Where the Stars Fall
Page 27
“Aren’t they going to knock down the Christmas tree?” Josh points at the twins, who’re patting and poking the shiny balls. “Con-ceive? What’s that?” The confused expression on his face quickly fades into one of concern. “I bet Santa is going to mess it all up this year. I know it already.” Josh leans his head back against the sofa, pouting. “Then again, with so many kids in this house, what else can you expect?”
“Don’t worry, mate,” I reassure him. “Santa’s been keeping his business running like a well-oiled machine for quite a while now. This time won’t be any different.” A sideways glance and I find Olivia by the tree, holding back her emotions. “Listen, kiddo, can you go check on the girls? Auntie Liv and I need to talk about my birthday present.”
“Oh, that’s for the baby.”
“What baby?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me, mate! Do you even know how hard it is to raise three kids?” he asks, deadpan, shaking his head in disapproval.
“What baby?” I ask again, my eyes darting from Olivia to Josh and then back, my heart racing.
She shrugs, as though the answer is too obvious.
After what seems a long silence, “For the baby on the way, duh!” Blowing out a sigh of frustration, Josh again tilts his head back against the sofa, his eyes fixed on the telly. “I heard Olivia telling her mum about it. Thank goodness it’s just one this time.”
“For real?” I gasp, still incredulous, my eyes fixed on hers.
“I only hope it’s a boy this time around – because, you guys, you have no idea what you’re doing to my childhood. Seriously.”
With a warm smile spread across her face, Olivia steps towards me, her eyes staring deeply into mine. Standing on her toes, she wraps her arms around my neck and whispers, “Happy birthday, Daddy.”
I can’t help looking at Emily and Isabella, oblivious to all this, pictures of the last nine months running through my eyes in a slow-motion film.
Fatherhood in a nutshell?
It rocks your soul.
It’s been exciting.
Amazing.
Maddening.
And scary.
It’s been the hardest and the easiest thing.
All at the same time.
“This means I can’t yet get too attached to these, can I?” I ask under my breath, sneaking another peek at her cleavage. Shaking my head in pretend annoyance, “Just when we were starting to get the hang of it again…”
Olivia lets outs a little snort of laughter. “Yep. They won’t be yours much longer.”
Inadvertently, my eyes meet my old man’s on the photo. It looks as though he’s rejoicing at the scene, telling me ‘Good job, son’, reminding me that greatness is found in the little moments like these.
*
“So how old are you today?” Josh asks.
“I’m come-home-when-the-streetlights-are-on old.”
He stares at me, his face screwed up in confusion.
We’ve taken Milo out for a walk and have now stopped to rest a little on our favourite spot, my dad’s and mine. We’re sitting on the same old bench where we sat many times before, under the same old tree, looking towards the snow-covered trees and hills.
“Thirty-two.”
“Mate, you’re getting so old.”
“Am I?”
“But you’re ageing well, you still got all your hair.”
“Thank you.”
“At least you’re not as old as you’ll be next year.”
“That’s what the card you mum gave me said. Stuck it on the fridge to cheer me up. Because, you know, it’s pretty scary to know how fast time flies over us.”
He looks up to the sky, then at me. I can’t tell if it’s confusion plastered all over his face or something else. He’s been so quiet and moody the entire day.
“Hey, why are you getting yourself so worked up over Christmas this year?”
He shrugs as if to say, it’s no biggie, but to him it is. I know it.
“Go on. Get it off your chest.”
“I asked Santa for a telescope.”
“That’s great, an aspiring astronomer. It says a lot about you. That you’re curious and smart. It will be fun!”
“What if Santa messes it all up and I don’t get one?”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it. You’ll find your telescope under the Christmas tree, you’ll see.”
“And how would you know that?”
“Tell no one, but I’ve heard from a very reliable source – Liv’s mum – that Mrs Claus is the one calling the shots up there, in the North Pole. She keeps them all in line, Santa and the elves, making sure the whole thing runs as smoothly as a Swiss watch.”
Josh smiles, relief edging out the worry on his face. “Tomorrow, do you think we can look up in the sky and watch the stars?”
I shake my head looking up at the thick clouds. “This is a good spot, but I’m afraid we need a clear night. I’ll come with you another time, promise.”
“Cool. We can look for grandpa together.”
I arch my brow, confused and surprised.
“Nana told me that when people die, they become stars and watch us from above. We have to find where he is. I need to tell him I can ride my bike on my own already.”
“Let’s do that.”
“What if he already turned into a shooting star? I always wondered where they fall.”
“Into our hearts. That’s where the stars fall, Josh. And then they rest in there forever.”
He lets the words settle for a while, in silence, his sharp green eyes fixed on the grey sky.
“You want to play?” he asks Milo, who’s tugging at the bottom of his jacket, pulling frenetically. “Come on, mate, let’s have a snowball fight.”
Eventually, I fish my mobile out my pocket and snap a picture of these two, playing chase and catch, so happy, absolutely giddy.
In my mind, my eyes keep sweeping through all the framed photos on the mantel back at home, each of them telling a fragment of our family’s story, reminding me that the best things in life are indeed the people you love and the memories you make along the way. Memories like this one.
Then my mental gaze rests on my wedding photo again. On Olivia’s eyes and tender expression. On her glowing smile, the same smile that bowled me over a long time ago.
God, I love her.
I loved her all along.
THE END
Dear reader,
THANK YOU so much for reading this book and sticking with me till the end ♥ If you enjoyed Brian and Olivia’s story, it would mean the world to me if you could take a moment to leave a review, even if just a few words. Your feedback helps other readers discover this book and is therefore very much appreciated:
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For more information or to submit your thoughts, please feel free to visit my website at www.anasimons.com.
Until next time,
Ana ♥
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I’M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL to everyone who helped this book come to life.
My heartfelt thanks to the best beta reader a girl could want – Rachel Nicole Christley, you’re a star. And hugest gratitude to the wonderful, kind-hearted Nicole Andrews Moore – the world needs more people like you. A very special thanks to Perrin Brunson, my talented cover designer. Thanks to Steph Warren, for her invaluable input. I’d also like to give a huge thank you to Claire Allmendiger for helping me share this book with the world. Endless thanks to my dearest friend Kate Smith, for reading many chapters and versions of Brian and Liv’s story. A big virtual hug also goes to every blogger, fellow author and reader who supported this book’s release.
And last but not least, hugs and high-fives to J, who’ll always be my favourite cook, and L and J for their awesomeness.
While I’m Gone: A Novel
AMAZON US: https://amzn.to/2GVmQ7T
AMAZON INTERNATIONAL: https://
mybook.to/WhileImGone
While I’m Gone brings together two strangers whose paths cross unexpectedly. An honest and thought-provoking story about life, love and second chances.
BLURB:
On the surface, Sophie had it all. The perfect marriage, a wonderful son, a successful career. But then, when Alex puts an end to their marriage, the day before she must leave for a two-week work assignment in London, her whole world is turned upside down.
As she juggles her emotions at the airport terminal, Matthew O'Brian observes her, intrigued. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, the charming and enigmatic doctor doesn't shy away and pursues her with everything he has.
Heartbroken and confused, Sophie lets herself dive into an intense relationship she believes is fated to end as soon as she returns home. After all, Matthew is just too good to be true and she’s learned her lesson: nothing is as it seems. What if behind his passion and determination, he carries secrets that might break her, even more? We all have a story buried deep within us. Skeletons in our closets that follow us no matter how hard we try to forget about them.
She sure has them. He must have his too.
But when the unexpected happens and their story is put to the ultimate test, will they be ready to give up on each other?
* * *
“An engaging storyline and engrossing read.” – Readers’ Favorite
“A reminder of the outstanding outcome that can come from taking risks with our deepest emotions, our hearts, and our entire lives. An incredible romance and a love story that will test the capacity of your heart.” – Dandelions Inspired Book Blog
“One of those books that breaks you, and then puts you back together.” – Amazon Reviewer
“With this story, you must expect the unexpected.” – Amazon Reviewer
THE AUTHOR
Ana is an author of romance and contemporary fiction. She writes emotional, sweet and sexy, heart-filled stories. Drawing inspiration from life, she enjoys writing honest stories about the complexities of modern relationships and family dynamics – which means sometimes you may find yourself relating to the many struggles some of us face in our everyday lives, at other times, cracking a good laugh. Or swooning over one of the heroes.
Her story? After spending half of her life writing about books, it wasn’t until recently she’d try her hand at crafting stories herself. It turns out she fell in love with it, and now she spends most of her free time thinking of ways to challenge her characters.
She lives by the sea in sunny Southern Europe with her husband, her extraordinary twins and two frisky rescue dogs. She loves the ocean and her sunbathed beach. She may have a fairly serious obsession with football.
Ana always loves to hear from readers. Feel free to get in touch or come and find her on social media:
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Where the Stars Fall
Copyright © 2020 by Ana Simons, Revised Edition
A previous edition of this novel was published under the title
Free Falling, registered in the United States Copyright Office,
Library of Congress Control Number: TX 8-441-670