Fancy White Trash
Page 21
“Is there something you want to tell me? About how you feel, maybe?”
“First, you tell me. What about your Rules?”
“What Rules?” I bat my eyelashes at him. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. But I do have a quick question for you, just out of curiosity.”
“Go ahead.” He kisses down the side of my throat, making it kind of hard to remember what I was going to ask.
“Uh, you don’t happen to know your blood type, do you?”
He pulls back enough to give me a strange look. “Sure, it’s one of the reasons I’m in such a rush to get to Nicaragua. A lot of people were injured in that earthquake, and they need blood. I’m an O-negative.”
Which makes him a universal donor, and a statistically improbable father for Stephanie. Not that it matters to me anymore, but it is nice to know. “That’s perfect!” I laugh, thinking how sometimes following your heart is way better than following Rules.
Jackson puts a finger under my chin and lifts my face to his. “I love you, Abby Savage. Promise you’ll wait for me.”
It’s an easy promise to make, because one thing I’ve learned from soap operas is that once you find True Love, you should never, ever let go.
Acknowledgments
So many generous and talented people helped make this book a reality. I’d like to extend special thanks to:
Michael Crumpton, my husband, who listens and listens and listens and never stops believing. . . .
Herman Geerling, my dad, who made a lot of sacrifices so I could have such a nice life. Thank you for teaching me that the difference between winning and losing is this much.
Alexandra Flinn and Joyce Sweeney, mentors and friends, without whom I’d never have gotten this far.
Laurie Calkhoven, who keeps me writing even when I don’t want to.
Olimpia Reyes, who always puts others before herself. Thank you for easing my burdens. T’amo.
Hank and Pat Geerling for helping with the initial research and for your many and great kindnesses to my parents.
Debbie De Leon and Dr. Rollo De Leon, for your generosity and ability to answer all questions about babies.
George Nicholson, for not giving up. Thank you.
Joy Peskin, who is both brilliant and kind. Thank you for taking a chance.
Thank you to Joyce’s Thursday night group, especially— Deborah Sharp, Heidi Boehringer, Kathy MacDonald, Kingsley Guy, Gale Payne, Stel Fine, Dorian Cirrone, Mel Taylor, Ellyn Laub, and Lucille Shulklapper. Thank you for sharing so much with me.
To my Florida SCBWI friends who have supported me every step of the way, especially—Linda Bernfeld, Adrienne Sylver, Danielle Joseph, Gaby Triana, Liz Trotta, Meaghan Sylver, Saundra Rubiera, Stacy Davids, Norma Davids, Steven dos Santos, Angela Padron, Ellen Slane, Pascale MacAuley, Susan Shamon, and Elaine Landau.
A heartfelt thank-you to the Viking staff who have been so generous with their time and talents, especially Regina Hayes, Kendra Levin, Nico Medina, Christian Fünfhausen, and Nancy Brennan. There aren’t enough words to thank the people who make a dream come true!