Emily, Gone

by Bette Lee Crosby

  Rachel smiled. “There’s nothing in this world I’d like better.”

  Although this was not the time to talk of it, Rachel could already imagine the day when her hair would be threaded with silver and she would sit across from Lara with a ball of yarn in her lap just as Mama Dixon had once done.

  When she finally returned to her room, George was already awake. “Where were you?” he asked.

  Rachel told him of how she and Lara had spent much of the night talking. With a smile curling the corners of her lips she said, “She’s decided to call me Mama Dixon.”

  “Mama Dixon?” George laughed. “How’s that feel?”

  “Pretty good.” Tears of happiness welled in Rachel’s eyes, and her smile grew even broader. “I’d like to believe that one day I’ll be as wise and forgiving as your mama. I’m not there yet, but maybe having Mama Dixon’s name will help me along the road.”

  EPILOGUE

  The storm that roared across Georgia that Saturday night broke the heat wave and left a refreshing coolness in its wake.

  That July, Rachel’s long-suffered sorrow seemed to fade along with the oppressive heat. When Ernie said he’d need an extra two weeks to replace the transmission, Angela told him to take his time. They were in no hurry.

  By then, Rachel and Angela were already planning a Thanksgiving in Hesterville and a Christmas on the beach in Daytona.

  In August, Lara went off to the University of Florida just as she’d planned. She kept the name she’d used for the past eighteen years but began celebrating two birthdays. The one in February was generally spent with the McAlisters, but the second one in March was always spent in Hesterville with Daddy Dixon, Mama Dixon, Hope, and Henry.

  Years later, Lara married a young lawyer with a promising career in the State Department, and they settled in Tallahassee. By no coincidence, it was a four-hour drive from either Hesterville or Daytona. Soon after Lara married, Rachel got her long-awaited Emily: a granddaughter with the same blonde curls and blue eyes as her mama.

  Although Rachel never got to enjoy the growing-up years with Lara, she got to relive the experience with Emily. She watched her granddaughter grow from a toddler into a young woman who was as beautiful as her mother had been. And when Emily was married, the Dixon family were all there—Hope, whose last name was now Williamson, and her five teenagers. Henry; his wife, Charlotte; and their son. George, who now carried a cane. And Rachel, whose hair was indeed threaded with silver.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  When a reader holds a finished book in hand, they see only the face of the author, but in truth, many people contribute to the successful making of a novel. I consider myself blessed to have had the wonderful team at Lake Union working with me on the development of this book.

  I am extremely fortunate to have been paired with Alicia Clancy, my editor. She goes above and beyond what might be expected and comes to know my characters as well as I do. Her advice is both wise and insightful. I am delighted and honored to have her as my partner on this exciting journey.

  I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Tiffany Yates Martin, my developmental editor, for forcing me to dig deeper and find the treasure trove of emotions hidden beneath the surface.

  My utmost thanks also goes to Nicole Pomeroy, my production manager, along with Stacy Abrams, and Sarah Vostok, my copy editors, for their attention to detail and thoughtful handling of this story. And a note of appreciation goes to the Lake Union author relations team for carefully following up on each and every detail, answering my endless questions, and seeing this project through to completion.

  I remain truly grateful to my agent, Pamela Harty, for introducing me to Lake Union and continuing to provide day-to-day support with such unending grace and wisdom.

  A special thank-you to Lynn Ontiveros, Trudy Leasure Southe, and Joanne Bliven, the friends and story partners who listen to my earliest thoughts, poke holes in my plots, and continually challenge me to broaden my vision. I also thank beta reader Suzie Welker for her guidance on the roads and hospitals of Kentucky during the time period of this story.

  A sincere note of thanks to Ekta Garg, fellow author, beta editor, adviser, and friend.

  I would be lost without Coral Russell, the do-everything person who keeps my blog on target, organizes fan events, and steps in to help when I need a third hand. Thank you for all these things and the thousands of others you do.

  And to the ladies in my BFF (Best Fans & Followers) Clubhouse, I am eternally grateful. They read my books, share them with friends, review them on Goodreads, and eagerly await each new release. Loyalty such as this is something to be treasured.

  For things too numerous to count, I thank my husband, Dick. He is, and will always be, my partner, my best friend, and life’s greatest blessing.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Photo © 2018 Bryan Adams Photography

  Bette Lee Crosby is the USA Today bestselling author of twenty novels, including The Twelfth Child and the Wyattsville series. She has been the recipient of the Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal, Reviewer’s Choice Award, FPA President’s Book Award, and International Book Award, among many others. Her 2016 novel, Baby Girl, was named Best Chick Lit of the Year by the Huffington Post. She laughingly admits to being a night owl and a workaholic, claiming that her guilty pleasure is late-night chats with fans and friends on Facebook and Goodreads. Her 2018 novel, The Summer of New Beginnings, published by Lake Union, took First Place in the Royal Palm Literary Award for Women’s Fiction and was a runner-up for book of the year. The sequel, A Year of Extraordinary Moments, is now available.