Authors: Christine d'Abo

30 Days (25 page)

BOOK: 30 Days

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“Yes?”

“You can call me Lyssa if you want.”

T
he graveyard was awash in sunlight. The buzz of a lawn mower chattered away in the distance, competing with the sounds of a minister conducting a service not far away. Gravel crunched beneath my feet as I made the long walk toward Rob's plot. It was no longer one of the newer graves, the grass having been there long enough for it to be even with the rest and a part of the surroundings.

My steps slowed as I drew closer to my destination. It wasn't that I hated coming here, or that it was a reminder of my own mortality, but it was that rising emptiness that came every time I saw his name etched in the stone.

I placed the bouquet that I'd brought into the small stone vase that was a part of the base. Rob had never been much of a flower guy, but he'd insisted on the vase, knowing it was something that I'd want to do. It was. Just another way that he was still helping me out.

“Hey.” I knelt down and picked at some of the grass that had grown too close to the stone. “I miss you. And I still love you.”

I'd finally come to terms that I could still love Rob without it having an impact on my growing love for Harrison. Love wasn't an either-or situation. It was a limitless entity that grew in strength the more it was shared.

“So these damn things.” I pulled the sex cards from my pocket and held them out in front of the grave. “These turned out to be a good idea. I know you said that I shouldn't hook up with the first guy who I met. I know you said I really shouldn't fall in love with that person either. That I should take some time to get to know myself and what I want.”

I'd placed the cards into a plastic bag so they wouldn't scatter. That was the last thing I needed. Sex cards going amiss at a graveyard. Though the stories that would have come from that happening might have be entertaining.

“The thing is, I did have time before I jumped into another relationship. And while I might not have had a whole lot of experience when it came to sex, I did have a lot when it came to love. What you and I had was special. But it wasn't my only chance. I understand that now. And I have you to thank.”

I placed the cards on top of the gravestone, watching as the wind blew the empty part of the bag like a flag.

“I think you would really like Harrison. He's not a computer guy like you were. Or a gamer, though I managed to teach him how to play Settlers and he's pretty good. And Nikki actually likes him, which is saying something. He's serious, but knows when to have a good time. He likes action movies and makes me go to the gym. Mostly he loves me and all my quirks.”

The wind blew a bit harder and when I looked up I saw that the cloud cover had thickened. “It wasn't supposed to rain today, but I think it might. I better go.” But I didn't stand.

“I miss you. It doesn't hurt anymore, but I do still miss you. Harrison helps with that. He loves me and I really do love him. Thank you for knowing, for understanding. Thank you for being one of the most amazing men I've known.”

I did stand then, kissing the cold stone on my way up. “Harrison is waiting for me. We're going out for dinner and a movie. We're celebrating his new job. Oh and he's moving into the condo with me. That will take some getting used to, but I know we'll do fine.”

I gave Rob one more smile, turned, and walked back to the parking lot where Harrison was waiting. When I got there, he gave me a big hug, holding me until I was able to get my emotions back under control.

“Okay?” He kissed the tip of my nose.

“Yeah. I'm good.”

“We can skip supper if you want.”

“No. Rob wanted me to go on with my life. That's what I'm going to do.”

Harrison hesitated, looking down the path where I'd just been. “I should go pay my respects.”

“Not that you can't, but why?” I appreciated him accepting Rob as a part of my life that wasn't going to fade away, but that didn't mean he had to force it either.

When he reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter, my breath caught. “Mostly because of this.”

I didn't need to ask what it was; I'd never really forgotten about Rob's letter passed on to him by Mr. Le Page. “What does it say?”

“When I was back in Calgary and you'd started sending me the pictures, I remembered about this letter. I hadn't read it, but knew I needed to before I made a decision about us.”

He held it out for me to take, but I couldn't. “Tell me?”

He nodded and put it back in his pocket. “Dear whoever you are. She's the best thing that will ever happen to you. Yes, she's worth it.”

Tears rose in my eyes, but I was able to hold them back. “So are you.”

He smiled, patting my hand before opening the car door for me. “I'm taking you someplace special.”

I laughed as I wiped away evidence of our moment from my face. “Oh? Where?”

“The revolving restaurant at the top of the CN Tower.” He leaned down and kissed me hard. “I hear they have a great big bathroom.”

I laughed as he shut the door. The sun came out through the clouds to warm my face. Everything was going to be wonderful.

Epilogue

T
he wind picked up, blowing at the bag as it lay on the top of the cold grave maker. There was very little weight to it and the wind was persistent. Leaves helicoptered down from the trees above, brushing past the bag.

The service down the lane from the grave was just ending. A trail of solemn attendants filed past in small groups. Each group commented on the life of the ninety-two-year-old woman who they'd just laid to rest. Many of the groups spoke of the good times they'd shared with the lady. Others spoke about the minister, the reception afterward, the weather.

At the end of the group were the young people. The great grandchildren, those who barely knew the woman but had fond memories of cookies, Christmas presents, and twenty-dollar bills slipped to them when parents weren't looking. They weren't children any longer, all of them now making their own way in the world.

As the group approached, the wind grew even stronger. The bag containing a stack of handwritten cards was no match against its force, try as it might to stay where it had been placed. They had nearly all passed by when the wind gave one final gust, sending the bag with the cards tumbling to the ground.

A young woman looked over at just the right time to notice their fall. “Hold up!” she called out to the group.

She bent down to retrieve the cards, intending to put them back on the stone where they'd been. That was, until she caught sight of what was printed on the lined paper.

Day One
Masturbate

“What the hell . . .” Curious, she opened the bag and quickly looked at the contents. “Holy shit.”

“Glenna, you coming?”

On impulse, the young woman shoved the cards into her pocket. “Yup.”

“What was that?”

Glenna wasn't like her cousins. She wasn't a go-getter. Sure, she knew what she wanted,
who
she wanted, but he didn't know she even existed. Maybe these sex cards could help her become the type of woman who would be noticed.

Not that she'd tell the others of her plan. “Oh nothing. Just some garbage.”

She could wait until she got home to look at the cards. After all, she had all night.

Acknowledgments

How can you properly thank people, show your appreciation for all of the support an individual has given you, with only a few simple words? You can't, not really. However, I will attempt to do my best.

To my readers. Your support over the years has meant the world to me. Thank you for continuing to pick up my stories and for coming along for the ride.

Thank you to Kristina and Kim. When I was writing this book, my life took a challenging turn. You were there to hold my hand, give me hugs, and keep me going when I needed it most. My friends and partners in crime, I love you both.

To my wonderful agent, Courtney Miller-Callihan. Man, we've come a long way in a short period of time. Your support, advice, and friendship are more than I would have anticipated when we started together. A simple thank-you will never be enough.

To Esi Sogah, my editor and the woman who didn't run screaming when she read the premise for this book. You took a chance on this story and for that I'll be forever grateful. Plus, I'm fairly certain we might have been separated at birth. We need to explore this possibility over a glass of wine. Or two.

And finally to my husband, Mark. There are no words. But thankfully, you know me well enough that I don't need to worry about forming them. I love you.

Experience Glenna's story in

30 NIGHTS

Available in 2016

from

Christine d'Abo

and

Kensington Books

Photo by Mark Arsenault

Christine d'Abo
is a romance novelist and short story writer, with more than thirty publications to her name. She loves to exercise and stops writing just long enough to keep her body in motion too. When she's not pretending to be a ninja in her basement, she's most likely spending time with her husband, daughters, and her two dogs.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018

Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

eISBN-13: 978-1-61773-955-2
eISBN-10: 1-61773-955-3
First Kensington Electronic Edition: August 2015

ISBN: 978-1-6177-3955-2

ISBN-10: 1-61773-954-5
First Kensington Trade Paperback Printing: August 2015

BOOK: 30 Days

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