He can’t even look.
“For me?” She frowns. “What…?”
“Just open it,” he says in a voice he barely recognizes.
Her slender hands, fingernails neat but unpolished, grasp it uncertainly.
“Go on,” he says. “Open it.” He shrugs. “If you want to.”
She unsnaps the tip of the envelope and pulls out a silver key that tumbles to the floor. “Oh,” she says. “What…” She looks up, her eyes a question.
“It’s yours,” he says. “I don’t know if you’ll want it forever, but I thought it might be a good place to write a book.”
Her eyes sparkle. “You mean…what? The cabin!” She squints. “In Tahoe?” As it seeps in, she says, “Pandora’s…?”
He nods, smiling. “It’s not what you’re used to,” he says. “It’s small; plenty rustic. But the ceilings are high, and the view…”
“Your million dollars?” she says in disbelief. “You’re buying Pandora’s cabin? For… me?”
He holds her at arm’s length and searches her eyes. This is the moment he fears most. After all, everything has changed. No one is the same, least of all Hannah. The independence she’s gained in these last few months is staggering.
“Not for you exactly,” he says. “For us.” He blinks, waiting as she catches her breath. He can’t tell which way this will go.
“For us?” she says, incredulous.
“I could use a change, too,” he says. “Just being there…practically in the clouds…” He shakes his head. “And then that lake. I don’t know. It’s transformative.” He shrugs. “And there’s certainly no shortage of real estate there. We wouldn’t starve.”
At that, Syd flies through the door, her thin arms raised in victory. “He’s coming!” she says jubilantly. “Dane’s coming! Just for a week, but you never know. There are plenty of colleges down here.” She looks from Hannah to Jonah and grimaces, “Oh,” she says. “Sorry. Is, uh…everything okay?”
Hannah swipes her arm across wet cheeks, shaking her head. “Oh cookie,” she says, arms outstretched. “Come here, baby, I’ve got to hold you.”
Syd moves willingly into a tight embrace. “Because you love me so much?” she says with a toothy grin. “Or…”
Hannah nods. “Because I love you so much, yes.” She turns her head slightly toward Jonah, winking. “And because I’m gonna miss you like crazy.”
THE END
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my beta readers and supporters, including Mary Lou Alter, John Nolan, Leslie Wolfe-Cundiff, Polly Bardagy, Karen Sirabian, Tom Martin, and Janet Denlinger. Much gratitude to Leyane Jerejian for her friendship, help and professional advice. Finally, hats off to my new cover artist and designer, Victoria Colotta, for a job well done!
About the Author
Rea Nolan Martin is the award-winning author of The Sublime Transformation Of Vera Wright (2009) and Mystic Tea (2014), as well as essays, short stories and poetry published in national literary magazines and anthologies. Mystic Tea is the recipient of the 2014 Independent Publisher’s IPPY gold medallion; 2014 US BEST BOOK award for visionary fiction; 2014 PINNACLE gold medallion for literary fiction; and a Finalist in the 2015 IBA International Book Awards. Her inspirational essays are published regularly on The Huffington Post and The Charter for Compassion. The Anesthesia Game is her third novel.
Readers can access author info, blogs, discussion questions, book signings and other inquiries, such as requests for signed copies at www.reanolanmartin.com.
Table of Contents
Hannah
Sydney
Pandora
Hannah
Sydney
Pandora
Hannah
Sydney
Mitsy
Pandora
Mitsy
Hannah
Sydney
Pandora
Mitsy
Hannah
Pandora
Sydney
Mitsy
Hannah
Sydney
Pandora
Hannah
Mitsy
Sydney
Pandora
Hannah
Sydney
Pandora
Sydney
Mitsy
Sydney
Pandora
Sydney
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
The Anesthesia Game Page 32