by Lynne, Donya
Strong Karma Trilogy
Book 3
Full Circle
Published by Phoenix Press
Copyright 2015 by Donya Lynne
For sales information please contact Donya Lynne
on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorDonyaLynne,
or at [email protected]
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Cover Art: Reese Dante www.reesedante.com
Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.
In the end, only three things matter. How much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.
-Gautama Buddha
Part I
Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons. We must fight in order to conquer it.
-Alexandre Dumas
Chapter 1
I feel a new beginning coming toward me, and I’m running to it with open arms.
-Author Unknown
Karma stared at the blank sheet of paper on the table.
Well, it wasn’t exactly blank. She’d gotten as far as writing Resolutions in the top margin, along with the number one below it. After that . . . nada. She couldn’t think of a single New Year’s resolution. Probably because she already had everything she wanted. Mark was back. She’d just started a new job. She was happy.
Still, a new year didn’t feel complete without at least one resolution. After all, resolutions were a symbol of hope, and hope fed the dreams for the future. Surely she could dig up at least one aspiration . . . one dream. Something to carry her forward.
This time last year, there had been no shortage of dreams or hope. The summer before, after spending four life-changing months with Mark Strong—four months in which she tumbled head over heels in love with him—he’d left her to return to Chicago, leaving her shattered heart in his wake. Which meant last December, her resolutions had centered around the hope her pain would end, she could find a way to forget him, or—dream of all dreams—he would come back to her.
And her dream came true.
He had come back.
Because he’d fallen in love with her, too.
She’d known in her heart he had, but it took him an hour too long to admit it to himself or he never would have left in the first place.
But now all that was behind them.
Not that the past was forgotten. The past still hovered in the background like a disconnected shadow.
But a new year brought fresh ambition. And resolutions carried that ambition forward.
All the more reason to come up with one.
“Hey, stranger.”
Karma glanced up from her notepad as her best friend Lisa joined her at the window table inside Greek Tony’s, their favorite pizza place.
“Hey you.”
When she and Lisa worked together, they’d seen each other every day, chitchatted every morning, and went to lunch together at least twice a week. But since leaving Solar a couple weeks ago, Karma hadn’t seen Lisa, so she was suffering major friendship withdrawal.
Lisa leaned in and gave her a one-armed hug. “You look good.”
“Thanks. So do you.”
Lisa slung her coat over the back of the chair next to Karma’s. “I’m starved. I sort of missed lunch today.”
“How do you ‘sort of’ miss lunch?”
“Your precious boyfriend is keeping me busy.” She slid onto the chair across from her.
“Mark?” Karma’s brow bunched as her mouth twisted into a crooked smirk.
“Yeah, Mark. He’s seriously interfering with my professional sanity, as well as my lunch schedule, so . . .” She pinched her lips together then huffed. “But hey, I ate some yogurt and granola earlier, so I’m not completely famished.”
Karma gestured toward Greek Tony’s order counter. “I wish I’d known. I would have ordered a deep dish or breadsticks or something. I just got our normal.”
Their normal was a thin and crispy garden veggie pizza. Not the kind of meal that quenched starvation, but damn near the best pizza in town when you were watching your figure.
Lisa waved her hand through the air in a don’t-worry-about-it motion. “I’ll live.” She peered at Karma’s notepad. “What’s that? Resolutions?” She blew out an amused huff. “Wow. Do you think you have enough?”
“Hush.” Karma glanced at the blank page before closing her notebook and smugly stuffing it in her leather briefcase. “I’ve got Mark, so I don’t need resolutions.”
Lisa laughed. “You might not have him much longer if he keeps finding new customers at a record pace, making my life hell as I try to find new personnel to fill all the positions he’s creating. I might have to kill him just to catch a break.”
Karma laughed. “He can’t help being good at his job.”
Lisa sipped at the soft drink Karma had ordered for her. “Yeah, well, he’s overachieving.” She took another drink then gestured toward Karma’s briefcase and the abandoned notebook. “You ready for the new job?”
After getting back together with Mark in November, it had become clear Karma could no longer work at Solar, so she’d contacted Dr. Whitman, one of her college professors, who made a few phone calls on her behalf and found her a position as a junior editor for Winstrom Press, a Chicago publisher.
It was a ground-floor position, but at least it was in her field of study, unlike the executive assistant job at Solar.
“I’m a little nervous, but I’m ready.”
“You’ll be great.” Lisa threw her a playful scowl. “But we’ll never get to see each other anymore. I still can’t believe you left Solar. Traitor.” She lightly smacked Karma’s hand, teasing her.
“We’ll still see each other.”
But carving out time to see Lisa was already a challenge. What would happen once she officially started her new job in a couple of weeks and her days were filled with manuscripts and classes? Who would she turn to, to help her get through the days? Lisa had been a daily source of moral support and friendly motivation just a flight of stairs and a few offices away. Now Karma would be working from her lonely, quiet apartment. Talk about a major shift.
“I know, but I’m used to you being there every day. It’s weird walking upstairs and not seeing you at your desk, sipping your tea, making moon eyes at Mark’s office.”
“Moon eyes. Right.”
Lisa giggled and twirled her straw in her drink, then sobered and leaned forward. “Seriously, though, I’m really happy for you. I mean, sure, I miss you like crazy at the office, but this is a good move for you.”
“It’s a lucky break is what it is.”
She’d originally been slated for a position in St. Louis that would have required her to move. Thank goodness Dr. Whitman had been able to find her the Winstrom job, which allowed her to work from home. She would miss seeing Lisa every day at the office, but at least she could stay in Indiana.
“It’s a sign.” Lisa’s eyes opened wide as she said it. “One door closes, and a better one opens. It means you’re on the right path.”
Karma laughed. “You and your signs.”
“Hey, don’t knock signs and the power of the universe. After all, those are the things that brought Mark back to you.”
Mark h
ad made no secret that he had let the universe guide him in his journey back to her last summer. He’d told her for the year they were apart, he’d waited for a sign they were meant to be together. When he was offered the job at Solar, he knew his time had come.
But his plan had almost backfired. If he had waited only a few months longer, she might have been married to Brad. Thank God that hadn’t happened. She counted her blessings every day that Mark had returned when he did, because he’d made her see how wrong Brad was for her. How she’d simply been using Brad as a fill-in. She should have known nobody could ever fill Mark’s larger-than-life shoes.
Oh, sure, she had been angry with Mark at first, but she knew now that was only because she’d been fighting how much she still loved him. Once she gave in to her feelings, falling into his arms had been as natural as breathing.
“Mark’s faith in signs saved me, didn’t they?” She grinned like a damn schoolgirl as she glanced out the window.
Surely, she couldn’t live the rest of her life in such a cosmic state of bliss. Could she? Heck, maybe she could. Maybe life would now be an endless smile. A never-ending stream of joy.
Lisa shook her head. “You’ve got it so bad.”
Karma pretended to be affronted. “What do you mean?” She struggled not to giggle like a love-struck adolescent.
“You are too ridiculously happy for your own good.”
“Is it that obvious?”
Lisa sardonically tilted her head. “Oh, not at all. Everyone walks around with goofy smiles on their faces and eyes shaped like hearts. This whole cupid-in-love look you’re working is perfectly normal. Totally.”
Karma giggled and flitted her fingers over one of the paper napkins she’d pulled from the dispenser. “You’re right. I am ridiculously happy. Everything finally seems to be falling into place.” She glanced at the classy, dark-brown Coach briefcase beside her. It had been a gift from Mark. He’d told her she needed a serious briefcase now that she was a serious editor. “I mean, what more could I want right now?”
Lisa grinned as if Karma had just made a poignant observation.
“What?” Karma said. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What do you mean?” Lisa tried to disguise her amusement by shrugging and sipping her drink. When she set her cup down, she looked far too innocent to actually be innocent.
“That face you just made.” Karma arched an eyebrow at her. “What did I say that was so funny?”
Lisa shook her head and tried to give her the brush-off. “Nothing. I’m just . . . you know . . . happy to see you so happy.” She fumbled with her drink cup again, almost knocking it over.
“You’re up to something.”
“Who? Me?” Lisa glanced toward the counter. “When’s our pizza gonna get here. I’m about to eat my arm.”
Karma rolled her eyes. “Quit changing the subject.”
“I’m not changing the subject. I’m hungry.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“I am.” Then Lisa snickered. “But don’t worry. You’ll find out soon enough.”
“So you are up to something.”
Lisa shrugged nonchalantly then said, “I’ll never tell.”
“Ugh. You’re so mean.”
Lisa fought back a mischievous smile, clearly in on some joke Karma wasn’t privy to. “So, tell me again when you start your new job?”
Fine. Let her have her secrets.
Karma pushed aside the napkin she’d been picking at. “January seventh.”
“And you’re doing okay financially?”
“Yes, Mom.” She smirked. “I’ve been a good little penny-pincher and have a nice amount saved to hold me over until I get my first paycheck.” And since she took a payout on her remaining vacation days, that also helped.
“Okay, good. I just wanted to make sure you’re covered.”
“I’m fine. No worries there. I mean, the pay at my new job is less than at Solar, but I’ll be okay. I’ve already worked out a new budget and everything.”
She glanced up at the TV hanging in the corner. According to the headline, the talking heads were chattering about the playoffs.
Playoffs. Something she and her dad had always enjoyed together in the past. Not so this year. They hadn’t said more than two words to each other since Thanksgiving, when she’d shown up with Mark for dinner. Her dad had been furious. Harsh words had been said, deep lines drawn in the proverbial sand, and she and Mark ended up leaving to celebrate the holiday alone.
Even a month later, her dad still reeled over Mark being back in her life.
In less than a month, she and her dad had become more like strangers than family.
“Hey, you okay?” Lisa reached across the table and touched her hand.
Snapping out of her miserable thoughts, Karma forced a smile. “Yes. I was just thinking about my dad.”
Maybe she could somehow turn this Dad versus Mark issue into a resolution. After all, it was the one thing in her life she would like to improve.
“He still hasn’t come around?”
“No, and I’m beginning to think he never will.”
Before Lisa could respond, Andrew approached and set their pizza on the table. “There you go, ladies. Enjoy.” He smiled then returned behind the counter to take another customer’s order.
Karma gingerly pulled a hot slice from the platter and dropped it on her plate while Lisa dug in, not even bothering to wait for hers to cool.
Chomping a huge bite, Lisa winced and fought not to spit out the hot morsel, panting and fanning her mouth with her free hand.
“Hungry much?” Karma laughed at her.
Lisa made a noise that was part curse, part growl, and sounded a little like, “Bite me.”
After she managed down the bite of food, Lisa said, “What about Christmas? Did your dad even invite you over?”
Karma shrugged and blew on her slice of pizza. “Not really. He went through Mom to invite me, but it was clear Mark wasn’t welcome.”
And that shit didn’t fly. She and Mark came as a package deal now. Until her dad got down with that program, she wouldn’t be making any trips—holiday or otherwise—to her parents’ house.
“Damn. That’s harsh.”
Karma picked a mushroom off her pizza and popped it in her mouth. “It is what it is. But I dropped off gifts yesterday, and Mom gave me a couple she and dad bought for me.”
“And . . . ?”
“And what? My dad could barely look me in the eye.” She huffed and took a bite. “I wish he would just get over it and accept that I’m happy. This is my life, not his, and it would be nice if he would support my decision.”
“Maybe he feels bad about how he acted and doesn’t know how to make amends and still save face. Your dad can be pretty stubborn, you know.”
“I know.” Karma licked pizza sauce off her finger. “It just sucks. Do you realize this will be the first Christmas I haven’t spent with him.”
“Give him time,” Lisa said. “He’ll come around eventually. The separation has to be hurting him as much as it’s hurting you. You two are so close. He’s got to be feeling it.” Lisa paused. “And maybe you can look at the bright side.”
“What bright side?”
Lisa offered a sheepish grin. “That you and Mark can spend your first holiday together, just the two of you.” Her voice lilted like she was making a suggestion. “Knowing Mark, he’ll make Christmas extra special for you.” There was that mischievous grin again. Whatever Lisa was hiding from her, Mark was somehow involved.
“Have you two been conspiring behind my back?”
Lisa’s eyes shot wide and her mouth fell open as if she were affronted.
“I knew it.” Karma dropped her pizza on her plate and leaned forward. “What are you two up to?”
Lisa shook her head, averting her gaze as she nibbled her bottom lip. “Nothing.” But her resolve appeared to be cracking.
“Uh-huh.” Karma wasn’t buying it, b
ut at least she wasn’t as depressed about her dad shunning her, anymore. Now she was distracted trying to figure out what Lisa and Mark had up their sleeves. “If you were really my friend, you’d tell me.”
Lisa huffed and tossed Karma a plaintive look. “I’m sworn to secrecy, so stop tempting me. He would kill me if I let something slip, and unlike you, I still have to work with him. Just know that it’s killing me not to tell you. You already know more than you should, anyway.” She was about to fidget out of her seat. From excitement or guilt, Karma wasn’t sure.
Karma shot her a dramatic glare. “I’m not sure I like leaving you two alone together at Solar. Especially if it means you’re going to gang up on me like this.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “You make us sound so devious. We’re not ganging up on you.”
Stewing over the great void of not knowing what awaited her at some unforeseen future moment, Karma grumbled as she picked at her pizza. “Just remember paybacks are a bitch, Lisa. Maybe I’ll return your Christmas present.”
“You already gave it to me.” Lisa smiled smugly then sank her teeth into another bite of pizza.
Karma sneered at her then grinned. “Your birthday present then.”
“Oh, calm down.” Lisa giggled conspiratorially. “And oh my God, Karma, you’re going to love it. You’ll thank me later for keeping it a secret.”
“We’ll see.”
But she knew from experience that whatever Mark had planned, she would, most definitely, love it. Without even making an effort, Mark possessed an uncanny ability to make the mundane spectacular, the boring riveting, and the everyday extraordinary.
“Well, since you’re dead set on not telling me about whatever it is you and Mark are planning”—she narrowed her eyes in a fake glare—“at least fill me in on how the search for my replacement is coming along.”
“Slow but steady. Mark’s pretty picky, but I think we’ll eventually find what he needs.”