Bittersweet (29 page)

“Yes.”

“I’m afraid there has been a problem with your insurance. You moved out of your parents’ home and are no longer considered their dependent. The insurance company is refusing to pay for your care. I’m afraid you’ll have to pay the bill yourself.”

I blinked.

“How much will my bill be?”

She handed me a piece of paper. “It’s just an estimate. You’ll go home this evening and then the bill will be finalized.”

The amount was within a hundred dollars of what I had in my bank account. So much for Eurochocolate. Maybe next year. It was time for me to support my family anyway. I assured the woman that the bill would be paid and thought for a second that I would hate her job.

After she left, I picked up my phone from the small bedside table. I found the number I wanted. The phone rang twice.

“Savannah, how are you?”

“Hey Gina, I’m fine. Hey listen, I was wondering if your offer was still open.”

“To be part of the wedding? Of course. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too. I’m sorry I’ve been so withdrawn, I’ve been having trouble dealing with my dad’s death. I’m happy that you’re getting married again.”

She sighed.

“Thank you. I’ll call you next week and we’ll talk about the dresses.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

A
WEEK LATER
, just after the park closed, most of the Demon Drop crew huddled around the control booth. Becca and Angelica weren’t there, but I didn’t miss them. Dallas and Julia joined us. There was some argument over who was going to operate. Finally it was decided that grumpy Jeff could run the ride.

I called shotgun and Grant sat next to me. I wore a bright red t-shirt that I bought the day I got home from the hospital. Dallas and Julia sat right behind us. The rest of the crew filled about half the train.

Grant smiled. “You ready?”

I put my arms up as the train climbed the tracks.

Ride on, Dad. Ride on.

F
our years ago my father took his own life. Not quite as dramatically as Savannah’s father. But he still killed himself and that has left a hole in my heart that I don’t believe will ever be filled. Every time I think that maybe I’m getting over it, something reminds me of him or I find myself in a situation where I long to talk to him. Suicide is different for families than any other kind of death because even though it is a disease, there is still some element of choice.

Half of the profits from this book will go directly to various charities that focus on suicide prevention. Every few weeks I will pick a different charity to donate to. There are so many out there, all with slightly different missions but all focused on one thing—preventing suicide.

If you are suffering from depression and are having thoughts of suicide, please get help. Even if it feels like no one loves you, I assure you that people do and you will be missed. Depression and those suicidal thoughts are lying to you. Get help so that someday you’ll be around to help those you love when they are having a hard time.

Please also consider making a donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. They have prevented many suicides and helped countless families deal with their loss. You can make a donation here:

afsp.donordrive.com/campaign/bittersweet

This is a fund I set up in honor of my father.

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The Thorn Chronicles: Kissed

Trapped in a dark cult, sixteen-year-old Naomi Aren has lived a quiet, albeit unhappy, life nestled deep in the hills of the Ozarks. With uncut hair, denim skirts, and only roses for friends, Naomi seldom questions why her life is different from other kids at school. Until the day her abusive father, who is also the cult’s leader, announces her wedding. Naomi must marry Dwayne Yerdin, a bully who reeks of sweat and manure and is the only one person who scares her worse than her father.

Then she meets Kai, the mysterious boy who brings her exotic new roses and stolen midnight kisses. Kisses that bring her a supernatural strength she never knew she had. As the big day approaches, Naomi unearths more secrets of about her father’s cult. She learns she has power of her own and while Kai may have awakened that power, Naomi must find a way to use it to escape Dwayne and her father—without destroying herself.

Chapter 1

Birthdays are supposed to be special like my Kaiser Wilhelm rosebushes. They bloom once a year, huge violet and crimson cups full to bursting with petals. When I part the petals with my nose and inhale, I go weak in the knees from the fruity perfume. But my birthdays are more like the daisies that grow alongside the roses. Ignored.

The sink looked odd next to our front door. My mother had it installed after I kept tracking in dirt and fertilizer from my green house. I washed the soil off my hands with the warm water and used a file to clear the dirt out from under my nails. Then I exchanged one dirty pair of ugly tennis shoes for a pair of clean ugly tennis shoes and made my way into the kitchen. Mother didn’t allow a speck of soil from my greenhouse to dirty her home.

 Paint on the cabinets peeled away in white curls. A single light bulb gave enough light to cook but not enough to read a recipe. My mother stood by the tiny window, her bottle blond hair twisted in a bun on the back of her head. She wiped her hands on her apron then smoothed a stray hair from my braid. I knelt down to tie my shoes, anything to avoid her touch. Physical touch burned, even something as little as a finger brushing my forehead.

“Wash your face. We have guests for dinner.” My stomach knotted. I tied and untied my shoes three times, wondering how to respond. Years ago, my father had closed our home to visitors. No one crossed our threshold. I was allowed to leave only to go to school and to church. Well, if you want to call it that. I’ve watched movies in school and I went to the Baptist church until I was eight. Our new church, Crusaders of God, was a bigger shock than no more pants. But Mother and Father called it church.