Stepping Stones Synonym Novels & Stories

Beside the Wissahickon stone. Three stones now. He stepped back. He looked at them. "The windowsill is correct now," he said. I looked at the three stones. At the limestone he had placed as a placeholder. At Mr. Abara's Wissahickon stone from thirty years ago. At the birthday schist from the valley. Three stones. Different origins. Same substrate. All on the windowsill where my father's stones had been. The origin staying visible. The way it always had. "Yes," I said. "The windowsill is correct."

I hissed, my voice as cold as ice. All three of them turned deathly pale, and they started trembling. Then, I shifted my tone. "But considering that Grandpa once mentored the three of you, I'm willing to give you another chance." Hope immediately flared in their eyes, and Michael was so excited his voice quivered. "I knew you still loved me, Ariel!" "Stop! Enough. I'm not worthy of that so-called love of yours," I interrupted him coldly. "I'm only giving you a chance because I don't want Grandpa's efforts in mentoring you to go to waste. There are a few entry-level positions at Kingston Group. You can start from the bottom."

It is only a matter of teaching them the steps. I pressed my palms to my waist and felt the surety of bone beneath silk, ambition wrapped in flesh and breath. “Stepping stone,” I murmured, savoring the words as they left my lips. Not a partner, not even an equal. Just a rock to stand on until I reach the crown I want. A lesser woman would worship the man, make him her mountain. I will use him to cross rivers he cannot even name.

One stone at a time. One name at a time.