Instead of crying, I started to sing. The voice I’d forgotten hadn’t disappeared. Softly, gently, the melody spilled out with much more emotion than my tears could ever bring. It rose above the ocean and into the sky, in acknowledgement of those words written long ago. I held the notebook against my chest and closed my eyes.
~~~~
The sun had set by the time I wandered back to Marla’s condo. She was tossing a salad big enough for at least four, but I didn’t worry about having to put on a brave face for visitors. Marla always prepared twice as much food as was necessary.
“Let me help with something,” I said, eager for a distraction.
“You’re my guest,” she said, smiling and shaking her head. “After the rough week you had, you deserve a break…”
“I’d rather keep busy.”
“You want to cook together, like we used to?”
“It’s been too long.” This time I smiled. My first real smile since I’d arrived.
Marla pushed a head of broccoli in my direction and turned up the heat under a pan.
“Let’s stir fry!” she said.
So we did. As if everything was normal. As if I hadn’t failed the bar, hadn’t left the city for good, hadn’t cried about the past. As if I’d simply come here on vacation to resume the friendship we had when we were 18.
We sat on the patio, where the scent of salty air perfumed our plates, and the sound of the ocean offered constant background music.
We savored our chicken and vegetables, toasted with glasses of white wine and saved room for raspberry sorbet. We talked about Marla’s accounting job, my last internship at a big law firm, and the latest books we’d read and films we’d seen. Marla talked about her breakup with Jay and his incessant pleas to win her back. I told her to reconsider as I’d done after their earlier breakups.
“You’re perfect together! Why can’t you see it?”
She smirked and let out a sigh.
And then, as we reached the bottom of the wine bottle, Marla squinted and studied me. I knew it was coming. She wouldn’t let me off the hook that easily.
“Cass, if you’re not ready to make a decision about your future, that’s OK. How about if you stay with me for a while? You’re more than welcome, you know. I’ve got plenty of room!” She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Just have your stuff shipped from New York…”
In a split second, my city life, my beach-town life and everything in between flashed before my eyes. The grand finale was this afternoon holding Mama’s notebook in my hands and my voice breaking free. As I sat there facing Marla, yet seeing myself, I knew. All of a sudden, I knew.
“I’m leaving tomorrow,” I said. “Finally, I have a destination.”
I slept like a log for the first time in months and woke up to the cry of seagulls. I was feeling more comfortable in this place than I’d felt in years, and yet it was time to leave. Marla didn’t try to discourage me. She heard me singing in the shower and saw the sparkle in my eyes. I called the airport to reserve my ticket, and for once, there wasn’t a problem or delay.
And a few hours later, I was on my way to that island of my past with the hope my mother had brought to my heart.
About the Authors
Allison Hiltz, Preface
Allison Hiltz runs the award-winning book blog, The Book Wheel, and is the founder of the international blog roundup event, #30Authors. Allison’s site has received numerous awards and mentions from literary sites and organizations. Whether she is reading, blogging, studying or working, Allison probably has a cup of coffee in her hand. She lives in the Denver Metro Area with her husband and two rescue dogs, where she is finishing up her Master of Public Policy degree at the University of Denver. She plans to launch her career in policy, while blogging during every other minute she has (and a few she doesn’t). Catch up with Allison at TheBookWheelBlog.com.
Regina Calcaterra, “A Forever Home”
Regina’s memoir Etched in Sand is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best seller. It was selected for One Book/One College reads and integrated into college and high school curriculums. For more than 25 years, Regina has spent her policy, managerial and legal career in both the private and public sectors. She is presently an attorney working for the State of New York. She proudly serves as board vice president to You Gotta Believe, an organization that works toward finding older foster children forever homes. Regina lives with her companion, Todd Ciaravino, and their two cocker spaniels, Maggie and Oscar. Check out Regina’s work at ReginaCalcaterra.com.
Stephanie Carroll, “Forget Me Not”
As a reporter and community editor, Stephanie Carroll earned first place awards from the National Newspaper Association and from the Nevada Press Association. She holds degrees in history and social science, and graduated with honors. Her dark and magical style, found in A White Room, is inspired by the classic authors Charlotte Perkins Gilman (The Yellow Wallpaper), Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Secret Garden) and Emily Bronte (Wuthering Heights). Stephanie lives in California, where her husband was originally stationed with the U.S. Navy and where she founded Unhinged & Empowered, an inspiring and empowering blog for Navy wives, girlfriends and significant others. Learn more about Stephanie’s writing at StephanieCarroll.net.
Adria J. Cimino, “Petite Flambée” and “Hope”
Adria J. Cimino is the author of Paris, Rue des Martyrs, A Perfumer’s Secret, Paris Jungle and Close to Destiny. Prior to jumping into the book world full time, she spent more than a decade as a journalist at news organizations including The AP and Bloomberg News. In addition to writing fiction, Adria writes about her real-life adventures at AdriaInParis.blogspot.com.
Maureen Foley, “Bound by Water”
Maureen Foley is a writer, teacher and artist who lives on an avocado ranch by the sea with her family. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Caesura, Santa Barbara Magazine and Wired, as well as in numerous literary journals. Her novella, Women Float, is a coming-of-age story set in Carpinteria, California, and was published in June 2013 by the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography. In 2013, she started Red Hen Cannery, a small-batch artisanal jam company. You’ll find more about Maureen at MaureenFoley.com.
J.J. Hensley, “Four Days Forever”
J.J. Hensley is a former police officer and Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service who has drawn upon his experiences in law enforcement to write stories full of suspense and insight. J.J., who is originally from Huntington, WV, graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Administration of Justice and has an M.S. degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. He is currently a training supervisor with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and lives with his beautiful wife, daughter and two dogs near Pittsburgh, PA. His first novel, Resolve, was named one of the Best Books of 2013 by Suspense Magazine and was a finalist for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers organization. Learn more about J.J. at Hensley-Books.com.
Kristopher Jansma, “The Uraniums”
Kristopher Jansma is the winner of the 2014 Sherwood Anderson Award for Fiction. His first novel, The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards, received an Honorable Mention for the 2014 PEN/Hemingway Award and was longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence and the Flaherty-Dunnan Debut Novel Prize. His second novel, Why We Came to the City, was published in 2016. He has written for The New York Times, Johns Hopkins Magazine, Slice Magazine, The Believer, Adult Magazine and Blue Mesa Review. He is a graduate of the Writing Seminars program at Johns Hopkins University and received his MFA in Fiction at Columbia University. He is a graduate lecturer at Sarah Lawrence College and assistant professor at SUNY New Paltz College. You’ll find more about Kristopher at KristopherJansma.com.
Richard E. Klein, “Kisses When I Get Home”
Richard E. Klein, by his own admission, is an incurable romantic and altruist. His writings and musings are filled with hope and bright horizons despite having
lived through World War II and the Korean War as a child, both of which deeply impacted his worldview. Through his books, he aims to point the way towards a better internal mindset and a better world. Richard holds a particular interest in bicycle stability and control, and has devoted much of his time and energy to the development of a national program for teaching children with disabilities to master bike riding. Visit iCanBike.org and RainbowTrainers.com for more info. We’re All Set and Kisses When I Get Home are two of Richard’s books currently available, with many more in various stages of writing and publication.
Vicki Lesage, “Stop Looking and You’ll Find It” and “Apfelstrudel”
Amazon best-selling author Vicki Lesage proves daily that raising French kids isn’t as easy as the hype lets on. In her snippets of spare time, she writes, sips bubbly and prepares for the impending zombie apocalypse. She lives in St. Louis (after eleven years in Paris) with her French husband, rambunctious son and charming daughter, all of whom mercifully don’t laugh when she says “au revoir.” She penned two books, Confessions of a Paris Party Girl and Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer, in between diaper changes and wine refills. You can read more at VickiLesage.com.
Jenny Milchman, “Two Kinds of Legacy”
Jenny Milchman is a suspense writer from New York, who lived for seven months on the road with her family on what Shelf Awareness called “the world’s longest book tour.” Jenny’s debut novel, Cover of Snow, earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, as well as praise from The New York Times, San Francisco Journal of Books and The AP. It won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for best suspense novel of 2013. Ruin Falls was published in 2014 to starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, and chosen as a 10 Best of 2014 by Suspense Magazine. Her third novel, As Night Falls, was published in 2015. Jenny’s short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, multiple anthologies and online. Jenny is vice president of author programming for International Thriller Writers, founder of Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, and teaches writing and publishing for New York Writers Workshop. Learn more about Jenny at JennyMilchman.com.
Piper Punches, “Gracie’s Gift”
Piper Punches is a habitual truth-bender turned novelist who describes her writing as “human interest fiction.” Her debut novel, The Waiting Room, and her second published work, the novella Missing Girl, are both Amazon Top 10 Best Sellers. Piper isn’t afraid to reach deep into your soul and bring injustices front and center. Piper aspires to develop smart fiction that entertains and educates. Find out more about Piper at PiperPunches.com.
Didier Quémener, “Letters of the Night (Adeline and Augustin)” and “A. E.”
Lived in the U.S., now based in France as the executive chef at the Parisian restaurant “Plein Ouest.” Does not wear a beret but eats freshly baked bread every day. Cooked his first meal at age seven, graduated from the Sorbonne, worked as a photographer and finally came back to the kitchen where it all started. Didier is French and American, therefore obnoxious, a wine snob and speaks loudly! When Didier is not cooking, he’s writing. When he’s not writing, he’s playing golf. When he is not playing golf, he’s dreaming of being an orchestra conductor, or a guitar player, or... Back to reality: A husband, a father and a foodie! You can find him on Instagram & Twitter @chefqparis.
Marissa Stapley, “The Monument”
Marissa Stapley is a National Magazine Award nominated writer who has contributed to many publications, including Globe and Mail, National Post and Elle. Her debut novel, Mating for Life, is a Canadian bestseller. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children, where she is working on a new novel and teaching creative writing at the University of Toronto. Learn more about Marissa’s work at MarissaStapley.com.
Adriana Tourinho, “The Heist”
Adriana has a passion for literature and obsession with her birth city of Rio de Janeiro. She enjoys reading, reviewing and writing anything to do with Brazilian culture. She holds a master’s degree in Brazilian History from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Adriana’s papers have been published in various Brazilian history journals, and she’s spoken at numerous seminars and workshops. She lives in Paris, where she teaches Portuguese, history and culture at Lusofonia, a company she founded. When she’s not in Paris, she enjoys traveling back to Brazil or to new places around the world with her husband and son.
David Whitehouse, “Nagasaki”
David Whitehouse finds non-fiction easier and less revealing than fiction. He has written a book on the question of Rwandan genocide suspects in France, In Search of Rwanda’s Génocidaires: French Justice and the Lost Decades. He was the ghostwriter for the autobiography of long-time Cambodia opposition leader Sam Rainsy, We Didn’t Start the Fire: My Struggle for Democracy in Cambodia.
Paula Young Lee, “Sonny’s Wall”
Paula Young Lee is the author of numerous books on the cultural history of meat, including Meat, Modernity, and the Rise of the Slaughterhouse, Game: A Global History and Deer Hunting in Paris: A Memoir of God, Guns, and Game Meat (winner of the 2014 Lowell Thomas Award of the Society of American Travel Writers). She holds a doctorate from the University of Chicago and contributes regularly to venues such as Salon.com, Dame.com, The Blot.com and The Conversation (UK). Her second memoir, in-progress, is The Swamp Yankee Chronicles, about rural life in Maine.
Acknowledgements
A big thank you to Allison Hiltz of The Book Wheel website for helping turn her 30 Authors blogging event into this legacy-themed anthology. And we as authors thank the book blogging community for reading our book and writing about it. We appreciate your support!
Thanks to all of the contributors who shared their work and their time with us, offering the gift of beautiful words. It was wonderful to see how each of you took the idea of legacy and made it your own. We hope your stories will delight readers just as much as they delighted us as we assembled this anthology.
A thank you to Ellen Meyer, for making the book look lovely.
And finally, thank you, readers, for making reading your legacy.
A Note to the Reader
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this collection of legacy stories, please consider leaving a review on Amazon—even just a few sentences can help convince other readers to embark on this literary journey.
Legacy- an Anthology Page 21