Gage said, “It’s nearly finished. Emma and I can’t wait to move into the new office.”
Zara said, “You two will be sharing an office? Good luck getting any work done.”
Emma blushed. “Zara!”
“I thought true love had cured your priggish nature,” Zara teased. “Guess I was wrong.”
Despite Emma’s knee-jerk reaction, Candy knew she had indeed loosened up a lot over the last few months, since Gage had come into her life. It had worked both ways. Emma’s encouragement and support had helped him find self-respect and gratification in his new career, writing bestselling medical thrillers. An injury to his hand had forced the former surgeon out of the operating room, and the adjustment hadn’t been easy.
“As a matter of fact,” Emma said, “Gage and I work exceptionally well together. We brainstorm on each other’s books. We’re like a two-person critique group.”
After moving to Arkansas with her fiancé, Emma had happily relinquished her brand-new, detested job as a staff writer at Crafty Lady magazine in New York. Her new home—or was it her new man?—had proven inspirational. Not only had she started writing a novel herself, she’d finished it in two months and, thanks to her sister’s superior agenting skills, sold it in two days!
Crazy Quilt was a cozy mystery set in Maine, where Emma had lived for years. The amateur sleuth was a quilting instructor and owner of a craft supply store. Emma’s publisher envisioned it as the first of a series and had signed her for two more books. Her lifelong love of mystery novels and innate storytelling ability had served her well.
Logan turned to Gage. “Zara tells me Incision’s going to be made into a movie. It’s a hell of a book—it’ll be dynamite on the big screen.”
“Thanks, but your missus deserves the credit for the movie deal, and for that new multibook contract she just negotiated for me.” He winked at his new sister-in-law. “Lady, those fellas in New York and Hollywood must run for cover when they see you comin’.”
Zara and Logan exchanged a private grin. She said, “Like cockroaches.”
Logan slipped his arm around her. “I thought it was cheap panty hose.”
Candy snorted. “What would Zara know about panty hose?”
Billy said, “If we can move the subject away from my daughter’s unmentionables, I have an announcement to make. My wife—” he put his arm around Candy’s shoulders and pulled her close “—has been asked to star in three exercise videos, aimed at the mature set. Jane Fonda, watch out!”
Candy accepted her family’s heartfelt congratulations. She basked in her husband’s pride. He’d harassed and cajoled her every step of the way. If not for him, she wouldn’t have found the gumption to fight for this long-held dream.
The photographer returned with Logan’s and Gage’s parents. The Fosters were warm and gregarious as always, but Madeline and Douglas Byrne looked ill at ease as they approached the group, as if intruding on a stranger’s celebration. Candy’s heart went out to them. As a. parent, she empathized with what they’d gone through, both before and after Mac’s death. She took the fact that they’d agreed to attend Logan’s wedding as a positive omen.
Douglas offered his hand, and Logan shook it. “I’m happy for you, son. She’s a wonderful girl.” The emotion that flowed between them as they stared into each other’s eyes brought a lump to Candy’s throat.
Madeline Byrne tentatively touched her son’s fingers. He covered her hand with both of his, hesitated a moment and pulled her into his arms. He whispered hoarsely, “I love you, Mom,” and tightened his hold.
Candy caught Zara’s eye, saw the sheen of tears and answered her wobbly smile with one of her own. It was a first step. It wouldn’t be easy. These three had a painful past to overcome and a long journey ahead of them. But she sensed an underlying devotion that would see them through.
The photographer had positioned his tripod and was busy posing the group. “Gentlemen in back, ladies in front. Arms at your sides. Turn a little that way. Move in, please. Closer. Closer.”
Emma gave a little gasp and smirked over her shoulder at her new husband.
Gage’s grin was unrepentant. “The man said to get closer, darlin’.”
“He didn’t mean your hands!”
Billy, too, was surreptitiously fondling his wife’s bottom, but did she complain?
The band struck up the lively “Dippermouth Blues” as the photographer scanned his subjects one last time and peered through the viewfinder. “Okay, now, everyone smile.”
That part was easy, Candy thought. They all had something to smile about.
eISBN 978-14592-6839-5
TWICE BURNED
Copyright © 1997 by Pamela Loeser
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly Inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all Incidents are pure invention.
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Printed In U.S.A.
Table of Contents
Cover Page
Table of Contents
Excerpt
Dear Reader
Dedication
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Copyright
Twice Burned Page 20