A Different Dawn (Nina Guerrera)
Page 31
“Guest of honor?” Nina blinked in confusion. “I thought the party was for baby Tori.”
Teresa’s soft chuckle was echoed by the others. “Look around. What do you see?”
Nina scanned the happy faces beaming at her, then surveyed the decorations, noting details she hadn’t processed before. Every tree was wrapped in wide bands of fabric tied with enormous bows.
“Yellow ribbons,” Nina whispered.
“This is a homecoming party,” Teresa said. “For you, Nina.”
“Teresa invited us,” Luis said. “Thanks to you, we are having a reunion.”
Sofia, still holding Ana’s hand, pulled Luis closer. Teresa and her husband, John, joined the group hug. One by one, the embrace expanded as cousins and spouses joined in.
Nina watched from a few feet away as a rift born of grief and misunderstanding began to heal. After many sniffles, the group parted enough for Ana to reach out a hand in her direction.
“We cannot have our Victor back,” Ana said. “But we can have his daughter in our lives again.”
“I-I thought you would all be upset with me,” Nina said, her feet still welded to the ground.
“Are you kidding me right now?” Selena frowned at her. “I told them how you offered your life for mine and then helped deliver my baby yesterday. How could any of us be mad at you?”
Nina cast a glance at Teresa, who had heard her full confession a few minutes earlier. A single tear tracked down Teresa’s face. “Do you think I could do anything other than love my own sister’s child?”
Luis reached out to cup her chin. “I can see it so clearly now. You look like both of them.”
Ana nodded. “You are so beautiful.”
She had never felt beautiful. Had never felt loved. Had never felt accepted. They were offering her what she had always wanted but never dared hope for.
She clasped Teresa’s hands. “I’m not sure how to be part of a family.”
Teresa pulled her into the center of the throng. “You’ll learn.” She paused a single heartbeat, then added the word Nina had been waiting her whole life to hear. “Mi’ja.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My husband, Mike, has been amazingly supportive through it all. The best partner and friend anyone could have, he is my rock.
My son, Max, lights up my life and brings joy to my heart.
Family, whether related by blood or the bonds of friendship, means everything. I am forever grateful for their enthusiastic support and understanding over the years.
So much more than an agent, Liza Fleissig shares my vision and makes miracles happen. Her advice, support, and outstanding professionalism have been life changing for me and many others.
My other agent, Ginger Harris-Dontzin, has been wonderfully helpful. She lends her sharp eyes and equally sharp mind to every endeavor.
I am extremely grateful to Ret. Phoenix Police Homicide Detective Sandra Rodriguez, who shared her considerable expertise as I developed this story. Brainstorming is always better over delicious Mexican food.
A very special thanks goes to Martin B. Richards and Penny Lovestedt, who each provided essential input that kept the plot on the straight and narrow. Writers rely on fresh eyes and thorough readings, and the complexity of this particular tale required plenty of both.
I have a deep admiration for the pioneers in the FBI who founded modern criminal profiling: John E. Douglas, Robert K. Ressler, Patrick Mullany, Howard Teten, and Roy Hazelwood. These agents sacrificed a great deal to delve into the darkest recesses of the human mind.
One of the bright, shiny lights in the world is Megha Parekh, my acquiring editor with Thomas & Mercer. Her insight, generosity, and guidance through every part of the process have made all the difference. I am humbled and blessed by her support.
My developmental editor, Charlotte Herscher, put her considerable talent toward making this story come together. There is nothing like an editor who really “gets” your character.
Every manuscript is a diamond in the rough until copyeditors polish it to a shine. Laura Barrett, Rachel Norfleet, Sarah Vostok, Karin Silver, Kellie Osborne, and Sandra Cebrián Gil all worked diligently to bring sparkle to this story. From timelines to translations and from colons to commas, this incredible team went above and beyond to ensure a smooth reading experience.
The amazing team of marketing and artwork professionals at Thomas & Mercer does a fabulous job of getting books into the hands of readers. I am incredibly blessed to have such talented professionals on my side.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2016 Skip Feinstein
Award-winning author Isabella Maldonado wore a gun and badge in real life before turning to crime writing. A graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the first Latina to attain the rank of captain in her police department, she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics.
During Ms. Maldonado’s more than two decades on the force, her varied assignments included hostage negotiator, department spokesperson, and district station commander. She uses her extensive law enforcement background to bring a realistic edge to her writing.
Ms. Maldonado is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates; Fairfax County Police Association; International Society of Latino Authors; International Thriller Writers; Mystery Writers of America; and Sisters in Crime, where she served as president of the Phoenix Metro Chapter in 2015 and sat on the board until 2019. The author of the FBI Agent Nina Guerrera series and the Detective Cruz series, she lives in the Phoenix area with her family. For more information, visit www.isabellamaldonado.com.