the page he wanted. “Let’s see. Some fellow named Jeffe’ says to tell you he’s starting work first of next month and his wife is coming soon. A Deshaundra Clemmons nearly got herself arrested when the staff told her you weren’t ready for visitors. They came and got me. Says she heard your story on the news and knows you were too busy fighting crime to remember details. I’m supposed to tell you she forgives you.” His eyes scanned the sheet. “The list goes on. Looks to me like you’re very well-loved.”
Another tear escaped. This time Mort grabbed a tissue, leaned in, and wiped it away. “It’s done, Liddy. The case is closed.” Mort reached for her hand. “The Fixer’s identity died with Snelling.” He looked deep into her eyes. “Let’s bury her along with him.”
Lydia struggled for breath. Her heart pounded in her ears. She closed her eyes against the power of his gaze.
“Let it be done. The pain, the loneliness. All of it. Let it be done. Let’s see how little Peggy might have turned out if she didn’t have to go it alone.”
She felt his hand caress the top of her head. She opened her eyes and looked at the only man who knew all she was and all she’d done. She scanned his eyes, his face, his body. Lydia let the emotion she saw sink in for a few long moments. She relaxed against the initial urge to defend and felt her body loosen. The ache left her; replaced by something warmer.
Mort reached for her hand. “It’s springtime, Liddy. Time for new beginnings. Can you trust me?”
She thought of her home. The birds. The squirrels rousing from hibernation, darting through her trees. She thought of coffee with Mort, maybe on her deck.
She summoned the strength to squeeze his warm fingers and blinked twice.
Acknowledgements
These things always start with something like “I have so many people to thank”. I get it now. This book would not have been possible without a cast of supporters I am blessed to call mine. There’s Laurel and Christine from the University of Wisconsin. “No, no, Teri. The book starts here.” Lissa’s editing turned countless swine ears into silk purses. Rosie, Patricia, and Teresa provided the road map when I told them “I can’t figure out how to…”. Barbie, Julie, Cynthia and Judy discussed plot points over hot chocolate and smuggled-in cookies at Wednesday afternoon clubhouse meetings. Kate, Anne, and Suz did the same while we learned about wine sitting next to cozy fires. My wonderful agent, Victoria, bounced so many drafts back that when she finally told me I’d created something great I believed her. David provided the technical expertise and creative panache for my knockout website.
And through it all is my man. I announced, never having discussed it before, that I wanted to write a novel and he asked what I needed to get started. I timidly entered a contest and he told me I’d win first place. (He was right.) I stayed in my office for hours and he’d poke his nose in to ask if I needed more tea. The rapture of waking each morning next to the finest man I’ve ever known has made me fearless.
