As the Blog Churns, Chapter 2, in which ....

Our story so far ...

Paula, a 40ish, mid-list author of romance, is having an all-too-familiar conversation with her mother, Jolene, about Paula's inability to keep a man in her life. Joel, Paula's last steady beau, left her when Paula found him in a compromising position with another man. This led to a revelation that Paula's father had been a cross-dresser who liked to party with ...

The shapeshifting man who appeared in Paula's bedroom where Paula's cat, Ezra PoundCat, had just vanished.

Is it a dream? Or reality?

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Jolene raised one well-manicured finger. "Be nice, dear," she said to the lounging man. "We need to break the news to her gently."

He smiled, a slow, sensual movement of his lips that made Paula break out in a chilly sweat. "Jolene, I've been waiting almost a year. You kept telling me we'd tell her when the time was right. I'm tired of waiting." His dark-eyed gaze turned to Paula, who was leaning against the wall of her bedroom, mouth agape. "I've been sleeping with you every night for years, and you have no idea how I longed to tell you."

"Is that why you hated Joel?" Paula whispered. "Is that why you--"

The man grinned. "Yep. That's why I peed on his shoes every chance I got. I had to get him out of here. After all, I was your perfect mate, not him."

Paula took a step back from the naked man. It was one of the toughest things she'd ever done, but she knew if she didn't, she'd probably drop over on the spot. "Mother, we need to talk." She turned on her heel and walked out of the bedroom.

Behind her the man said, "Come back!"

Jolene appeared at Paula's side as she stalked down the hallway. "He's always been impossible to restrain. I'm surprised he waited this long to show you."

Paula rounded on her mother. "What the hell is going on?"

Jolene made a placating gesture, looking over her shoulder. "Our family is not quite what it seems, Paual. You have obligations you know nothing about. It's time you accepted your responsibility."

Paula stopped so suddenly Jolene almost ran her over. "Responsibility for what?"