by Hagen, Layla
Watching Tristan and Lynda on the porch, laughing on the phone, I slump in my favorite place in whole house: a rocking chair. Maybe it's all those months we spent in the plane, but I feel more comfortable sleeping in the rocking chair than in our bed. I can sit for hours at a time in it, reading stories to Lynda, or waiting for Tristan to come home from the hospital on the nights when he must work late. Over the rocking chair I throw a cover I made by sewing together patches. Each patch has a photo of Tristan and me, or the three of us. Each year I add a few patches to the blanket with pictures from moments that stand out. Tristan says if I continue like this, when we're old the blanket will be large enough to cover the whole house. I hope it will be. You can never have enough good memories. A light pain shoots through my left ankle. It happens now and then. But I smile. No matter what hardships life throws at us, I meet them with a smile. Because I will always remember a time when all I could hope for was one more breath, one more heartbeat. Now I have plenty of them.
And I intend to celebrate every single one.
Many years later
"Dr. Spencer," the nurse calls, her head visible through the cracked door, "we need you on the second floor."
"I'll be with you in a minute."
I close the file on my desk, trying to pull myself together. In over two decades of practicing medicine, I've grown immune to this type of situations. But there are always cases that get to me. And having known Dr. Tristan Bress and his family personally since I was a young woman makes it that much more difficult.
At the age of seventy, Aimee Bress was admitted to our hospital, where her husband had worked for many years before retiring. She had a severe case of viral respiratory disease. She was admitted three weeks ago, and her husband and daughter have been practically living outside her room ever since, though not allowed to see her. She has an exceptionally contagious form and it is very dangerous for Dr. Bress, whose age made him frail and prone to contract the virus.
Her condition worsened. Last night we informed Dr. Bress and his daughter that Aimee would not survive the night. When we told them they couldn't spend the night at her bedside due to the highly contagious nature of the virus, Dr. Bress asked his daughter to take him home. It seemed an odd request, not wanting to spend the night at the hospital, as close as possible to his wife. Before leaving, he took a little glass box out of his pocket. Taking out a circle made of old, decaying thread, he asked in a pleading voice, "Will you put this on my wife's finger next to her wedding ring?” Seeing a man who I had always associated with strength become so vulnerable immediately made me say a whispered "Yes." My weak answer didn't calm him. "Promise," he urged.
"I promise." I fulfilled my promise. His daughter returned alone to the hospital after dropping him off at home. Mrs. Bress died at four o'clock in the morning. Out of respect for having known and worked with Tristan Bress for years, I accompanied their daughter to her parents' home, to tell him.
We found Dr. Bress in a rocking chair, a blanket with layers upon layers covering him from his lap down.
His daughter thought he was asleep. But I knew better.
He had died.
In his hands, he was holding the glass box he had at the hospital. The box was empty, but a similar circle to the one he asked me to put on his wife's finger was on his, right next to his wedding ring. I thought I grew immune to everything over so many years, but I couldn't help shedding tears. Aimee Bress once told me about the time they spent in the Amazon rainforest. I remembered what those thread rings meant. I tried to hide my tears, but a closer inspection of the blanket on Dr. Bress’s lap brought more tears. The blanket seemed to be made entirely out of patches with printed pictures of their family. Some photos must have been very old, because both Bresse’s looked younger than I've ever seen them. It struck me that in all photos, no matter if they were young or not, they had that same look of intense love in their eyes that I was always secretly jealous of.
When the diagnostic of the cause of his death came—literally a broken heart—I expected it to be difficult to explain to their daughter. It's an unusual diagnostic, and one that people are sceptical about.
She smiled through tears. "My parents did love each other very much." Then she said a few words that I will carry with me for a very long time. "He loved her so much he never wanted to say goodbye to her. He wanted to leave with her."
Dear Reader,
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Other Books Available By Layla Hagen
The Lost Series
Lost (FREE prequel novella to Lost in Us): James and Serena’s story
Lost in Us: James and Serena’s story
Found in Us: Parker and Jessica’s story
Caught in Us: Dani and tattoo guy’s story – coming in Spring 2015
Lost is a FREE prequel novella to Lost in Us and can be read before or after.
Whatever might help him forget his past and numb the pain, James has tried it all: booze, car races, fights, and then some. Especially women. College offers plenty of opportunities for everything. . . Especially when you have a trust fund to spend.
Serena spirals deeper and deeper into a hurricane of pain. But no matter how far she falls, there’s no redemption from the overwhelming guilt.
Two souls consumed by their pasts fight to learn how to survive. But all hope seems to be lost.
Until they meet each other.
DOWNLOAD FOR FREE
Add to GOODREADS
Lost in Us
Serena has learned to live with her past, locking her secrets and nightmares deep inside her. But when her boyfriend of six years abruptly leaves her, she's catapulted back into pain, nursing a broken heart. When indulging in mountains of chocolate doesn't work, Serena decides the best way to deal with her shattered heart is to indulge in something else. A rebound . . .
The night she swaps her usual Sprite for tequila, she meets James. The encounter is breathtaking.
Electrifying.
And best not repeated.
James is a successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. A man who has amassed a fortune by taking risks. A man who has shunned commitment completely, and still does. He's the exact opposite of Serena. But sometimes
opposites attract. Sometimes they give in to burning passion. Sometimes opposites are perfect for each other.
James is everything her damaged soul could want. His kisses are intoxicating, his touch out of this world. He makes her forget. He grants her peace from her pain. But as they grow closer, Serena discovers she isn't the only one with a past. James carries the scars of a past much darker than hers. One that has left him damaged, hurt, and wary of love. A past that gives him the power to shatter her.
Now James and Serena must find a way to mend one another. Or risk losing each other forever.
Available at Amazon
Found in Us
This second book in the series tells Jessica and Parker’s story. It can be read as a standalone.
All Jessica wants -as a college graduate — is to be a good girl. She landed the job of her dreams at a museum and is trying to eliminate temptations. No more short skirts (when she can help it). No wild parties. And no men.
She particularly excels at that last thing. . .
Until her path crosses Parker’s. Again. Jessica remembers the last time their paths crossed very well. She was left with a seriously bruised ego. She knows it would be best to avoid him altogether. But the charming Brit makes it hard for her to elude his electrifying pull. He is as irresistible as he is captivating.
And enigmatic.
Because underneath the sleek Armani suit and the sweet British accent that makes her crave his touch, Parker isn’t the perfect gentleman everyone thinks he is.
He’s exactly what Jessica doesn’t want, but desperately needs.
A bad,
bad boy.
Available at Amazon
Add to GOODREADS
Caught in Us (Lost #3)
Dani & tattoo guy’s story ;) Coming in Spring 2015
Add it to Goodreads
About the Author
My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.
I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.
I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.
And I drink coffee. Lots of it ;)
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Acknowledgements
There are so many people who helped me fulfill the dream of publishing my novels, that I am utterly terrify I will forget to thank someone. If I do, please forgive me. Here it goes.
First, I’d like to thank my editors, Karen and Janet, whose hilarious comments and little smileys inserted along the manuscript made the editing process as enjoyable as the writing process. To all my beta readers (you know who you are): you have no idea how much your feedback helped me!! I am blessed to have such great people willing to take their time to help me. It goes without saying, but you improve my writing and stories vastly with your kindness.
Thank you also introducing me to Ari, who blew me away with her beautiful covers.
I want to thank every blogger and reader who took a chance with me as a new author and helped me spread the word. You have my most heartfelt gratitude. To my street team. . .you rock!!!
Last but not least, I would like to thank my family. I would never be here if not for their love and support. Mom, you taught me that books are important, and for that I will always be grateful. Dad, thank you for always being convinced that I should reach for the stars.
To my sister, whose numerous ahem. . .legendary replies will serve as an inspiration for many books to come, I say thank you for your support and I love you, kid.
To my husband, who always, no matter what, believed in me and supported me through all this whether by happily taking on every chore I overlooked or accepting being ignored for hours at a time, and most importantly encouraged me whenever I needed it, I love you and I could not have done this without you.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Epilogue
Other Books by Layla Hagen
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Copyright
