by Renee Ahdieh
He ran his hand nervously through his hair, and my painful smile grew even more.
“Of course, I must thank my family. My parents, Anne . . . without you, I’d probably be a starving musician living on beans, coffee, and tobacco.”
A ripple of laughter ran through the crowd.
In the past, I used to think real love was anti-capitalistic.
I believed love, as the modern world understood it, was an endless siege fueled by the impossibility of healthy co-dependence.
One person always gave. One person always took.
Selflessness and selfishness.
I was wrong.
Real love is unto itself. For every person, it’s different, and no one can presume to explain its complexity using mere words.
For me, love comes down to the moments of pure, unadulterated happiness in your life.
“And finally . . . Cris.” Tom paused to grin crookedly and then shifted his eyes to mine.
“Tu eres la luz de mi vida.”
Somewhere above me, I knew my father was smiling.
Let it wash over you . . .
. . . and believe you deserve it.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First, I want to thank my family for their love and support. My passion for the written word began at home with battered copies of the classics and tiny flashlights hidden under my pillow. Mom and Dad, thank you for passing your love of books onto me. To Victor, Erica, Ian, and Chris - we are parts of a whole. No story is complete without even one of you.
To my extended “family” - Ela, Gin, Sheila, Gautam, and Tabi - the nights of endless laughter and food are the fuel that fires my imagination and warms my soul. The words “thank you” are startling insufficient. I’m so lucky for each and every one of you.
Without the tireless advocacy of Laura Kreitzer and the gang at Revolution, Fanfare would still be a manuscript lost in the void. Laura, you have become much more than a colleague. You are a woman-extraordinaire, and I am in awe of your courage and conviction. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Finally, to all the readers of my earliest attempts who pushed me to persevere . . . this book exists because of you.
ABOUT RENEE AHDIEH
Renee Ahdieh believes that life should be relished like a beloved book: one page at a time. When she’s not writing, Renee enjoys traveling, cooking, and salsa dancing. Her award-winning blog on all things foodie can be found at www.thecandidcook.com.
She lives in North Carolina with her husband Victor and their dog Mushu.
Fanfare is her debut novel.