REMEMBER ME (Secrets of Spirit Creek Book 1)
Page 24
Serena’s blood rushed whenever she heard someone say that. “You only say that because you’ve always had everything. Your parents can send you to school and pay for you to stay in a dorm and all that stuff. It’s not like that for me or Cole. We have to work our butts off, and even then we don’t have the same oppor—”
Tori looked away, hurt registering in her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I only meant—”
“Nope.” Tori raised a hand. “You can’t be sorry for telling the truth. Geez.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what it’s like, so I say dumb things.”
They sat side by side in silence for a moment. Finally, Serena said, “You’re the best friend ever.”
Tori leaned over and hugged Serena again. “So, what’s the plan?”
Serena swatted a moth hovering near the string of Christmas twinkle lights still hanging on the trailer. “Same as before. Now that we’ve both been accepted to ASU, everything will be fine. I’ll just be pregnant while I’m going to college. We can both work part-time and get some student loans. No big deal.” With college degrees behind them, she and Cole would never have to worry about a roof over their heads or where their next meal was coming from. Their child would never go hungry or feel he or she wasn’t good enough.
She placed a hand on her stomach, just as she’d done a million times since missing her period four weeks earlier, and wondered when she’d feel the baby move.
“Is that new?” Tori asked, fingering the chain at Serena’s neck.
“Uh-huh. It’s from Cole.”
“Nice!” Tori said, examining it. “Very nice.” Then she glanced at her watch. “You’ve got plans. I better go.”
“You’ve got to at least have some champagne. I still have that bottle you took from your parents’ party.”
“I can’t. And you shouldn’t. But come over tomorrow morning and tell me what happens.” Tori launched herself to her feet, went to her parents’ car and slid into the driver’s seat.
“I’ll call you tomorrow first.” Serena stood, and as she watched Tori leave, her heart felt so full she thought it might burst. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of cedar and pine from someone’s nearby campfire. This was the most wonderful night of her life. She wrapped her arms around herself. Even the warm air felt as if it was embracing her.
And in only thirty minutes, Cole would return.
She touched the necklace and sank into the chair to wait.
And wait.
Two hours went by before she got up, as if in a trance, to go inside. As she did, a car turned into the trailer park’s long driveway and stopped about ten yards in front of her parents’ trailer, its bright lights shining directly into her eyes. A huge wave of relief rolled through her.
Anything could’ve happened to make Cole late. Late was better than never, she rationalized. She had to be understanding. Too much at stake not to be.
She started walking toward the car, then broke into a jog, holding one hand up against the glare of lights. As she got closer, the lights went out. A second passed before her eyes adjusted. Then she froze.
It wasn’t Cole. It was the sheriff. And someone else.
She was used to seeing the sheriff’s car—he’d come often for her dad. But her dad was in jail in Phoenix. And the sheriff couldn’t be there about anyone else in her family.
Sheriff Masterson didn’t get out. He just sat there. She was about to walk over, when a deputy exited from the passenger side and strode toward her.
“Hello, Serena,” the man said.
She recognized him. Jason Ramirez had graduated three years ago. He looked serious.
“I’m afraid I have some bad news,” he said.
Serena’s heart stopped. She opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat. Finally she managed, “Cole? Is it Cole?”
“No. He’s okay,” Ramirez said quickly. “Is your mom home?”
It took a moment to register. No…not Cole. Cole is okay. Thank God. Tears welled and she released a long breath. Her baby’s father was okay.
“Is your mom here?” he asked again.
“Oh. No, my mom’s…not here. She’s taking care of my grandmother.” Then it dawned on her that if he wanted to talk to her mother, her twin brother, Ryan, was probably in trouble again.
“Can you get her on the phone? There was a bad accident tonight and I need to talk to her. Your brother was involved.”
“My bro—” She shook her head. “No. He—he’s with Celine at the high school. Sheriff Masterson knows.” She glance over to the sheriff, still sitting in the car. It wasn’t any secret that the Karl Masterson and his wife didn’t want their daughter dating Ryan.
Ramirez moved to stand next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Serena, I need to talk to your mother.”
She pulled back. “Where is he? Where’s Ryan?” she demanded. “Is he all right?”
The deputy looked toward the police car. Serena started to walk over to it, but Ramirez grabbed her arm. “Stop, Serena. Ryan is in the hospital. I guess there isn’t any way to do this gently, so I’m just going to say it. Your brother and Cole are both in the hospital and…Celine…” He looked at the squad car again. “Celine didn’t make it.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My deep appreciation to those who helped with my research for this book: the Sedona, Arizona, Chamber of Commerce, the wonderful clinicians at the Mayo Clinic and Samaritan Behavioral Health Center, and CASA Center for Prevention of Abuse and Violence (providing counseling and crisis intervention for victims of sexual abuse and assault.)
Since this is a work of fiction, I’ve taken liberties where necessary. Any mistakes are mine.
ALSO by LINDA STYLE
Fiction:
From LMS Press
Copyright ©Linda Fensand Style
SECRETS OF SPIRIT CREEK series
Remember Me, book 1
Trust Me, book 2
Rescue Me, book 3
STREET LAW series
Street, prequel
Detroit Rules, book 1
Detroit Hustle, book 2 coming soon
LAPD Special Investigations series
The Deceived, book 1
The Taken, book 2
The Silent, book 3
The Missing, book 4
LINDA’S CLASSIC ROMANCE NOVELS
From LMS Press © Linda Fensand Style
Her Sister’s Secret (2nd print)
Cowboy’s Don’t Dance
From Harlequin Enterprises Ltd
Copyright © Linda Fensand Style
Daddy in the House
Slow Dance with a Cowboy
The Man in the Photograph
What Madeline Wants
The Witness
His Case, Her Child
And Justice for All
Husband and Wife Reunion
Going for Broke
The Man from Texas
The Mistake She Made
The Promise He Made
A Soldier’s Secret
Protecting the Witness
Her Sister’s Secret
Non-Fiction:
BOOTCAMP FOR NOVELISTS BEYOND THE FIRST DRAFT: Writing Techniques of the Pros. By Linda Style Copyright © 2013, LMS Press, Gilbert, AZ 85234 (403 pages) In digital and in print.
Linda’s books are available on her WEBSITE, on Amazon and other bookstore outlets.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Style is an Award-Winning, National Bestselling author with over a million copies sold in over a dozen different countries. With an education in behavioral science and in journalism, Linda has worked in a number of jobs, from social services to Director of a state mental health program to magazine editor, but, she says nothing is more rewarding than writing her stories of romance, suspense and intrigue. Her books—often described as emotional, fast-paced stories that keep you riveted to the page—have won several awards, including the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, the Orang
e Rose award for Best Book of the Year, and the HOLT Award of Merit. She’s listed on the Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll of NY Times and USA Today bestselling authors.
When not writing, Linda loves to travel, a passion that has taken her all over the world and allows her to indulge in her other passion…photography. A Minnesota native, she now lives with her family in Arizona where she likes to play tennis and hike in the mountains—the best place in the world to think up more stories. She invites you to stop by her website at LindaStyle.com.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright Linda Fensand Style
Published by LMS Press, Gilbert, AZ 85234
LMSPress@cox.net Cover art: coversbyrogenna.com
Editor: Editing with Style
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, LMS Press at LMSPress@cox.net
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, living or dead, and all incidents are pure invention.
REMEMBER ME is an, updated, enhanced second edition that contains new copy not included in the first edition. First edition copyright © 2009 Linda Fensand Style