Balloons

by Frances M. Thompson

Lying on a beach on a Caribbean island, a thirty-something woman thinks about the three men she knows she will always love.

There was Peter, her first love. Later, she fell for Mitchell, but he became the one that got away. Now she's with Chas, a man who makes her feel valued and wanted. And so they decided to have children together, which is why she's lying on that beach six months pregnant on their "babymoon".

As she reflects on her previous relationships and questions those in her future - particularly that with her unborn child - it becomes clear that she still has much to learn from those past loves... and those that lie in her future.

Balloons is a short story about a pregnant woman struggling to deal with the anxieties of not only carrying a child, but facing up to some home truths about her past.

26 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2015

About the author

Frances M. Thompson writes stories about bisexual disaster heroes usually getting the HEAs they deserve in her spicy contemporary romance... but sometimes getting into a lot of trouble in her suspense thrillers.

Frances loves chatting with her readers and the best places to do so is in her Facebook Readers' Group or on Instagram.

Originally from London, UK, but now based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Frances is the author of the contemporary (and steamy!) romances, Five Sunsets, The Moon Also Rises, and Let Love Rule, sapphic romances Hummingbird and Butterflies, three short story collections (Shy Feet Short Stories Inspired by Travel, London Eyes Short Stories, and Nine Women: Short Stories), a collection of poetry called Lover Mother Other, and the London Killing series of fast-paced urban thrillers, including The Wait and The Weaker Sex.

To find out about Frances' upcoming books first, sign up to her newsletter.

You can find copies of her books (and more!) in her shop.

Frances also works as a freelance writer and blogger. You can read her (oft-neglected) blog, As the Bird flies. She is also the creator of WriteNOW Cards, positive affirmations cards designed to help writers build and enjoy a writing practice they love.

Follow Frances on href="https://www.instagram.com/FrancesMTho... or on TikTok @francesmthompson.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes an honest look at how life can be, how it isn’t always clean cut and tidily laid out. For me, this is a sad reality of what can happen when you don’t start out in romantic life with the feeling of stability that every person tends to need. If you don’t know your worth, if you’re let down enough, what’s normal? Might you not shy away from taking the traditional routes? Wouldn’t you perhaps question whether the two point four marriedwithkids.com scenario is something that’s right for you? Falling in love isn’t scary if it can’t really come to anything anyway, is it?... Balloons shows that, in some cases, it is. The situation the main character finds herself in is not one I would want for myself, but, nonetheless, I feel that at earlier points in my life that situation could have easily wound up being my own. And that’s scary. An interesting read, and very well written.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful short story with a shocker at the end that seems to be typical of Thompson's work. Loved it.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story on pregnancy feelings, though sometimes it felt as if it was more a routine description of pregnancy symptoms and the emotions to expect when you're expecting.