“Thumping Hearts, Broken Hearts, Hearts United"

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Having your best friend die is rather unsettling, especially if it quite literally is in your arms.

Mary and I had been talking in the office when she suddenly had a massive heart attack, uttered a few confused words about me and heart and then collapsed. I caught her but before I, or anyone else, could do anything it was too late.

She was a great loss not only to me personally and for her family, her husband Pablo, sixteen year old José Maria and fourteen year old Cory. The publishing company we worked for, “Descartes Publications”, was just as badly hit. Mary had been the “handler” for one of our most profitable authors and she had kept the contacts with the anonymous author very close to her chest. As it turned out she was the only one in the company that knew the true identity of “Corazón Tenderheart” (or as on the books Corazón Tender❤), bestselling author of “Thumping ❤❤, Broken ❤❤, ❤❤United” series of books. In my opinion the soppiest, most braindead romantic drivel ever written, or at least published.

Opinion about that series was, to put it mildly, rather divided among us. It certainly was not something that we usually published. There had been very strong opposition to publishing the first book in that series two years ago but at the time the two century old publishing company was close to closing it’s doors and the management was ready for desperate measures. Mary had been a strong proponent and after a thorough evaluation process they had decided to publish that first book.

Of course the “thorough evaluation process” had consisted in letting our kids read the manuscript. Target audience lower teen children. As it turned out the target audience is lower teen GIRLS. My then fourteen year old lazy bum of a son must have read all of one chapter before coming out to me in the kitchen and said:

- Dad, about that book …

and then proceeded to making retching sounds. As it turned out his was the most positive male reaction. The girls on the other hand ….

Well, the book, and it’s follow-ups, turned out to be a minor publishing phenomenon. The young girls couldn’t get enough of them. Academics have already started to write seriously about them and how, in the words of one of the more daft sociologists involved, “Thumping ❤❤, Broken ❤❤, ❤❤United” throws the gates open to the budding young woman’s inner core”. That same academic had pestered Mary to get access to Corazón Tenderheart. Mary absolutely refused. As a matter of fact the mystery about the true identity of Corazón Tenderheart was part of the success of the books. There were rumours about her being an established, serious, author. Backers of this theory pointed to the “deceptively simple but yet profound” writing. Hogwash!

However, Mary’s secretiveness had been more thorough than I or anyone had realised. She was the ONLY one who knew the secret identity. There was nothing in her files that identified her. Not even a contract! Upper management was seriously distressed when they realised that Corazón Tenderheart had no legal obligations whatsoever towards Descartes Publications.

From my point of view, as the head of the legal department, there was something even worse: for two years we had been transferring substantial amounts of money to an account where we had absolutely no idea who the beneficiary was!

Paula, who had been given the thankless task of trying to get this mess sorted out found an email address to Corazón Tenderheart (I keep gagging when saying that name so let’s keep it to CT from now). She managed to establish contact with the elusive author. Now things started to get even more interesting.

CT revealed that she was only sixteen years old and that her father, her sole surviving parent wasn’t aware of her being Corazón Tenderheart.

Paula managed to set up a meeting with CT to discuss the situation. CT absolutely refused to set her foot in our premises so, on my suggestion, Paula proposed that they meet at my favourite restaurant “Chez Jean”. In my opinion an excellent setting to conduct business meetings. Relaxed atmosphere, you can discuss business privately without being overheard, good food but not so good that it completely distracts you. CT turned down that suggestion. Instead she proposed another restaurant with similar characteristics. Smart girl I thought. While recognising the advantages she also realised that it was not optimal to let Paula have the benefit of familiar surroundings.

Paula had dragged me into this since there were so many legal traps involved. I agreed but I felt uncomfortable about the fact that Paula hadn’t informed CT that Paula would not be alone. Not a good idea to spring something like that on scared, sensitive, secretive and probably overly romantic teenage girl. Not my call though.

Then came the day of the meeting. Paula and I had arrived early and were sitting at the table when CT arrived. Looking at her I approved. After having been in innumerable meetings I had learnt that most people don’t know, or don’t care, about the signals they send with their clothes, body language etc etc. In this case I recognised someone who clearly knew exactly what she wanted and what signals to send. The skirt suit, the height of the heels, the subtle make-up; she clearly signalled that this was a young woman who knew her worth and what she wanted. She also signalled that she took the meeting seriously but had absolutely no intention of letting us overawe her. I seriously approved. I was pleasantly surprised. I always prefer to deal with professionals.

At the sight of the two of us her perfectly composed face slipped. Not much, just for moment. Then, almost before a trained observer could notice anything, her composed face was back again. Very good considering that she was only 16. I knew it had been a bad idea not letting her know that Paula be accompanied by legal counsel. Well, it was too late now.

CT sat down and we stared the usual introductory small-talk. I had a nagging feeling that I had met CT before but it took me nearly five minutes before I realised who CT was. As it turned out my poker-face is not as good as CT’s and she immediately saw that I knew.

With a shy smile she said:

- Hi, Dad!

Why me!

This was a complete disaster! This destroyed everything!

Don’t get me wrong. I loved my lazy bum of a son but I had never seen any signs of him actually being good at ANYTHING so I thoroughly approved of the new and improved kid 2.0. She’s a delight (unless she’ll actually insist on calling herself Corazón). Any father would be proud of her. Despite this this was really, really bad news!

Unless …

Turning my head towards Paula I at once realised it was hopeless. My career was going down the drain. Her evil grin showed me that there was no way she’d refrain from telling everyone that I’m the father of Corazón Tender❤, bestselling author of “Thumping ❤❤, Broken ❤❤, ❤❤United”.

I’d be the laughing-stock at work and as for my legal career; who’d ever take seriously the father of the soppiest, most braindead romantic drivel ever written or at least published?

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Comments

Will he be the

Will he be the laughing stock or will Paula use this knowledge to keep a lucrative account for herself. Is Paula single and under 35? That could mean other things too.

I like it.

Hearts

If hes a lawyer then a sufficiently large account should make him respectable, the bigger the paychecks the more respect.

Time is the longest distance to your destination.

I Was Expecting...

...it to be Cory, though I suppose that since the author was calling herself Corazón that would have been too obvious. Would have explained the lack of visible contact between Mary and the author, though, if they were in the same household.

Eric

The 16 years old age was

The 16 years old age was mentioned, so it had to be his son or her son Jose. Cory is 14, or 12 when the series came out.

You wouldn't be wrong in thinking Jose was possibly Corazon, but Bru probably put him out there as a red herring to set us up for the reveal.

I'm told STFU more times in a day than most people get told in a lifetime

Typical Male

BarbieLee's picture

It's absolutely mind blowing how easily our female species can see through the subtle and not so subtle changes a man or woman may make to their appearance and still see the person underneath. The male mind truly functions differently than the feminine.
Ok back to the story and it's demented author. I thought I was going to fall out of my chair when Bru let the father linger in a total vacuum when his own daughter comes to the meeting. And then the cliche of girl romance, heart throb stories the men and boys wouldn't be caught dead reading. Plus..., oh yeah there had to be additional female humility dumped on dad. He's totally zoned out his daughter is CT and he, himself has entered the estrogen swamp via association.

Bru, my pet, I'm not sure whether to call this puppy satire or a pun? You speared real life truisms in the heart and twisted the blade. I had no idea where you were going with this one but I laughed all the way through it. "Soppiest brain dread romantic drivel"? All those True Romance novels stacking up in your attic weighting heavily over your mind?"
Hugs kid
always,
Barb

Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl

Or...

Or, did those weighty romance novels become too much for the attic floor and came in through the ceiling on top of you? LOL

Hey, I got all those Georgette Heyer books purely for

their historical description of the Regency era! Though my favourite, "Devil's Cub", strictly speaking is set before that period. A couple of them are good crossdressing stories. "The Corinthian" is quite hilarious.

Bru

Books

My great grandma had a huge collection of Emily Loring books. She must have read each dozens of times. Imagine a woman in her eighties and nineties avidly reading soppy romance novel after soppy romance novel.

I understand her

When you just want some relaxation and don't want to exert yourself re-reading something "light" is just the thing.

Money talks,

Bull corn walks. I don't think Dad has as much trouble as he thinks he does.

I agree that money talks

When I write a story I try to think as my fictional narrator. Often very subjective. At times very prejudiced. Seldom completely logical.

From the outside: Money, his young child has managed to establish him/herself as a very successful author that by many is considered as a very skilled and profound one.

No, I don't think that his career will suffer. Some ribbing yes but if he is skilled it's easy to turn that to his benefit.

Fun story, even if it had a sad start.

I'm glad that we have an accepting daddy who is proud of his daughter. He might have panicked a bit, but he really has little to fear.

Paula knows how much Corazón needs her privacy, especially considering the lengths to which Mary went to keep her secret. Blabbing would be unprofessional. It would betray a trust, hurt a fellow employee and his family, and might even financially hurt her employer. Most likely, it would get her fired, and maybe even sued.

Since Corazón is a literary pseudonym, I wonder what she'll choose as her new femme name. Or maybe she won't. Maybe she'll be content to live as a male and write sappy romance novels.

The Father of an Author?

Daphne Xu's picture

"who’d ever take seriously the father of the soppiest, most braindead romantic drivel ever written or at least published?"

Let's see. Who would take seriously the father of the author who saved the publishing company from the brink of bankruptcy? The father of the author whose work became a publishing phenomenon, and who had attracted the attention of academics (daft though they be)? I don't think he's in too much trouble.

I think the bigger question is taking seriously the father who was unaware of his son's activities.

I was hoping that the twist would entail Mary somehow being alive.

I admit, I've encountered plot twists of this nature, so I wasn't really surprised.

-- Daphne Xu

-- Try saying freefloating three times rapidly.

Nice story, I had to look again before I caught this little bit:

Mary "suddenly had a massive heart attack, uttered a few confused words about me and heart and then collapsed."

Mary may have been trying to tell him that Corazon was his child. It seems he didn't comprehend what she had said, though.

I have to agree with Daphne's assessment. Corazon has literally saved the company from closing its doors permanently.

Good Point

Daphne Xu's picture

"... a few confused words about me and heart and then collapsed."

That makes sense. I didn't notice it. I'm pretty sure that Bru intended this.

-- Daphne Xu

-- Try saying freefloating three times rapidly.

Writing with Intent

You are both quite right that most words I put in my stories have a purpose. Often clues, sometimes background, not seldom red herrings (I'm quite fond of herring) to throw advanced Bru readers off the scent. Not an easy task and getting harder every time.

However, occasionally its just, to paraphrase a certain 16th/17th century playwright:
- What do you write, your twistedness?
- Words, words, words.

If you didn't intend to send

If you didn't intend to send off a little bit of a clue, your muse is being very sneaky in how she directs you at times ;)

Seriously, for an unintentional clue that sure as heck is a big coincidence :D I mentioned this before but we might be so used to double meanings that even when you are being straight with us things can seem like they are hidden clues and twists!

I'm told STFU more times in a day than most people get told in a lifetime

Unintentionals

Daphne Xu's picture

I have, on occasion, completely inadvertently done something apparently careful and subtle. Maybe my muse was subconsciously influencing me. On the other extreme, I have sometimes inserted an event because it seemed like a good idea. Then much later on, I see how I can use the event for several purposes, including issue resolutions. Typically, that happens with me if I'm writing a long and involved story.

-- Daphne Xu

-- Try saying freefloating three times rapidly.

Suddenly Wondering

Daphne Xu's picture

I just started wondering if the "massive heart attack" was somehow connected to the "heart" motif throughout the story.

It reminded me of this wacky comedy made in the sixties, where a character dies kicking the bucket. "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."

-- Daphne Xu

-- Try saying freefloating three times rapidly.

Kicking the bucket

The rabbit kicked the bucket! The rabbit kicked the bucket!

Misspelling?

Daphne Xu's picture

Um, did you misspell "Wabbit"?

-- Daphne Xu

-- Try saying freefloating three times rapidly.

Yes it was

I could have taken her out of the story in some other way but since "hearts" really was the heart of the story... For those of you who don't speak Spanish: Corazón = Heart
And as you may have suspected I liked "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." very much. It was so long though that they had a break in the middle in the cinema.

Thanks Bru!

Normally I don't care for stories so short they can't really be called short stories but this one gave me a really good chuckle :)

We the willing, led by the unsure. Have been doing so much with so little for so long,
We are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

Suggestion:

Daphne Xu's picture

Exempt anything by Bru from your suspicion or dislike of flashes. (It would be nice if you exempted me as well, but I shouldn't be so shameless.)

-- Daphne Xu

-- Try saying freefloating three times rapidly.

The first time I read this

WillowD's picture

I'm surprised I didn't leave a comment the first time I read this. It's a good story with a surprise ending. Well, I'll make up for it now.

>>> Comment <<<

Snerk.

I think that...

Daphne Xu's picture

I seem to recall that you commented on one or more of the follow-ups to this story.

-- Daphne Xu

-- Try saying freefloating three times rapidly.

Well crafted

After another enjoyable reading and a review of posted comments, I finally noticed that neither the father or the son, the two main characters, are named, only the pen name used for the books. I think this is one more way the reader is drawn in, as one can project themselves into either character. Bru always has these finely crafted bits in his stories that add so much using so few words.

Always feels good

to have your work appreciated. Thank you!

It may sound corny but it also feels good to have brought some enjoyment to others.