Charity Sunday for Reproductive Health – #PlannedParenthood #AbortionRights #CharitySunday

Greetings, and welcome to another Charity Sunday blog hop. This month, I’m supporting Planned Parenthood. I probably don’t need to tell you why, especially if you live in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court has unilaterally deprived tens of millions of women of the right to make decisions about their own bodies. I honestly didn’t believe this would happen; I’m still in shock and denial.

But I’d be supporting Planned Parenthood even if the court hadn’t managed to throw us all back to the dark ages. Despite its reputation with the anti-abortion movement, the organization’s mandate and services are far broader than just helping women terminate unwanted pregnancies. Contraceptive and reproductive education, pre- and post-natal health care, HIV testing and counseling, STD testing and care – the range of services offered by Planned Parenthood goes far beyond abortion. Planned Parenthood is about sexual and reproductive health – including men’s sexual health.

Anyway, I’ll donate two dollars to Planned Parenthood for every comment I receive on this post.

To fit with my charity, I wanted to share an excerpt involving children. In fact very few of my books or stories include kids, but here’s a snippet from “Late Show”. This piece was originally published in Best Lesbian Erotica 2015, edited by Laura Antoniou. It’s now included as a bonus story with my lesbian fantasy The Witches of Gloucester. 

 

“Haley's back.”

Suzy might as well have stuck my finger in an electric socket. I forced myself to breathe.

“Mama?”

JJ sensed my sudden shock. I loosened my death grip on his pajama top.

“It's okay, hon. Now the bottoms...” Wiping my sweaty palms on my skirt, I helped my son wriggle into the loose cotton garment.

“You sure?” I flung the deliberately casual question over my shoulder at my friend, amazed that my voice didn't shake.

“Saw her at Kroger, buying a six pack. Same old Haley.”

“Yeah, I guess.” How did she look, I wanted to ask. Does she still have that swagger, as if she owned the world and just let the rest of us live here? Did you talk to her?

Did she mention me?

I changed the subject instead. “Thanks so much for helping me out, Suze. I owe you.” Normally Jack's mother took care of JJ when I had night shifts, but she had her bridge club on Saturdays, so I had to adapt.

“No problem. We'll have a great time, won't we, JJ? Want to watch 'Shrek' again?”

The boy let out a whoop and streaked into the living room. Suzy grinned. “Wish I had a five year old's energy!”

I gave her a hug. “We're not cheerleaders anymore, but we're doing okay.” After checking my makeup, perhaps a bit more critically than usual, I stuck my phone in my skirt pocket and headed for the door. On the way out I ruffled JJ's straw-blond curls. “Bedtime no later than seven thirty, young man.”

“Okay, mama.” He was already fiddling with the video remote.

“I should be back by midnight, if not before.”

“Have a good evening.” Suzy plumped herself down onto the couch next to JJ. “Eat some popcorn for me. I'm still on that diet.”

“Come on, you know I can't stand the stuff! After four years working for Mr. Parsons...

“Just pulling your leg, girl. See you later.”

The sun was just sinking behind Broad Hill. There was plenty of time to walk. I often did, except in winter, since the theater was barely a mile from the little house I'd rented after Jack left. The twenty minute stroll gave me a chance to clear my mind, to recover from the constant bombardment of my darling son's requests and needs.

Tonight, though, my thoughts spun like the Tilt-a-Whirl at the county fair.

Haley. Oh God help me. Just hearing her name was enough to open the floodgates of memory. Haley in loose shorts and a tight top, brandishing her field hockey stick like a weapon as she sprinted across the athletic field. Haley lounging in the swing on my dad's front porch, with a cigarette dangling from her tempting lips and a challenge in her hazel eyes. Haley in the dark—silky skin over solid muscle, nimble and knowing fingers, brazen tongue, voice like warm honey pouring into my innocent ears.

Heat captured during the long July day shimmered up from sidewalks. I couldn't blame the season, though, for the wetness under my arms and between my legs. My pulse hammered in my temples. I wished I'd worn a heavier blouse, one that would better conceal my shamefully swollen nipples.

Remembering Haley always had this effect on me. I tried not to do it too often.

Get hold of yourself, girl. You can't go to work like this.

* * * *

Please – take a minute and leave me a comment. Then, if you have a minute more, go visit the other authors participating in this month’s Charity Sunday. Every one of them has a great cause.

If you have trouble opening Dee S. Knight's link, use this one:

https://www.nomadauthors.com/blog/2022/07/30/charity-sunday-gigis-playhouse/

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