The Spirit of Grace
Page 19
“This is the finest thing I’ve ever ridden in,” she said, as she ran her fingers over the luxuriant leather seats.
“It’s easy to get used to the little luxuries,” Anca said.
“You’ve handled it all well,” Mrs. Tolliver said to me, “even the love sickness doesn’t show.”
Anca nudged Mrs. Tolliver, a silent admonishment for speaking of my pain.
“It has been a bumpy few months.” I forced a smile. “But I’ve a new life now, away from here, away from Bennett Cove.”
“That Vivian Mason was no good,” Mrs. Tolliver said. “I knew the first time I laid eyes on her that she’d bring trouble.”
“And you were right about that.” Anca smiled at me. “Now let’s speak of better things.”
“You’ll be fine, Sarah,” Mrs. Tolliver said. “Your whole life is ahead of you.”
“And what about Zeke? Will I forget about him?”
“You’re going to marry him,” Mrs. Tolliver said. “You mark my words.”
***
The memorial luncheon was a success. The champagne flowed, the noise level among the guests got louder and more animated as more alcohol was consumed. And then it was over. Finally, the last guest had left. The last plate had been washed and dried. While Anca put away the silver, I plopped down on the couch in front of the fire.
Soon she came to join me. We sat together, neither one of us speaking for quite some time.
“It is good to move on,” Anca said. “We must turn our gaze to what the future holds and be mindful of what is happening around us now.”
“I’ll be okay,” I said.
“I know. You’re a good girl.”
We both stood up, ready to close Gran’s house and walk out the front door for the last time.
“I’ll start locking up,” Anca said.
“I’m going to walk down to the beach.”
“Be careful.” Anca unfolded a sheet to place over the couch.
I grabbed one of Gran’s heavy coats and headed toward the dunes. On the horizon, I could see a huge aircraft carrier being led by tug boats toward the Golden Gate Bridge, a crippled vessel being led back to the safety of the Golden Gate for repair.
The waves pounded on the sand. I clutched the locket that hung around my neck and felt close to my mother, to my roots, to the yet unknown story of my birth.
“I miss you,” I said out loud.
As my fingers caressed the golden locket, the sun broke through the clouds and a lone sunbeam shone on me. The gulls circled and cried overhead, like angels trumpeting a miracle. As the sun warmed me, the desperate longing I had felt for the mother I would never know slipped away once and for all. I acknowledged the release of this burden with a silent thank you to the heavens. Then the sun slipped back behind the clouds, and I was once again standing in the cold, gray light.
I would never know Grace Kensington, the mother from whom I was separated so long ago, but her spirit would live on in me, forever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Terry Lynn Thomas married the love of her life, who promised to buy her a horse if she relocated to Mississippi with him. Now that she has relocated, she has discovered that she can be happy anywhere as long as she has her man, her horse, and time to write. Terry Lynn read Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, and Daphne Du Maurier as a child. These gothic mysteries captured her imagination, never let go, and influence her writing today. When she is not writing or riding her horse, she visits historical houses and cemeteries, hunting for story ideas.
GENRE: HISTORICAL MYSTERY/PARANORMAL THRILLER/ROMANTIC ELEMENTS/SUSPENSE
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, businesses, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. The publisher does not have any control over or assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their contents.
THE SPIRIT OF GRACE
Copyright © 2016 by Terry Lynn Thomas
Cover Design by Melissa Stevens
All cover art copyright © 2016
All Rights Reserved
EBOOK ISBN: 978-1-626943-95-7
FIRST PUBLICATION: JANUARY 16, 2016
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