Author Kelly Moran           

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~Synopsis~

       When Serena Edwards was given a terminal diagnosis, she both recognized and feared that it was time to return home. Probably there waiting for her, and madder than hell, was Jake Warner, the love of her life who never got over her leaving. But on the road home, Serena meets Courtney Morgan, a woman with such a horrific past that Serena knows it was destiny playing a hand in their encounter. As Courtney and Serena’s brother Austin grow close, and bit by bit Courtney comes out of her shell, Serena fights to give in to what her  heart wants…Before it is too late.  When these four friends are brought together by fate, their only chance for happiness is to forgive.

   ~Excerpt~

        (Page58...)  Courtney was regretful Serena had heard it.  She never spoke of it for this reason.  It shamed her to know what her father did, what she made him do to her for being the way she was.  If she wasn’t so ugly, or kept the house cleaner, or didn’t have these feelings then maybe it wouldn’t have been necessary.  She didn’t mean to say so much to her, but once she started it all came pouring out.  She couldn’t stop it, but she would finish what Serena enquired, so maybe she wouldn’t ask again, so perhaps Serena would get a better picture of who she was really traveling with.

            And it would all be over.

        Serena wouldn’t be pleasant to her after this. She’d know, like everyone else figured out. She was a freak, not even human. Unworthy of kindness or sympathy, just something to pass by.  They wouldn’t be friends or have late night chats or anything else normal people did. Serena would detach and regret taking Courtney along. The pain of it shot through her and left her bereft.

        "I can still smell the gin on his breath, and my blood on his hands.  He didn’t do it again for a long time after that.”  She quaked, running her hands up and down her exposed arms.  When did it get so bitter?  When did the thought of loosing someone, especially a stranger, make her so unbearably frigid?

       Serena hadn’t moved, but still sat, composed with a stick straight spine, and tears running down her olive colored face. It was sinking in.  At least she had her color back somewhat.

       Courtney sighed, suddenly very tired and drained.  “I’m gonna head in, get some sleep for the drive.”

       With that, she slid the glass door on its rails and stepped inside, leaving it open for Serena to follow.  It was almost sunrise when she did.

___________

            (Page 115...)  She turned her head when a lofty man with dark hair and wide shoulders bounded past her and toward their car.  Serena jumped out then and wrapped her arms around him.  Courtney observed from her seat, unable to move for all the adoration that poured through her.  His eyes were just like hers, golden brown and kind.  He was taller than Serena by a head but had the same high cheek bones and wide grin.  It was his voice, though, the rough southern drawl that brought Courtney’s memory back from all the conversations they had that week on the phone.

        “God, I missed you!” he cried to her, holding Serena back at arms length and assessing her.  Before long he pulled her back to him and held her tight, kissing the top of her curls.  Her arms barely went around the wide expanse of his back and held on.

        Courtney stepped out of the car, not wanting to intrude on their reunion, and reached into the backseat for their overnight bags.  She stood with the car between them, not knowing what to do next.  Her nervousness held a ball in her stomach and caused her hands to shake. You’re so stupid.  She didn’t know how to act, or what to say. She just knew something dense would come out, so when Serena rounded the car holding Austin ’s hand, her grip tightened on the bags she held as a shield between their bodies and hers.

        “ Austin , this is Courtney,” she chimed, holding out her free hand to take the bags from her.  With nothing else to do with them now, she wrung them together in front of her.

        Austin lost all train of thought.  All he saw was blue.  Eyes so richly bottomless looked back at him warily and unblinking. There was a scar on her right eyebrow, drawing little attention. Her nose was pointed making her features seem slightly off balance.  Her skin was the color of cream without a flaw to find and her hair was silk. Silk. Golden and straight, framing an oval face and a small pink mouth. 

        He couldn’t look away.  He had conversed with her over the phone lines, her voice clinging to his mind every night for a week, but had never in his wildest imagination depicted her looking this… this…

        “ Austin ?” Serena snickered and nudged him with her elbow.  “What’s wrong with you?”

        “Hmm,” he said and with great regret looked away to find out what Serena blurted. “Oh,” he smiled embarrassingly, “Sorry,” he replied, holding out his hand for the angel. “I’m Austin , it’s a pleasure to meet you.”