“Too cute,” she heard behind her, and turned.
Kerri kneeled to the grave too; reached to pull Winnie’s hood up over his head. “Heard it’s gonna rain.”
“Should I have brought a little umbrella?” Liddy asked.
“Nah, he’ll be fine.” Kerri leaned back on her haunches, sighing.
She’d become a friend. She, Alex and Beth had stayed till eleven that night in the ER, long after the two detectives had gotten their statement. Beth had come back the next morning with fresh clothes and orders for Liddy to stay at her place. She did. Kerri and Alex had been over twice after work - and they and Beth had talked, bringing solace about their own dark times, their coming to terms with starting life over.
Liddy hadn’t been back yet to the loft.
“Nice and quiet here,” Kerri said, watching tumbling clouds backlit by the dropping sun. Liddy stared at the wilted flowers, thinking of Beth two nights ago: “You gotta climb out, come out of this stronger, re-invent yourself. Isn’t that what artists do?” She could be funny, stomping around waving her hands, and she’d been a friend long enough to be a real drill master when it came to pulling out of despair. That was the thing about good relationships: when one’s down, the other’s up and can help.
“You’re going to be okay,” Kerri said softly.
“Working on it.”
“You’ll come back. Different maybe, but okay.”
Liddy nodded, and they were silent for a while. Kerri went back to watching the sky change to blooming rose with streaks of violet.
“We done here?” she finally asked.
“Yeah.” Liddy raised her index finger to her lips, kissed its tip, and planted the kiss on Winnie’s cheek. “Take care of Sasha,” she said, and stood. Took a last look as Kerri rose too, then turned back with her to the gate.
Beth was waiting for them, and hugged them. Liddy put her arms around them too and melted into their embrace.
Beth started to bawl. “I hate cemeteries. Can we go now?”
Kerri between them took both their arms and they walked together, down the road a bit to the old Bronco. A cooling breeze blew in their faces; felt nice.
Driving, Kerri announced the time and said she’d have to break laws. Alex was making one of his great, ambitious dinners “and we don’t want to be late,” she said, taking a sharp, bucolic curve at fifty. “He leaves his creations in the oven to stay warm - only he forgets to turn down the heat so dinner burns.”
Beth laughed. Liddy found herself chuckling too. Alex was going all out, he’d announced. Had picked wines and the “most sinful dessert” he could find; wouldn’t tell what it was but still, what a warming picture: Alex sizzling good eats – the sound of life - in the pan. Liddy smiled, picturing it.
Kerri found Sweet Home Alabama on the radio, and turned it up a little. “Louder!” Beth yelled. Up further went the volume, and the joyous sound filled the car.
The Bronco roared around a left, headed into the sunset all streaks of peach and rose, and disappeared over the top of a hill.
Author’s Note
Hello, and thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this book, I would love to ask you a favor to please spare a moment and leave a review for FEAR DREAMS. Here’s the link to do that. It would mean so much.
If you do write a review, or a post on your favorite social website, I’d love to hear from you and thank you. Here’s my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JASchneiderAuthor
And Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoyceSchneider1
Or email me at [email protected]
A new thriller’s in the works, so please join my Newsletter at http://jaschneiderauthor.net You’ll be the first to know when new books are available, and more!
Thanks again for reading,
Joyce
About the Author
J.A. (Joyce Anne) Schneider is a former staffer at Newsweek Magazine, a wife, mom, and reading addict. She loves thrillers… which may seem odd, since she was once a major in French Literature - wonderful but sometimes heavy stuff. Now, for years, she has become increasingly fascinated with medicine and forensic science. Decades of being married to a physician who loves explaining medical concepts and reliving his experiences means there’ll be medical angles even in “regular” thrillers that she writes. She lives with her family in Connecticut.
Fear Dreams
Title Page
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
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Author's Note
About the Author
Fear Dreams Page 21
