The Neighbors

By M.C. Ryder

You are a maternity nurse. Work long hours. Stick to a strict daily routine. Content on your own. Except that you are an introvert. You sleep during the light of day. Run under the stars during the late night. Friends are few and far in between. You have an intolerance for rude people and you're not shy about giving them a piece of your mind. Wh

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.E.C. Publishing
• Release date: Aug 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798987074695

Book preview

The Neighbors

Zoe’s Story

M. C. Ryder

Copyright © 2023 M. C. Ryder

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

M.E.C. Publishing—Lebanon County, PA

ISBN: 979-8-9870746-8-8

eBook ISBN: 979-8-9870746-9-5

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023913265

Title: The Neighbors

Author: M. C. Ryder

Digital distribution | 2023

Paperback | 2023

This is a work of fiction. The characters, names, incidents, places, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination, and are not to be construed as real.

The Dark series

The Darkest Side of the Moon

A Dance Between Light and Darkness

A Darker Demise (A Compilation of Dark Shorts)

All I See Are Dark Clouds

Dedication

This one goes out to all the nurses in the world, no matter what specialty. It takes a strong, caring individual to do what you do while being at the bottom of the totem pole. Know this, your role is the most vital. You change lives every day, even if you’re not aware. *Hugs*

Acknowledgements

I

 would like to thank the team once more at New Book Authors Publishing for doing what they do and making aspiring writers’ dreams come true. Without them, I’d probably still be searching for a way to get my manuscripts published, while keeping as much creative control as possible. I was blessed to find them when I did, in more ways than one.

To the great group of nurses that I had the pleasure of working with, thank you. We need more kind and caring people in the world that want to make a difference. That go above and beyond at work to help those in need.

Thank you to the local librarians for boosting my confidence by their simple smiles when stopping in and donating my books into their catalogue. Seeing those warm smiles meant the world to me. At the end of the day, that’s what this journey is all about, putting smiles on people’s faces.

I’d like to thank the manager at Book Warehouse in Gettysburg for the advice she shared and pointing me into the direction of Cupboard Maker Books in Enola. Although, I didn’t make the trip right away, she was the first to inform me. My first approach to a manager at a bookstore. I think about you often and hope you were able to start a new chapter in the unknown. Sometimes they are a blessing in disguise.

Thank you, Michelle, from Cupboard Maker Books, for providing a free author class on the business side of becoming an author. For being patient with me as I grasp the process. For being a mentor, supporting me, and allowing me to do a book signing. You can support her store, or any local independent bookstores, by shopping at Bookshop.org. Also, check out her debut, Death of a Saleswoman: A Death Motors Mystery. A wonderful read!

I’d like to give a shout out to the great group of aspiring writers and authors who attended the 2023 Greater Lehigh Valley, The Write Stuff Writing Conference. An incredible experience. I recommend to aspiring writers everywhere to find a local writing group and not embark on the journey alone. They will give you resources and the support you need that you may not find from family or friends. I left the writing conference with confidence and new friends, including Dot.

To my actual neighbors, thank you for being supportive. I had my reservations even telling you about my books, as I know not everyone may enjoy the genre, but you showered me with more confidence and I am grateful to live by such heartwarming people.

Thank you, Rick, Pam, Ally, and the team at Ancestor Coffeehouse and Crêperie, for your willingness to open your business to help promote my books to the community and beyond. It takes a village of support. Shop local and support small businesses! You don’t get the same warm, friendly experience from the giants.

Once again, I’d like to thank my family and friends who are continuing to support me by writing their honest reviews to help spread the word to the world, even if I do annoy them by asking them to write them.

To my mom, we’ve experienced a trying time together and I’m glad this author experience ended up being our light during our dark time in that tunnel. You are my home, always, and I’m thankful that I get to call you my mom.

And last but not least, you the readers. My hope is I can touch you all in a different way that other stories are unable to, that miss the mark. A good story should keep your interest from page one and teach you something along the way. I know writing this story taught me a lot about myself, deep within. So, I hope you enjoy!

Contents

The Neighbors

The Dark series

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

SNEAK PEEK

Part 1

Chapter 1

About the Author

Chapter 1

Y

ou make your rounds. Check vitals on mothers. Check vitals on newborns. Rock crying babies while humming a lullaby. You are now a full-time staff member. Worked hard to put yourself through nursing school, earning every achievement on your own and every step of the way even when you faced challenging times. You never gave up. You were determined. Determined to make a living of your own. You made your own money as soon as you were old enough to get a job at a fast-food restaurant. Banked what you could put aside in the joint account you opened with your favorite teacher, Ms. Harris, since you were forced to open an account with your mother. She spent it as soon as you earned it. Felt entitled to it. Was always telling you to find a man to take care of you because that’s the only way to get what you want in this forsaken world. Men are the providers and dictators. Women are just their maids. The only jobs for women are ones at minimum wage. Your mom goes through men like a kid in a candy store. When she stops getting what she wants, she finds a new one to catch at the bar. You stayed locked up in your room, blocking out all the yelling and screaming when she didn’t get her way. The men all smelled the same; cheap beer and repulsive smoky breath.

The jubilant look in nearly every new mother’s eye brings you a bit of contentment. The big moment written clearly all over the mother’s face when meeting their child for the first time.

Love.

Joy.

Happiness.

Affection.

You sometimes wonder if your own mother ever looked at you that way or if she always just saw you as her burden. You are the reason most men never stayed. She would ask them over to fix something and once they found out she had a child they never came back. She blamed you for everything. Her sorry way of life barely making ends meet. Struggled to pay bills, but loved her designer clothing, fancy jewelry, expensive shoes, and bags. Most of the clothing on your back came from selling her elaborate gifts behind her back. When you wore out a hole in your black and white canvas sneaker, you’d buy a pair similar, so she was none the wiser. The same with pants and shirts.

You head to room ten and check on the single mother. She’s alone. You plant a smile and make conversation as you make your assessments, checking her cervix. She still has a while to go before the baby comes. You answer her questions and pick up that she’s nervous by the edge of her voice. Take her hand and pat it giving her reassurance. You’ve been through this so many times with new mothers. The comforting words just spill out on their own.

You hear the code announced over the loudspeaker for an emergency C-section. You make your retreat, find a sink to wash your hands, put on a gown, mask, and gloves before heading to the emergency room as you are part of the team for the patient. Gather all necessary equipment. Listen and follow verbal instructions handing sterile instruments requested by the doctor as she makes the cut.

When the surgery is over, you account for all materials used, clean up, and take them to be sterilized. Afterwards, you wash your hands, for like the hundredth time, and continue on your duties.

When your shift ends, you make your way to your 2004 light blue Jeep Liberty. It purrs to life. You once heard a classmate’s father state that Jeeps are built to last. The summer, before college, you kept your eye out as the distance to college would be too far on your yellow bicycle. With the money you saved up and a good deal being offered at the used car lot, you got a good deal with the aid of your teacher. The miles were high, but the vehicle itself was still in good working condition.

You park in the parking lot, grab your mail, and head up to your one-bedroom apartment on the second floor. Strip out of your scrubs and hop into the shower. You’re in and out in less than five minutes.

Dressed in your gray tank top and blue shorts nightgown, you head to the small kitchen of white appliances, rose-quartz counter tops, and square beige tile floor. You turn on the radio already tuned in on a country station before opening the refrigerator to grab the containers of chopped mushrooms, spinach, mozzarella cheese, and prepped chunks of chicken setting them on the counter. Open a cupboard grab your open bottle of Merlot and glass before opening the small square freezer door grabbing the ice cube tray. You let a few ice cubes drop with a ding into the empty glass and pour the wine filling your glass a quarter.

You place the ice tray back and grab a prepped bag of frozen onions. Open the lower cupboard and grab your one large pan and set it on the large front coil stovetop. Add olive oil, turn the burner on, and add the chicken and onions first. You mix in the spinach and mushrooms and let them cook a bit before sprinkling over some cheese sipping your wine every now and then and sing along to Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood.

When your meal is finished cooking, you take it over to the small round table, with a glass of water, and eat. After you finish, you clean your dishes right away. Grab your glass of red wine and head to the living room. You sit on the double-seat cream-white linen sofa, set your wine glass down, and pick up the latest Carlene Thompson thriller, Just A Breath Away.

When you finish the chapter, you rise to your feet, wash your glass, add it to the dryer rack, and head to your bedroom. You slip under the covers, set your alarm, slip on your eye mask, and settle down on your side away from the sunny window.

Just as you are about to drift off, you hear a loud voice along with a bunch of banging around next door. You tear out of bed and march with purpose.

Chapter 2

Y

ou rap loud and rapidly on apartment 22. You wait a beat before you rap some more. When there’s no answer, you pound obnoxiously without letting up.

The door swings open. You’re met with a tall guy with short brown hair and shaved sides, scruffy facial hair, a hoop earring in his right ear, dark almond-brown eyes, a silver chain around his neck tucked under his t-shirt, and a menacing scowl.

What do you want? he bellows.

Less noise, for starters. You may be new here, but let me tell you something, the world doesn’t revolve around you. Some people, like I, try to sleep during the day. So, I’d appreciate it if you would tone it down with the unnecessary noise.

He slams the door in your face.

You pummel the door with your fist. How dare he. The nerve of him. You don’t care if he