Smashwords (Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, iPad, Adobe Digital Reader, PDF, etc.)
Amazon (Kindle)
To catch up on the story:
Part 1
Part 10
The next installment:
Part 12
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Amanda leaned her head on Paul’s shoulder and closed her eyes. The hum of the airplane and the murmur of passengers echoed around them. It was going to be a long flight. She might as well settle back.
Her mind rehearsed the events of the day before. She saw her father as he was afterward, sitting there in disgrace, his entire political future ripped out from under him. One tiny corner of her heart felt bad.
The problem was she did have good memories. She remembered happy things they had done together, but she also remembered being left behind – a lot. She resolved never to do that to Yvette. If she had to hang it all up, she would.
Paul wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Glancing up in his face, she smiled and closed her eyes again.
Paul. She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about him. Paul loved her and right now, she needed him. She wasn’t ready to admit she loved him back, not yet. He was dependable, and she wanted that more than anything in the world.
The clients would have to wait. She was going to get Yvette back first, no matter what it took. Then she, and Paul, and precious Ivy would find a place to stay for a while. Maybe France. Maybe they’d get a cottage somewhere on a farm. She smiled at the thought of herself in a floral print dress and mud boots standing up to her knees in animal fodder.
Sleepy, she began to drift off when Paul spoke.
“I’ve always wanted to be a dad.”
Opening her eyes, she looked in his face again.
“You’ll be a good one,” she said and paused. “I…I should thank you.”
Paul placed his finger on her lips. “No need. You know I’d travel the world with you.”
She did know it.
“We don’t know what we’re in for over there or how hard this will be,” she said.
“We’ll manage.” He pushed a stray hair away from her face. “You sure you’re all right. I mean, about Dad and all?”
Amanda continued to look in his face.
“You don’t have any regrets?” he continued. His brow was creased in concern.
“Sure, I do. But it’s for the best. I’ve burnt that bridge now and I can’t go back.” Amanda resettled herself and glanced out the window.
No, she was only going forward now, forward into an uncertain future. The plane began to lift off from the runway.
It had to work out. She’d make sure of it.
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Suzanne
Suzanne Williams Photography
Florida, USA
Suzanne Williams is a native Floridian, wife, and mother, with a penchant for spelling anything, who happens to love photography.
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