But when she walked into the great room, there was Aspen, lying on her stomach, staring at the Christmas tree. “Hello there,” Glory said. “What are you doing up?”
Aspen, adorable in Snoopy footed pajamas, looked at her with big eyes. “Waiting for Sparrow.”
Glory smiled. “I think you mean Santa.”
“No,” Aspen said, her little voice a trill. “Santa comes tomorrow. Sparrow is coming tonight,” she said, and she stood up and placed both her hands on Glory’s belly.
Glory felt a contraction then, not as painful as she’d imagined, but not exactly comfortable, either. “How did you know that?” Glory asked, taking Aspen’s tiny hands and giving her a squeeze.
Aspen hugged her back, and said, “Dolores told me.”
Outside, the snow was falling all around them.
Acknowledgments
It would take hundreds of pages for me to properly thank the folks who help me along the way in writing a book. To my agent, Deborah Schneider, your wisdom, guidance, and belief in my writing all these years have kept me going, and I am so grateful for your friendship. Likewise, it is my great good fortune to work with Nancy Miller at Bloomsbury, the editor who has made writing these last two books the most rewarding experience of my career. I’m blessed to have writer friends from whom I derive solace, inspiration, and strength: Anne Caston, Rich Chiappone, Earlene Fowler, Judi Hendricks, Nicky Leach, Caroline Leavitt, Jodi Picoult, Wolf Schneider, Sherry Simpson, David Stevenson, Candelora Versace, and Carolyn Turgeon (especially for her feedback and suggestions). There are two vices that keep me going, Coca-Cola Cherry Zero, and Old Gringo boots (thank you, Amy Fairchild and Ernie, for finding my green-and-purple Takas, which made my author photo). For thirty-eight years my husband Stewart has been my touchstone, my rock, and the light of my life, along with our dog posse both here and in heaven. To my son Jack, newly college-graduated, newly single, your future is bright and filled with rewards you can’t see right now, but trust me when I say that the good parts are coming and will provide a foundation to build on and remember. Writing books has always been my dream and brings me great joy, and every day I am thankful for the opportunity, but Jack, you are and always will be my one true masterpiece.
A Note on the Author
Jo-Ann Mapson is the author of ten previous novels, including the beloved Hank & Chloe, Blue Rodeo (also a CBS TV movie), and the Los Angeles Times bestsellers The Wilder Sisters and Bad Girl Creek, a book-club favorite. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her husband and their three dogs. Visit her website at www.joannmapson.com.
By the Same Author
Solomon’s Oak
The Owl & Moon Café
The Wilder Sisters
Loving Chloe
Shadow Ranch
Blue Rodeo
Hank & Chloe
Fault Line (stories)
The Bad Girl Creek trilogy:
Bad Girl Creek
Along Came Mary
Goodbye, Earl
Copyright © 2012 by Jo-Ann Mapson
Electronic edition published in October 2012
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Published by Bloomsbury USA, New York
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Mapson, Jo-Ann.
Finding Casey : a novel / Jo-Ann Mapson.—1st U.S. ed.
p. cm.
1. Women college students—Fiction. 2. Domestic fiction.
3. Sisters—Fiction. 4. Santa Fe (N.M.)—Fiction. I. Title.
PS356.A62F56 2012
813′.54—dc23
2012004587
First U.S. edition 2012
ISBN: 978-1-60819-924-2 (e-book)
Visit Bloomsbury USA's website at www.bloomsburyusa.com
Finding Casey Page 29