Rhapsody
Page 34
“It’s weird that Luke never gets jealous,” Marlene said when Thomas blew me a kiss.
Luke’s dazzling eyes caught mine; we had been through too much for that. He knew that for eternity and beyond, I was his.
“You know,” Marlene said, her voice getting quieter. “I went through some stuff the other day. Things we had when John Marchessa took us from that cabin. He sent it over with a ton of gifts for Stephanie. Anyway, I found that letter Thomas wrote you. The one you and Luke, uh, fought over.”
I stopped. “Did you read it?” I asked.
“No. Are you going to?”
It took a moment to get moving again. “I’m pretty sure I know what it says.”
Marlene cast me a sideways glance. “You spent two and half years stuck on a mountain in the middle of nowhere. Snowed in for months in a cave with a hot spring that healed Oliver. Survived animal attacks. Insane weather. Starvation… You know, the stuff novels are made of. Heck, girlfriend, you even delivered a baby on a riverbed under the watchful eye of a spiritual sign in the form of an elk. You told me all about that. But what about Thomas and Luke? What about them?”
The car pulled up to the curb, doors opened, and beaming expectant faces waited for us to join. I let go of Marlene, able to stand completely on my own now.
“That my friend, is a whole other story.”
* * *
THE END
The Letter Thomas Wrote to Kaya on Christmas Morning
* * *
Dearest Kaya,
* * *
I have tried to leave. So many times I have opened your door to tell you goodbye, but instead I’ve stood and watched you sleep. I wonder what you dream of… but then again, if I’m being honest with myself, I know who.
I dream of you. And when I wake and you’re here, when I can touch you and talk to you and get lost in your glorious green eyes, I wonder if I’m still dreaming. This is why I can’t leave. I can’t force myself to walk out that door and turn away and never see you again. There is nothing I want more in the world than you, and believe me, I won’t go down without a fight. But—as much as it kills me—I genuinely want for you the most blissful existence, the most powerful love, the most soul-fulfilling partner. If that’s him, so be it.
Being friends with you is my most cherished gift. I will not return it. My heart could never shrink back to the empty shell it was before you dropped that bag of flour in Ben’s kitchen. I am willing to do whatever it takes to be some part of your life no matter how small. So, I hope, above and beyond everything, you will allow me that.
Just know that whatever happens, whatever the future brings, I love you, and I always will.
* * *
Your friend forever,
* * *
Thomas
Dear Reader,
* * *
Wow. We have reached the end, and I am completely overwhelmed and excited and kind of sad to close this chapter of my life. I hope you loved reading the trilogy as much as I did writing it. Thank you for coming along on this journey with me and Kaya, for sending encouraging words, for cheering for the love you wanted to win and swinging your fists at all that got in its way. Without you, this wouldn’t have been the same story. I am so very grateful to have readers like you. May we meet again!
* * *
Wishing you the most blissful existence,
* * *
Listen to the song Luke and Kaya wake up to:
* * *
‘Love Dares You’
* * *
Can be heard at:
www.HeatherMcKenzie.com/music
Acknowledgments
This book wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my husband, Byran Bueckert, who kept reality in check and looked after life while I wandered about in my dream world. Haley Bueckert—your encouragement, love, and willingness to dream right along with me was more treasured than you will ever know. Emily Bueckert and Josh Bueckert—your extremely honest criticism was so important and valued—I am grateful for every word you read. Mom—thanks for being there for me, always, and tackling the first mammoth manuscript like a champ. My friend Tammy Wiebe—I felt like you truly believed in me, and that has fueled the fires to keep me going. Thank you for the advice and for being there for me in so many ways. You are my number one! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone at Clean Teen Publishing, I am so grateful for all you do! Rebecca Gober—you are wildly inspiring, incredibly brilliant, and I am so grateful for your patience and kindness. Courtney Knight, Marya Heiman, Melanie Newton, and Wendy Martinez—I am so honored to be a part of CTP with you. Cynthia Shepp, you are a rock star! I am eternally grateful for your mad editing skills and in complete awe of your vast literary knowledge. Thank you, Kelly Risser, for the first battle-round of editing! A huge thanks to Shelley Mckenzie, the best sister in the world, and Reanne and Kieran Averay-Jones, Grant Tarapacki, my bro Brian Vincent, Tina Beattie, Ross McKenzie, Stan Pietrusik, Darrell Newsham, DJ Newsham, Courtney Whittamore, Kourtney Bueckert, Myrna and Rick Bueckert, my incredible Mckenzie family, and supportive Bueckert family. All my friends and all the Edmontonians who have supported me musically and hopped on board my author adventure, I treasure you more than you know. And to you, darling readers, thank you again. I am wildly grateful for each and every one of you.
Heather McKenzie is the Canadian author of the Nightmusic Trilogy. A professional singer/songwriter with five albums to date, she has been telling stories through music for years and pulls from her extraordinary experiences as a musician to fuel her passion for creating Young Adult fiction. You can visit Heather at www.heathermckenzie.com
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