by Lily Velez
“Dad, hey. Are you all right?”
“What?”
“Are you all right?”
He blinked again, looking around the living room to orient himself as the fog from his nap gradually faded. I reached for the remote where it sat beside his untouched breakfast: a cup of tea I’d brewed for him now gone cold and two slices of toast spread with his favorite apricot jam. I longed for the day when he’d regain his appetite. It would help to fill out his gaunt face.
“Are you going somewhere?”
“I just came back actually,” I said, powering off the news. ‘I’ve been gone for hours,’ I wanted to add. That and: ‘What’s going on with you? Where does your mind wander to half the time? Talk to me so I can help you.’
He still insisted he didn’t remember a thing about his ordeal, but sometimes I wondered if he was really telling the truth. Did he recall the sluagh after all? Was his sanity slowly fragmenting into pieces because he was so certain he was going mad? Did he lie about what he remembered for fear those he confided in would think him mentally unsound?
Time and again, I wanted to broach the subject. This was supposed to be a fresh start for us, an opportunity for us to move forward and build a real relationship. I’d spoken about it with Jack numerous times, but he always assured me my dad would return to his normal self once he’d had a chance to fully recuperate.
My dad heaved himself to his feet, the recliner groaning as he rose. He adjusted the folds of his robe, his go-to outerwear since his discharge. He’d stay in his pajamas from morning to night, never leaving the house. He shuffled past me in his slippers. “I think I’m going to lie down on my bed for a bit for a better rest. Will you be okay?”
I forced a smile. “Of course. I’ll be fine. When you wake up, I’ll make a fresh pot of tea.” Though I didn’t know why I bothered. I already knew he wouldn’t touch it.
He slowly made his way to his room, and I followed him from a short distance, wanting to ensure he truly was all right. On the back of his bedroom door, I saw his reflection in the mirror hung there, and the shadows and lines across his lean face crushed my heart.
Dad?” I croaked. He paused, his hand on the doorknob. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I wasn’t sure if he’d heard the question at first, but then slowly, very slowly, his features relaxed into as much of a tired smile as he was able to give. He looked at me through the mirror. “Of course. I just need some rest, that’s all.” With that, he disappeared into the room, clicking the door shut behind him so that I was alone in the hallway with only my reflection for company.
And I saw the shock on my face, saw the way I staggered back a few steps. My heart missed a beat, and all over, my body tensed muscle by muscle.
Because I was almost certain I’d seen something in my dad’s eyes for the briefest moment, for a fraction of a second. There and gone again within the space between heartbeats, but there in his eyes nonetheless, something I couldn’t possibly deny.
Something like a glimmer of red.
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for downloading a copy of The Connelly Boys. I had so much fun bringing the story to life, and it's been absolutely exciting to finally share it with the world.
If you enjoyed The Connelly Boys, would you consider taking a brief moment to leave a review on Amazon? As an indie author, I don't have a big publishing house behind me to market my books, so I rely on readers just like you to help me spread the word instead. Leaving a review on Amazon is the best way to support an author's work because the more reviews a book has, the more likely other readers will give it a try and the more Amazon will share it online as a result. :)
Now I know I left you on a bit of a cliffhanger, but don't worry! Book 2, The Connelly Curse, is coming out this December. It's currently available for Pre-order here: The Connelly Curse (And yes, it'll be available through Kindle Unlimited as well).
Can't wait 'til December? Then after you Pre-order, make sure you jump onto my VIP list here. When you do, you'll receive the first 3 chapters of The Connelly Curse absolutely free once they’re available, and you'll also receive other exclusive content…including free short stories narrated from the Connellys’ point of view that I plan on releasing exclusively to my list very soon.
Again, thank you for reading, and thank you for your support. I hope we meet again in the next book! :)
xo, Lily
About the Author
Lily Velez has been writing stories since she was six years old. A graduate of Rollins College and a Florida native, when she’s not reading or writing, she spends most of her days wrangling up her pit bulls Noah and Luna, planning exciting travel adventures, and nursing her addiction to cheese.
You can learn more about her books and access exclusive content at www.lilyvelezbooks.com.