Julia makes a face. “That’s disgusting.”
Toni chuckles. “Yeah, totally.”
“I suppose you’re already planning your next trip after your surgery.”
Toni falls quiet. “I think I’m done with traveling for a while.”
Julia looks at her. “Don’t let what happened with Daniel stop you from living your life.”
“I won’t,” says Toni. “I just think it’s best that I stay put for now, process things properly, quit running away.”
Julia nods. “Sounds grown-up.”
“Yeah. I thought I’d give being an adult a whirl.”
Julia exhales. “Well, at least you won’t have to worry about Daniel anymore—twenty years is a good sentence. Let’s hope he gets the help he needs.”
Toni studies her hands. “I know what he did was bad, Julia, but I feel sorry for him. He just wanted someone to love him.”
Julia’s shocked. She’s about to berate Toni for being a hopeless bleeding heart but stops herself.
Toni pauses. “I think I actually forgive him. Do you think that’s stupid of me?”
Julia touches her arm. “I think that’s one of the most compassionate things I’ve ever heard.”
They lapse into silence and watch the geese glide through the pond weed.
Eventually, Toni says, “So. You and Leo.”
“What about me and Leo?”
“Are you guys…?”
Julia feels herself color. “We’re taking things slow.”
“A wait and see approach?” says Toni, a twinkle in her eye.
“Something like that.”
Toni nods. “Good. You two belong together.”
Julia looks at her watch. She has to get back to work.
“I’ve got to go. I have consults this afternoon.” Standing, she turns to Toni. “Would you like to come for dinner on Saturday? Leo can do his famous ribs.”
Toni smiles. “It’s a date.”
Julia turns to go. “Walk me back?”
They take the pathway, the autumn sun on their shoulders, the breeze washing their faces as they go. They talk about nothing in particular.
THE END
I would be so grateful if you could leave an AMAZON rating or review
Why your Amazon review matters so much…
I recently found out that not only is leaving a review or rating on Amazon great in terms of helping other readers decide on what books to buy, it’s really, really important to the Amazon algorithms. That’s because fresh reviews on Amazon make the book appear higher in the Amazon search results. What I didn’t realize was that Amazon pretty much functions like a mini google and its algorithms love recent reviews. That means that if you leave a review on one of my books, say for example, Into Thin Air, that book is more likely to appear in the search results when someone searches Amazon for psychological thrillers like mine.
So there you go…What you do matters and you can make a real difference to me if you post an Amazon review.
CLICK HERE FOR THE USA AMAZON REVIEW LINK INTO THIN AIR
CLICK HERE FOR THE UK AMAZON REVIEW LINK INTO THIN AIR
Other useful places to leave reviews are Goodreads or Bookbub. Sharing the book on your social media to friends is also a really great way to help spread the word.
Thanks a million for your support!
EXCLUSIVE MASSIVE THREE BOOK GIVEAWAY!!! (ENDS 31 December 2020)
I’m giving away three paperback copies of my psychological suspense Amelia Kellaway Series to one lucky reader. All you need to do is sign up to my newsletter HERE. The competition Ends 31 December 2020, and the Winners are drawn on 7 January 2021. Open Internationally.
Left for Dead (#1 Amelia Kellaway)
By Deborah Rogers
Kidnapped. Left for dead in the wilderness. Will she survive?
Amelia Kellaway is ecstatic. The thirty-something lawyer has quit her job and turned her back on the suffocating corporate world of a New York law firm to embark on a three-month solo trek of the California Coastal Trail. But as Amelia sets out on her big adventure, things take a sinister turn when she's kidnapped by a stranger and taken deep into the wilderness.
If you like tense, gritty psychological suspense thrillers, you'll love this series starter from crime writer Deborah Rogers. CLICK HERE to buy your copy today!
Coming for You (#2 Amelia Kellaway)
By Deborah Rogers
A brutal crime. A traumatized mind. A victim no one believes…
Amelia Kellaway is hiding a secret. Still deeply traumatized by the kidnapping incident she suffered three years ago, Amelia is struggling to cope with a crippling anxiety disorder where she compulsively checks her locks and doors. She’s also experiencing frightening blackouts that strike at random. The root cause of her anxiety is her unshakable belief that her previous attacker, Rex Hawkins, is stalking her. She’s been to the authorities but they’ve dismissed her concerns as the paranoid delusions of a traumatized mind.
But are Amelia’s fears really unfounded? Could Rex Hawkins still be out there, waiting for her to drop her guard and make a mistake? Or is Amelia slipping deeper into neurosis and at risk of losing her mind?
Another gripping tale of psychological suspense from Deborah Rogers, Coming for You is a terrifying portrayal of a young woman on the brink, with shades of Hitchcock and Gillian Flynn. CLICK HERE to buy your copy today!
Speak for Me (#3 Amelia Kellaway)
By Deborah Rogers
Manipulator. Killer. A time-bomb waiting to explode...
Just weeks away from giving birth, New York prosecutor Amelia Kellaway is about to interview Oregon serial killer, Rex Hawkins, a man who has tormented her for
