Boots and Bedlam
Page 13
“I can’t afford an antique Oriental, Jackie.”
“Then we’ll buy a new one for half the price.”
Faith appeared in front of them. “There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.” She wedged herself between her two sisters on the sofa. She kissed Sam’s cheek. “You look stunning, and the ceremony was lovely.”
“I was tickled to see Bitsy on the altar. She stole the show. But then she always does.” Sam leaned in close to Faith. “I haven’t heard you mention a puppy. I hope Santa doesn’t disappoint her.”
“Are you kidding me? Mike has spent the last three months researching breeds. He finally decided on a miniature cockapoo. He picked it up from Charleston late yesterday afternoon. One of the doctors from the hospital is keeping it for us until after the party tonight.”
Warmth radiated through Sam’s body. “I wish I could be there to see her face. She’s going to be thrilled.”
“By the way, I might have been wrong about your caterer. Heidi is channeling Bitsy’s energy into decorating Christmas cookies. I just checked on her. I’ve never seen her so intent on a project before.”
“Heidi is harmless, at least as far as I can tell.” Sam gestured at Annie and Cooper who were standing alone by the windows looking out at the snow. “Looks to me like we should worry more about Annie’s infatuation with Cooper.” Sam had not seen Annie and Cooper together in nearly a week, but she could tell something had shifted in their relationship. Their touches lingered. Their eyes smoldered. Their innocent flirtation had transitioned into unbridled young passion. “Have you talked to her about the birds and the bees yet?”
“Mike and I have both told her that she can talk to us about anything,” Faith said.
“Please,” Jackie huffed. “Annie is sixteen and Cooper is seventeen. I’m sure they know where babies come from.”
Sam said, “Of course they know the facts, Jackie. I want to make sure Annie protects herself. I just hope she feels comfortable coming to one of us when it’s time to see a doctor.”
Sam kept one eye on Annie for the duration of the reception, throughout the four-course meal—soup, salad, and main course, with wedding cake for dessert—and afterward when everyone gathered around Sam and Eli while they opened their few gifts. Annie seemed ecstatic, bouncing about amongst the guests, but her mood shifted suddenly, and drastically, a short time later when they were cleaning up.
Most of the family had scattered. Jackie and Bill had left to get ready for the next event of the day—the family’s annual Christmas Eve party at the farm. Mike and Faith had taken Bitsy home for a nap. Cooper and Sean were helping Eli and Jamie unload the moving truck. And Sam and Annie were clearing the table with Heidi. Annie disappeared into the kitchen with an armful of dirty plates and a smile on her face. Several minutes later she returned with a haunted look on her face like she’d seen her father’s ghost.
“Annie, honey, what happened?” Sam dropped her armload of soiled linens on the table and took Annie by the arm. “Did somebody say something to hurt your feelings?”
“I’m fine.” Annie wrenched her arm free and moved to the fireplace.
Sam followed her. “Something is clearly wrong. Did you and Cooper have a fight?”
Annie inhaled an unsteady breath. “I accidentally knocked Heidi’s purse off the chair in the kitchen and everything spilled out on the floor. When I knelt down to pick up her stuff, I saw her driver’s license.” Turning her back on Sam, Annie placed her forehead on the mantel. “Her name isn’t Heidi Butler. Her real name is Sandra Bethune.”
Sam gasped. “You mean—”
“Yes!” Annie said, her forehead still pressed to the mantel. “That’s exactly what I mean. Heidi is my mother.”
A Note to Readers
Everything I’ve learned during my writing journey came together for me in Her Sister’s Shoes. After exploring the brother/sister bond in Saving Ben, a study of three middle-aged sisters was a nice change of pace. I was thrilled, and pleasantly surprised, when Her Sister’s Shoes began to fly of the e-bookshelves at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes. I was even more excited when I began receiving wonderful emails from you, my faithful readers, sharing what you enjoyed about the novel and which sister you identified with the most. You saw the Sweeney sisters as I hoped you might—flawed women facing real-life issues as they struggle to balance career and home. I returned briefly to the brother/sister bond in Merry Mary and Breaking the Story, with Scottie Darden, an impulsive photojournalist whose brother, Will, saves her from herself when she gets into trouble. Which she often does. I’m not finished with Scottie and Will, but for the time being, my heart is deep in the Lowcountry with the Sweeney family.
While I love Richmond, Virginia, my home for the past twenty years, I miss the easy-going ways of the folks who reside in the Lowcountry. Writing about these quirky characters and their unique way of life is the next best thing to experiencing them on a daily basis. I love the beauty of the area—the marshlands and moss-draped trees—and the southern accents and local cuisine. I have become so immersed in the lives of these three special ladies that I dream about them at night, think about them during the day, and plot ways for them to keep you entertained.
I love hearing from you. Feel free to shoot me an email at ashleyhfarley@gmail.com or stop by my website at ashleyfarley.net for more information about my characters and upcoming releases. Click Here to sign up for my Newsletter. Your newsletter subscription will also grant you exclusive content, sneak previews, and special giveaways.
Acknowledgments
I am blessed to have so many supportive people in my life, my friends and family who offer the encouragement I need to continue the pursuit of my writing career. On the top of my list, I would like to thank my husband, Ted, not only for believing in me, but for being my biggest fan and never letting me give up. I am forever indebted to my beta readers—Mamie Farley, Alison Fauls, and Cheryl Fockler—for the valuable constructive feedback, helping me with cover design, and promoting my work. I wouldn’t survive a day in the world of publishing without my trusted editor, Patricia Peters, who challenges me to dig deeper and helps me to make my work stronger without changing my voice.
A special thanks to Damon Freeman and his crew at Damonza.com for their creativity in designing stunning covers and interiors, and for their patience in dealing with my fickleness and occasional temper tantrums.
Thank you to my family and friends for your continued support. I’m so very grateful to each and every one of you. Thanks to Karen Stephens for answering my endless questions regarding real estate. Most importantly, to my children, Cameron and Ned, who provide inspiration for me every single day.
Copy right@2016 by Ashley Farley
Cover design: damonza.com
Formatting: damonza.com
Editor: Patricia Peters at A Word Affair LLC
Leisure Time Books, a division of AHF Publishing
ISBN-10: 978-0-9861672-8-7
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, establishments, organizations, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously to give a sense of authenticity. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Copyright © 2016 Ashley Farley
All rights reserved.
Ashleyfarley.net
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