"Love is a beautiful and wonderful thing," Dad continued. "And some times, unfortunately, it's very fleeting. When I looked at you and James, I saw pure love and happiness."
"I wish you could have seen more," I whispered.
"But then you would have been robbed of what time you did have with James," Dad said. "And I believe that would have been a far worse fate."
"I don't know," I said, my voice cracking. "Death seems pretty bad to me, Dad."
"I know, sweetheart," Dad said softly. "But time heals all wounds."
"Not all of them, Dad," I whispered. And for the briefest of moments I allowed myself to feel that painful ache that I've tried so hard to ignore.
He hugged me again. "No, it does," he said.
My Dad held me like that for what seemed like an eternity. I felt like I was a little girl again, who hadn't yet learned the heartbreak that comes from losing one's true love. And like magic, Dad's hug made everything feel okay again.
"So," I asked, wiping away tears that I hadn't even known were there, "whatever happened with the singer?"
Dad took a step back. "Well, once Mr. Burkle was distracted, things became dramatically easier to deal with. Hopefully a full-page ad in the Post from the singer’s date declaring his love for her will be the proverbial cherry on top that wraps it up."
I blinked. "Seriously?"
Dad gave a half shrug. "Sometimes I find that it takes another over-the-top gesture to compensate for a previous over-the-top gesture. I suppose if that doesn't work, I'll just break out the arrows." He smiled and kissed me on the forehead. "Tell Burt the cop I said hi."
He started to leave and I said to him again, "You promised."
He paused, looking back at me. "I certainly did," he agreed, solemnly. "But, I feel compelled to tell you that I was never a boy scout."
The door closed behind him. I stood there for a second. What was that supposed to mean?
I shook my head. Nope. No, thank you. I wasn't going to get caught up in anymore of my Dad's mind games. I did what he asked me to do and that was that.
I started for my bedroom, intending to spend the rest of the day in a nice bubble bath, when I noticed another red heart-shaped envelope on my coffee table.
"Oh, brother."
A new Cupid’s Daughter will be released in September. Be sure to go to www.jasonkrumbine.com and sign up for my email list to be notified as soon as Cupid’s Daughter #2 becomes available.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.M. Krumbine is also known as Jason Krumbine. He is the author behind the pulse pounding, wisecracking Alex Cheradon Series, the sizzling urban fantasy romance series, “Reapers in Heels”, and the all-ages action/adventure science fiction adventure series, “The Castle Sisters.” He can be reached at [email protected], on twitter @jasonkrumbine or on www.facebook/jmkwriter. Visit www.jasonkrumbine.com to keep up to date on all of Jason’s newest releases.
Also by Jason Krumbine
http://www.jasonkrumbine.com/
http://twitter.com/#/jasonkrumbine
http://www.facebook.com/jmkwriter
Alex Cheradon Mysteries
Fruitbasket from Hell
A is for Amnesia, B is for Bullet
Little People, Big Crimes
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Reapers in Heels
Volume One - Death & Stilettos
One Stiletto in the Grave (Book1)
Death Wears Stilettos (Book 2)
A Grave Full of Stilettos (Book 3)
Volume Two
A Diamond Before Dying (Book 4)
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The Castle Sisters
Volume One
The Impossible Rescue (Book 1)
The Arctic Isle of Doom (Book 2)
The Invasion of the Imaginary Friends (Book 3)
The Mall of Eternity (Book 4)
The Doomsday Device (Book 5)
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Rupert & Me
Tales From Under the Desk
Holy Words from Under Desk
Dear Rupert
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Other Books
Explorers of the Unknown
Heaven’s Superhero: The Third Creation
Outlawed Love
A Graveyard Romance
Cupid's Daughter Page 10
