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Finding Casey

Page 29

by Jo-Ann Mapson


  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

 

 

 


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