This Will Be

by Jane Cooper Ford

  “What’s better than a beginning… Five true words, let’s go.”

  Jamie gazed into the park as they passed the path and thought about it. Not yesterday’s five words or last week’s. Right now’s.

  Five true words. Enough to start a book. Enough to start a lifetime.

  “Are you going to edit them, Ms. Langston?”

  “Depends - are there any adverbs?”

  “Oh my god,” Jamie chuckled, “That is so sexy.”

  “You get this and more, Jamie Brennan. Give me your five.”

  Jamie gazed ahead of them into the green of the park, the trees, the smell of rich dark earth. Swooshing multicolored leaves underfoot.

  The lush, timeless expanse of Central Park, where so many stories had begun. Where Balto carried on. Where Connie would be. Where two minutes ago Jamie kissed the amazing woman she’d ever met, who she loved with everything she was - in a way that she didn’t actually believe she would ever find in this lifetime.

  A revelation arrived in her head that she might have lost in a random moment of an anyday day.

  One, two, three, four, five. She counted them on her fingers. And said the words in a whisper to be carried away on the wind, across the park and through time.

  “Everything led me to you.”

  About the Author

  Jane Cooper Ford is the author (as Kristen Conrad) of the thriller This is Devin Jones.

  A film and TV writer from New York, Jane has created, written and Executive Produced five series for network television, including Working the Engels for NBC. Her very first series won a Gemini Award (Canada’s Emmy Award) for best comedy.

  Jane is an out ‘B’ or ‘Q’ in the LGBTQ world, has a mug shot and fingerprints from a bit of gay activism when it was required, and a number of tattoos she covers up when she visits her mother.

  Follow her on Facebook or Patreon for more connection.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you!

  Stephanie Sinclair, my wonderful former book agent who loves books and words and believed in my writing and this book. This Will Be wouldn’t be without you, Steph.

  Thank you to the best friends a gal could ask for – laughter and love and support forever – Ali Callan and her love of chocolate and Jacqueline Benyes and her eyes that see the best in me. Each gave me a literal roof over my head writing this book.

  Paul Pogue, a dear friend and brilliant humorist, who kindly read this book first and sent me the funniest correspondence about typos I’ve ever read.

  My lovely friend Elizabeth Marmur, whose Britishness could be called upon for phrasing and swear words. Love you, lady.

  Nancy Fichman, thank you for your real life NYC ’77 blackout experience for research.

  Trisha Harrison, thank you for the same and all the New York inspiration in real life.

  Thank you so much to my fam – my mother Susan Ford who when I was growing up in NY gave me all those NYC days in the ‘70s, filled me up with the world of art and culture and gave me a foundation of words and art that made me who I am.

  My sis Katie and bro, David. Thanks for everything always.

  Kitty Bateman! Our NYC. Union Square. The Dojo. Your friendship means the world to me.

  Thank you Wendel Meldrum, Michelle Boyaner, Kathy Greenwood, Tara Ellis, Allyson Scott, Kate ASHBY!, Tannis Burnett, Maggie Moore, Jessica Costello, Mim Eichler Rivas, Kyra Millan, Anna Callan, Monica Graham, Faith Pleasanton, The late (and very great) Jaap Reitman, Janis Purdy, James Conrad, Paul Leone, Kristen Hahn, Michele Weisler, Diane Flacks, Rogers Hartmann.

  And a big thank you to you for reading this and for reading the thank you’s. And to everyone who read and loved This is Devin Jones. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for that one.

  May your life be filled with joy.

  Never give up.

  Also by Jane Cooper Ford

  As Kristen Conrad

  This Is Devin Jones