle to every man. When Shun called, I felt a
sense of relief. "Mommy, I miss you. When will you return home?" he inquired. "I am currently on the plane, sweetheart. I will be home shortly," I replied, attempting to create a sense of tranquility. I was
beginning to descend into despair. "Is Munday coming with you, Mommy? I love him dearly," Shun lamented. "We will discuss it later. I assure you we will," I responded. After the call, I felt a burning sensation in my chest. My head began to spin, and I started to dry heave. A kind older woman seated beside me attempted to assist me in coping with
this distress. "It appears to be love. I have experienced it myself, dear. It is not as terrible as it seems. Love that is lost can be rediscovered in the
future when we possess the necessary tools to improve it," she remarked. Heavily burdened by Munday's actions, I could only nod in agreement with the kind woman's comforting words. Moments later, I
hurried to the private restroom. There, I experienced a complete nervous breakdown like the ones you hear about in an insane asylum. I sat down on the low toilet seat with the engine noise covering up the veracity of my screams." My affection for you is immense, my dear. How could you betray me in this manner? What about the love we once shared? How could you do this to me, Munday? Carla assured me she would inform
Malasia that I was alright for this family. She cared for me deeply. I had feelings for her as well. What mistake did I make?" I sobbed, striking my fists into my palms until they turned red. Tears streamed down my face, shifting from cold to hot, initiating this emotional turmoil that resonated in my neck and deep within my soul. My throat became parched, as the tears transformed into painful scratches in my dry throat, intensifying my suffering. "Money never prevented your family from destroying her life. That woman sacrificed her partner and child solely for the Kouris family to preserve its reputation. No one ever recognized me except for you, Munday. Am I too Black to bear the Kouris name? Why didn't you inform me that I failed the inheritance test, Munday? Oh, how I adore uttering your name. Monday with a 'u'—I love you. Is a Black woman unworthy of the Kouris name? What about love? I love you without the
typical samples of scorned lovers. What is it like to make love to Munday? I will never experience that. Ask Melinda," I yelled, gazing up at the blinding sunroof of the plane. No one else has penetrated this
deep into my heart, you bastard! I screamed. "How could you be with her?" I cried. "How am I going to live on this earth without you?" I screamed as I banged both fist into the cheap panel above the toilet.
Soon after I vomited, I received Munday's last call. I was glad it had come out of the presence of such kind hearts on this plane.
"I am pleased that you answered the phone this time. You are a woman, not a child, Karise. Everyone makes mistakes. It is essential for you to rectify this situation. Get off of that plane and return to me
immediately. I needed to process the ordeal that woman caused me in order to be a good husband to you and a father to Shun. Life is not merely composed of sweetness and ease. Perfection is an illusion, and you must not allow a single indiscretion to dictate your feelings to the extent that you abandon me forever. Stop all of this crying, girl. Act like my woman and return to Santorini at once," Munday insisted.
"Are you done?" I inquired. "Proceed," he replied. The other betrayals I have experienced in my life will not facilitate this for you. I could agree to your request. I could reverse this flight and be with you immediately, but you do not merit that. Here is the situation. I love you Munday with every grain of my being and would prefer to depart from here cherishing you for the remainder of my life than to allow you to take advantage of me. I am returning home on Monday. I intend to transform my life for
my child and for myself. My love for you surpasses what you will ever comprehend, and if this love is to endure, I require time to feel, endure pain, weep, and determine whether all of this justifies our being together whether it be, today or tomorrow. Ultimately, it is God who will determine the outcome of this relationship. At this moment, neither of us holds the reins," I concluded. I remember how I forcefully hung up the phone. I wept more intensely, realizing I had committed the gravest error of my life. Later, when one of the flight attendants pulled me from the restroom, I settled into the recliner and slept throughout the journey back to San Francisco. I was resolved in my decision to move forward from all of this with changes that no one would believe.
Malasia
"I cannot believe you did that to her, Munday. Before you returned home to Greece, all you spoke of was Karise. We all owe that girl a significant apology for what we subjected her to," Malasia stated sincerely. "I love her, Mom. My baby broke down on the plane alone with no one there to comfort her. I am sick behind it. I don't care how long it takes; I will make this all up to her and Shun no matter how long it takes. She has been away for a week, and I have not encountered Melinda since, because I love Karise and I told Melinda so. I have destroyed our relationship," Munday wept. His loving mother was hurt ten times more over all of this than he was. "You will win her back, Munday and when you do we will make it up to her. However, it will take some time. Why on earth did you heed Johnathan's advice? Your father is a scoundrel with ill intentions and lacks a moral compass. "I can only hold myself accountable. I love her, Mom. Perhaps in time, she will recognize that and return to me," he concluded.
Michelle
When Karise’s mother Dina called her to tell her what happened to Karise in Greece, Michelle was beyond herself in grief. She recalled having Munday’s phone number in her black book. She dialed the number several times. Each time the call was routed to voicemail. "If I had not known Munday well, I would never have permitted you to travel all the way to another country to be deceived by a 24-year-old boy,"
Michelle remarked. A few months after her return home, Karise vacated Munday's Penthouse. She returned his keys to the front office in trade for the keys to her previous apartment. She obtained a new and superior position at a financial firm and retained the black and gold Mercedes as a form of collateral for all the damage that Munday had put her through. Despite still being in love with him, Karise changed her phone number and instructed Shun's school to remove Munday from the permission list to see her son. The only silver lining in ending her relationship with Munday was that they never engaged in sexual relations. It seemed that whenever they were about to make love, some obstacle always arose to interrupt it. God was merciful. This served as a sign for Karise to
concentrate on raising her son and advancing her new career as an accountant in downtown San Francisco. Her sole desire was to nurture her son into a good man who would not engage in the types of games she had consistently faced with men. When mail was received, or when gifts were brought, Karise disposed of Munday's presents in the trash. For her, it was over. Learning from experiences is an excellent way to
become stronger in life. At times, Shun found it more difficult than she did, as Munday had acted more like a father to her son than his biological father. Munday set up a college fund for Shun prior to his departure for Greece, which was valued at over $500,000. For this, Karise was forever thankful. However, it was not sufficient for her to compromise her principles. She still needed to serve as a role model for her son, who
always came first in her life.
INTERRUPTED, explores love, resilience, and redemption, set against the backdrop of Greece and the complexities of family and fame. Carol writes not just to entertain, but to inspire. Her books are a gift to future generations, reminding readers that beauty, strength, and purpose can rise from even the most interrupted paths.
Readers will never know what her next book will be about. Her first book was about child abuse, while the last one I read was about investigating what really happened to a favorite singer of hers... Do type in her name in the right column and discover one or more of her books you might be interested in... She writes about things she is passionate about--I guess that's why I just keep on reading her--as you might have guessed, I get passionate about things too... especially injustice...
This book is no different, but, for me, there was a different vibe coming from Carol's writing this time... But no matter what, she stands and speaks for women and her race... In this book, she is confronted with a Greek mother who sees only her daily life as a mother--trying to take care of a child alone, not really caring about keeping herself presentable... All you young mothers know what I mean! But, a young boy/man saw her caring for her child. They lived in the same building and he would watch her. He saw her kisses of that child at every turn... He saw the natural love she gave and he responded to it... Thinking that her love was much like he had received from his own mother...
But it was, later, his mother, who didn't see her as her son saw her... Rather, she saw her as a rich and proud Greek who didn't identify with the young Black mother she saw in a few pictures...
That was not the first time that Karise had met a man with questionable motives...
But she had found that out only after she had married him and had his child, Shun, and then having him decide he didn't want to stay married or have a son... He had already found another woman he wanted to marry... Yeah, his payoff of $1M was enough, but it never alleviated the pain and suffering of a rejected new mother.
Munday was another rich man, but had made his life as an actor the main part of his life. He was young and very good looking, of course, and even was dark enough for Karise to wonder whether he had Black roots in his body... In any event, they began a mutual "stalking" of watching from their apartment windows to see when the other went outside... Soon Munday spoke to her and they became neighborly ...and slowly... more...
It was a lovely and fun part of the book that delighted me in the simplicity of it all...
But Munday's mother, and aunt, had Huntington's disease, and he was contacted to be with his mother during this latest event. It happened that Munday had to leave just before their planned "connection" was to happen... And months went by...
But Munday kept in touch with Karise and talked about her with his family while he was in Greece. Soon, however, his mother decided she had to do something--which led to a conspiracy which included paying Munday's past lover to come back to tempt him away from Karise...
Years passed and Munday's fame continued to rise. He was busy, but so was Karise... Thinking of her future she returned to her education and soon began working and doing well... She had begun to dress for her success and soon was being courted by many other men, but she was loyal to Munday, still hoping, still planning...
But his mother's plan had been devastating to both Karise and Munday... But, when he decided he had to "wash that woman out of his hair," he went to talk to her where she promptly started stripping... Yeah, you guessed it... until...six years later...
But can Karise ever stop crying? Especially when her first husband came, seeing his son and admiring his life, then tried to become involved again? She has created a professional life that she is proud of. Her son is looking toward college some day... Where is her life heading? What do you think? Has her life been INTERRUPTED too many times? Does Love continue through time? Highly recommended!
Thank you for reading. Thank you for feeling. And thank you for being my friends for all of my writing journeys.
With love, Carol Denise Mitchell
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