The Unusual Second Life of Thomas Weaver Episode Two (The Unusual Life Of Thomas Weaver Book 2) (7 page)

BOOK: The Unusual Second Life of Thomas Weaver Episode Two (The Unusual Life Of Thomas Weaver Book 2)
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There is no guidebook for this. They don't even give you a brochure
.

Half an hour later, Zack appeared from the direction of the track. His Adidas hung over his shoulder, tied together at the laces. His hair was messy and still sweaty. He opened the driver’s door and immediately filled the car with teenage boy funk: the combination of body odor, sweaty clothes, and a splash of the Brut cologne that he always kept in his track bag.

Thomas said nothing. Zack pulled the 8-Track out of the player and switched the AM radio on instead. Barry Manilow’s melodious lyrics explained, in so many words, that Barry wrote lyrics. Zack shook his head, punched a button, and The Eagles’
Take It to the Limit
came on. Zack sang along under his breath, tapping time on the steering wheel.

I can't get over how it feels to see him alive, setting records, just not being gone. I wish I could tell him everything.
He had my back in the lunchroom. Why does he still seem like my older brother, when he’s eighteen and I’m in my fifties? It would be nice to be able to tell him the truth.

I can see it now. "Zack, I gotta tell you something. I’ve already lived through this once, and in a few months, I might kill you in a car wreck. I’m going to try and change that, but I don’t know if it can be changed. I’m really sorry I killed you." And what’s the end game of that conversation? A long, worried talk with Mom, a consultation with some doc up in Portland, and a long stay in a nice, padded room?

Nope. I’m on my own.

Zack drove slowly through their neighborhood, his need for speed quenched for the moment by his own legs. “Thanks for coming, Squirt. It was cool that you were there. Now you can tell Mom all about it.”

“I’m glad I got to see it. You were awesome. It looked like you were ready to pass out when you crossed the finish line.”

Zach chuckled a little. “Just a little showboating for the crowd. I was fine.”

“Really?”

“No, not really, dipshit! That was all I had. I thought I was gonna puke.”

“Glad to know you’re human.”

“Was that Michael Hollister talking to you in the stands? What the hell was that about?”

Thomas shrugged. “I really don’t know. He was asking me why I was out walking in the woods the other day.”

“Good question. Why
were
you out in the woods the other day?” Zack took his eyes off the road for a moment, glanced at Tommy.

“I know this will sound weird, but I saw Michael go out in the woods and I got a weird idea that he was up to something, so I followed him.”

”And?”

“And, nothing,” Thomas lied. “I never even saw him, so I turned around and walked back out. No big deal.”

Zack frowned as he pulled into their driveway. “Look, you’re a big kid. You can make your own decisions about things.” He turned off the Camaro’s engine, but made no move to open the door. “But Michael’s a weirdo. I’ve always thought he was a harmless weirdo, but still…”

Concern for me. That's something I have so missed, so long
. Thomas turned to face Zack. “No worries, big brother. No more walks in the woods for me.”

Thomas and Zack got out of the car and pushed open the gate to their front yard. Thomas let Zack go in the house first, the conquering hero. Anne was still wearing her nurse’s uniform. She jumped up, opened her arms wide to Zack, and said, “Well?”

Zack smiled, nodded, and let her envelope him in a hug that ended with her holding him out at arm’s length and saying, “Okay, mister. Straight to the shower with you.” She turned to Thomas. “Tommy, honey, bring Amy inside.”

Thomas stuck his head out the front door. “Amy! Amiable! Come here girl! Amy!"

No dog.

"Amy?” He peered around their front yard—fenced and none too big—but she was nowhere in sight.

Down the block, Thomas heard an engine start. A deep blue Karmann Ghia pulled away from the curb and moved slowly down the street, trailing a cloud of smoke.

“Amy?”

 

Author’s Note

Thank you for reading along with me as I write Thomas Weaver’s story. I understand that reading a serial as it’s being written is a leap of faith—will this guy finish this story, or will he leave me hanging? I promise, I will finish the story of Thomas, Zack, Anne, Carrie and Michael. I will finish it because I have to find out what happens myself.

Would you like to know when the next installment of this serial comes out? If you join my New Release Alert List, only good things will happen: I will send you a free book to download, and I will always send you a single email when I have a new story available Here’s the link to join:
http://bit.ly/1cU1iS0

As always, I would like to express my profound gratitude to my publishing team. My editor on every project is J.K. Kelley, who manages to read what I write and find the true meaning in those words. Then he sets that meaning free. I am so fortunate to work with him. Linda Boulanger from TreasureLine Books made the cover that I am using for each of the
Thomas Weaver
installments. I loved the idea she came up with of an older man, dressed as a teenage boy, contemplating a life he had left behind. Linda also formatted the story for me, which means she made it look like a book. Finally, but certainly not least, Debra Galvan served as “the final set of eyes” as my proofreader. She catches those little glitches that sneak by me every time
.

Shawn Inmon

Enumclaw Washington

February 2014

 

Other Books and Stories by Shawn Inmon

Feels Like the First Time ~
A heartfelt memoir of love found, lost and found again in small-town American in the 1970s.
http://amzn.to/18Yj07m

Both Sides Now
~ Every good love story deserves to be told from both sides.
Both Sides Now
is a companion book to the bestselling
Feels Like the First Time,
telling the story from Dawn’s perspective.
http://amzn.to/1bpmccM

Rock ‘n Roll Heaven ~
A fable of redemption for small time rocker Jimmy “Guitar” Velvet, who meets rock ‘n roll’s greatest icons: Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin and more in Rock ‘n Roll Heaven.
http://amzn.to/1hYOtYX

Second Chance Christmas ~
A second chance love story, combined with a Christmas miracle.
http://amzn.to/1bjJGiV

Second Chance Valentines ~
After reconnecting, Steve and Elizabeth face difficult questions about how to build from their new beginning.
http://amzn.to/1dPdG49

Second Chance Summer ~
Steve’s livelihood and more are threatened by a business deal gone horribly awry.
http://amzn.to/1kbmhCt

Second Chance Thanksgiving ~
A novella-length story of the sweetness of love the second time around. The continuing story of Steve and Elizabeth.
http://amzn.to/1yAvUT2

Second Chance Wedding ~
The culmination of Steve and Elizabeth’s second chance love story.
http://amzn.to/1toDAVN

Christmas Town ~
A Christmas parable about the choices we make and what is truly important.
http://amzn.to/1bYz7yE

Chad Stinson Goes for a Walk ~
A short tale of obsession and possession. Just right for fans of The Twilight Zone or Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
http://amzn.to/1rJC2Ib

Lucky Man ~
A short story perfect for a lunch time read. When Brett Mann returns for his 20
th
Class Reunion, he finds that someone has been waiting patiently, willing to have her revenge served very cold.
http://bit.ly/10UjIug

 

BOOK: The Unusual Second Life of Thomas Weaver Episode Two (The Unusual Life Of Thomas Weaver Book 2)
8.34Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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