Pieces of Love
Page 25
“How have you been?” he asked softly when we were all settled.
“Okay,” I said honestly. “I think I made honor roll this semester. I’m almost done with the drug and alcohol program, and Mitch has me set up to do my community service teaching guitar to kids at the Rec Center.”
“That sounds like fun.”
I heard the smile in his voice.
“I actually think it will be kind of fun. It hardly feels like punishment, although, Mom and Mitch barely let me out of their sight these days. I’m lucky they’ve been letting me go to band practice.”
“Yeah, how’s that going?”
I snickered. “Well, D.D. and Sami weren’t too happy when I refused to hang out with the partiers and joined a band at the Community church instead, but I think they get why I needed to make the change. My legal troubles aside, I never liked the music they wanted to play, and I needed to get away from the whole scene if I was going to make this sobriety thing work out. The youth group at the church plays a lot of contemporary Christian music that’s pretty cool. I still see D.D. at school and Sami has plenty of other friends to keep her from missing me. They’ll get over it.”
Ethan planted a gentle kiss on the top of my head. “I’m really proud of you. I’m glad you’re turning things around.”
“Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t easy to say no at first. Some days, it’s still not.” Eyeing him sideways, I added with a half-smile, “But it’s getting easier and it seems worth the effort. Just don’t expect me to be good all the time.”
“Me either.” Ethan raised a mischievous brow and pulled the covers over our heads. He descended on me with an evil laugh. “Mwahahahaha!” As he tickled my neck with kisses and soft bites, I giggled, every cell of my body lit up with joy and happiness. Ethan and I were finally together. I’d missed him so much my body ached for his touch. With him so close, and so full of life, I soaked in the miracle of it all. I loved him and I wasn’t afraid.
Whatever happened next, I knew we’d be okay—that I would be okay. Life’s forward momentum was unstoppable, unpredictable, and sometimes ruthless. But every moment of it was a gift to be cherished.
∞∞∞
A short time later we all sat around the table, Maddie still mercilessly flirting with Doctor Kaswell, who didn’t seem to mind in the least. Either he had a world-class bedside manner with patients, or he was sweet on my grandmother. Ethan and I exchanged a quick grin. Mitch was slicing up the bird while Mom set the bowl of mashed potatoes next to the asparagus and settled into her seat.
“I know we don’t do this all the time, but I think it’s a nice tradition to at least take a minute on the holiday to give thanks. Who would like to say Grace?” asked Mitch, pulling in his chair.
“I’d like to do it,” said Maddie.
We all held hands, Ethan on one side and Mom on the other. I lowered my head and gave my attention to the deep sense of thanksgiving that filled my heart.
Maddie’s words came strong and clear.
“Dear Lord, we appreciate the many blessings you have bestowed upon us. For this family, these friends, and for this wonderful feast, we give you thanks.” Her voice grew softer, a slight hitch taking over. “And Lord, please watch over those who’ve greeted you ahead of us. We know that our loved ones”—she nodded to Ethan and then his dad, honoring the woman they’d both lost so long ago—“my dear Henry, our sweet Amanda, and our beloved Nicholas, who we hope has found peace in your loving arms and has been reunited with his father and his daughter—that they may care for one another in heaven.”
Tears welled in my eyes and Mom’s grip on my fingers tightened. Maddie’s words gave me comfort as I imagined Dad and Amanda with Grandpa Henry fishing at the edge of Thompson Lake, the three of them smiling and happy. Amanda would lie back on the beach with her face lifted to the warm sun, Dad and Grandpa Henry discussing the merits of worms verses corn for bait, and the water would sparkle with dancing sunbeams as far as the eye could see.
“Amen,” we all chimed in, bringing my focus back to the present.
“I’d like to add one more thing,” I said. I waited until all eyes were on me and for my heart to slow with the deep breath I’d just taken. A technique I’d worked on with the Medusa Lady, a.k.a. Doctor Reynolds, for the past few weeks in preparation for springing the news on Mom and Mitch. “I’ve applied to music school for fall semester next year,” I said, expecting an immediate negative response from my mother. I didn’t give her a chance to speak. “I don’t even know if I’ll get in, but I need to try. I think Dad would have wanted me to.” I glanced at Maddie who was beaming and much to my surprise, offering no argument. Mom’s eyes flooded over with tears. “Don’t cry, Mom. It’s local, so I won’t be moving away...and it’s not for another year.”
“I’m not crying because I don’t want you to go to music school or because I’m afraid of you moving away someday. I’m crying because I’m proud of you. Your father would have been too. You’re right. He would have wanted you to pursue your dream of music if that’s what you love.” She touched my hand and pulled herself together, her expression turning serious. “But I still think you need to have a back-up plan in case you decide later it’s not the life you want.” She eyed Maddie, no doubt looking for support for her coming argument.
I cut her off again. “I’ve already thought about that. I plan to take courses in architectural design at the same time. I even added art history to my spring class schedule.”
“Are you sure you can handle all of that, sweetie?” Mom asked, her expression full of concern.
“I won’t know unless I try, right Grandma?”
“That’s right.” Maddie grinned. “And don’t call me Grandma,” she added, her sharp blue eyes leveled in my direction.
We all laughed and it felt so good to have my plan laid out before me that suddenly, a few years of school didn’t seem like forever. I would handle whatever challenges came my way and I’d do my best to make choices I could be proud of. Ethan and I would see each other whenever we could. We’d stay in touch by phone, or text, or Skype, or train. It didn’t matter. Because the future was ahead of us—ours to live.
As everyone dug into their Thanksgiving feast, I looked around the table at all the people who meant so much to me. When my gaze landed on Ethan beside me, I caught him staring at me, a crooked grin edging his lips.
“What are you thinking?” he asked below the chatter of conversation around us.
“I was thinking it might be possible to put the pieces of love back together—even if all the pieces aren’t here.” I studied the smiling faces of my family and saw the truth. That maybe with time, the love would take over and fill the spaces until we were all whole again.
Ethan leaned in and gave me a brief, tender kiss. “In case I forget to tell you a thousand times today, I love you.”
Another crack in my heart smoothed over. I whispered back, “You could say it a thousand times, but I can’t imagine feeling more loved than I do in this moment.”
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, or as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the author. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
PIECES of LOVE
Copyright © 2014 by PJ Sharon Books
Cover by The Killion Group
Edited by Judy Roth
Acknowledgements
The creation of a book is much like raising a child, filled with joyous moments, daily challenges, and more than a few heartaches, headaches and frustrations. Such a huge task could never be left to one person. Ultimately, it takes a village. My gratitude goes to my writing communities, both on-line and real time, who h
elp me become a better writer with each critique, workshop, and word of advice.
To my editor on this project, Judy Roth. You’re the bomb, sister! And to my eagle-eyed proofreader, Gina Beach. Love you like crazy.
A huge thanks to my family and friends, without whose support and encouragement I would likely never stick my head out the door. And to my husband, who I adore. I couldn’t do any of this without you, darling.
A special thanks to beta readers Kenzie S., Melissa H-K., Collette W., Michelle T., and Ann A. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your feedback. To Myrna, who helped me find my voice and always “loves me the best.” And a final thanks to Lidy, who blessed me with the opportunity to travel the Mediterranean with her. Thanks for showing me the world and sharing your story, Mom.
Dedication
For Mama and Papa,
World travelers bound to meet again one day.
And for all the teenagers struggling to find their way in this crazy world. Learn to say “yes” to the gifts life brings your way, and say “no” to anything that doesn’t further your quest to be the “best you” that you can be.
It gets better. I promise.
PJ Sharon is the Award Winning Author of contemporary young adult novels, including SAVAGE CINDERELLA, winner of the 2013 HOLT Medallion Award and the dystopian trilogy, The CHRONICLES of LILY CARMICHAEL, including WANING MOON, WESTERN DESERT, and HEALING WATERS.
Writing young adult fiction since 2007 and following her destiny to write romantic and hopeful stories for teens, PJ is a member of Romance Writers of America, CTRWA, and YARWA. She is mother to two grown sons and lives with her husband in the Berkshire Hills of Western MA.
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PIECES of LOVE theme song available on i-Tunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/pieces-of-love-single/id848325918
Also by PJ Sharon
A Girls of Thompson Lake Novella
Sami's Christmas Wish List
Chronicles of Lily Carmichael
Waning Moon
Western Desert
Healing Waters
Girls of Thompson Lake
Heaven is for Heroes
On Thin Ice
Pieces of Love
Savage Cinderella Novella Series
Finding Hope
Sacred Ground
Lost Boys
Savage Cinderella
Standalone
The Girls of Thompson Lake
Watch for more at PJ Sharon’s site.