“What did you say?” Joel spat.
“You heard me. You are a coward.”
The next sound was a bang…
Mimi’s entire world spun in slow motion. Her vision became a foggy blur.
She ran in, throwing her body next to him as he bled.
“What have you done?” she screamed. “Austin! Austin! God, no. Please, baby, don’t. Don’t leave me, please.”
Her hands were covered in a deep crimson thickness, a red river of pain draining his body of life as the blood pumped out of his neck.
She pressed her hands against his wound, trying to suppress the bleeding. She felt so helpless. Nothing she was doing could slow the inevitable. She couldn’t focus. Every moment, however brief, with Austin flashed in her mind.
The air felt like it had been vacuumed out of the barn. She couldn’t catch her breath. She looked around, her eyes frantically searching for something, anything, she could use to snatch him away from death, which lurked in the shadows.
Just as she was about to rip her dress in a last ditch attempt to stop the bleeding, she felt Austin’s hand on hers, the hand where her wedding ring once belonged.
Austin’s eyes were fixed on Mimi. “Tell Jake I love him,” he whispered.
“No, don’t you dare leave Jake. Don’t you dare leave me!” She choked on her tears. Everything around her was spinning.
“Mimi, I love…” Austin’s words trailed off.
“Call a fucking ambulance,” she screamed at Joel.
But it was too late. He squeezed her hand one final time before he took his last breath.
Joel watched. He saw his wife holding his brother and he suddenly realized what he had done. The grief of watching his wife cry over another man was too much for him to take.
He knew she would never, ever be his.
“I’m sorry,” he said, and then he turned the gun onto himself.
Chapter 32
Mimi
Six Months Later
Looking up to the sky, Mimi stood on the porch of the ranch, reminiscing, putting together the events in her life that had led her to where she stood now. She had taken this journey to feel close to the man she loved, the man she said, “Till death us do part,” to, but it wasn’t Joel after all. It was Austin.
The moon was full and the stars were twinkling bright.
“You see that one there,” Mimi said, pointing up. “That one is your daddy and he’s watching over us both.”
“I miss him,” Jake whispered.
“I know you do, honey, I know you do, and so do I. But you know what? He’d want you to be happy and to be the best little boy that you can be.”
“I want to live here with you,” Jake said.
“I know you do, but that would make your mummy really sad. Mummy says you can come here whenever you like, though.”
“Am I having a brother or a sister?”
Mimi stroked her swollen belly. “You’re having a brother. I told you that already.”
“I know. I’m just checking. So, what will he be called?”
“Austin, after your daddy.”
The End
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book was born out of a very special sign given to me one winter’s night. It was a journey that started with a different manuscript entirely. I faced unexpected twists and turns, which led to me writing the story you are about to read. A wise person once said that obstacles are put in our way to see if what we want is really worth fighting for.
There are so many special people who have made my journey possible. First, I’d like to give a special thanks to my parents for both their encouragement and unwavering support. My mum has always given me the determination to see this through to the end. I want to thank her for believing in me and believing in Mimi.
I know I can always count on my sister, Johanna, and my brother-in-law, Andrew. They are my close friends, friends that happen to be family. To Will and Philippa for the laughter in the sunshine of Florida and beyond. I am very grateful for my darling friends, Natalie, Caz, Sharon, and Poppy, for not letting me give up. These girls are my best cheerleaders. I want to give special thanks to Melanie Bundock, the manifestation queen and the woman who helped me smash the barrier. You rock, Mel!
A very big thank you to the MDG Family for the love, laughter, and encouragement they have given to me and to one another. There is a very special lady that is no longer here, but she lives on in spirit and in my heart—my Nonna. I know she is always watching over me.
I want to thank the team at Limitless Publishing for the favourite gold star on my Twitter pitch, #pit2pub, that led to me getting my publishing contract. I will forever be grateful to them for making my dreams come true.
And finally, to my husband and my son. This book is dedicated to both of my boys. For better or for worse, my husband, Adam, will always have my back. He is the one who listens to my crazy insomniac ideas at 3 a.m. He’s the one that is always by my side. He’s the one who is my partner in life, no matter what.
I love the life we have made together and the crazy pets we share it with. There is a little boy named Lucas. He stole my heart and calls me Mama. There is nothing more inspiring than those big blue eyes!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cristina has always been a bookworm, rarely seen without a pen and paper in her hand, she loves delving into a literacy fictional world of her own.
At the age of 11, her junior school teacher told her mother that she would be wasting her life if she didn’t become an author. Throughout her teenage years and beyond, her parents spurred her on to keep writing. She later began a career in commercial real estate, working in London’s West End, a corporate bubble where she was unable to fuel her passion to write.
It was on her Californian honeymoon in 2012 that the bug to write was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. After visiting Yosemite National Park she was inspired by the natural beauty of the land that surrounded her. Holding a special place in her heart, Yosemite would later be written into her debut novel.
She finally gave up the ‘big smoke’ when her son, Lucas, was born in October 2013.
When Lucas was a newborn, Cristina was told to sleep when the baby sleeps. She never could. There was a calling inside her to write. After getting to grips with her new role as a mother, she began working a psychological thriller, but she couldn’t fully connect to the characters she created. She ditched the manuscript and started Till Death Us Do Part (Limitless Publishing, 2015).
Cristina is married to Adam, who runs a successful business; together they share their Bedfordshire home with their son, crazy white German Shepherd and three spoiled cats. They can be found trekking through woodlands, or around the many shops Cristina loves to explore. As a family, they love to travel frequently, the United States being a firm favourite.
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https://m.facebook.com/cristinasloughauthor?ref=bookmarks
Twitter:
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Website:
http://www.cristinaslough.com/
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