Read Memory's Edge: Part One Online
Authors: Delsheree Gladden
Memory's Edge: Part One (29 page)
While you wait for Memory’s Edge:
Part
Two
…
Check
out this sneak peek of THE OBLIVIOUS GIRL’S HANDBOOK
Book 2 in
The
Handbook Series
(Book 1: The Crazy Girl’s Handbook, is available now
from your favorite
ebook
retailer)
The Oblivious Girl’s Handbook
Chapter One
Hard to Fault
I
stared at the three, half-filled suitcases on the bed and wondered why on earth
Joseph needed so many clothes for a three-day trip. Maybe he was packing for
both trips, to save time. That still seemed excessive, but he knew what he
needed, I supposed. I didn’t like it when he had trips back to back, but it
wasn’t up to me. He would return from his first trip while I was still in the
Caribbean for my friend
Greenly’s
wedding, and leave for his next trip before I would get home. That trip was
longer, and meant this was the last time we’d see each other for two weeks,
Joseph barely making it home in time for Christmas.
Sighing,
I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind and leaned my head against his
back. “I wish you were coming with me to the wedding.”
Joseph’s
movements slowed. “I feel bad missing it, but I couldn’t cancel this trip,” he
said. “Besides, you’ll have more fun without me.”
Chuckling,
I stepped back and began setting the stacks of clothes into one of the
suitcases. “If you weren’t such a stick-in-the-mud when it comes to traveling,
we’d both have had fun.”
“I
travel for work all the time, Sara,” he complained. “It’s not what I want to do
when I have time off.”
I
understood what he was saying, but it was still disappointing. “Well, I’ll take
lots of pictures and you can appreciate them from the comfort of the couch.”
Joseph
smiled sadly. “Yeah, sure.”
Setting
another stack of shirts in the suitcase, I noticed an old sweater on top and
gestured at it. “You’re taking this? It’s got holes in the sleeve.” Glancing at
the rest of the clothes, they seemed odd choices as well. Many of the items
hadn’t been worn in years.
“Just
a few things to relax in while I’m at the hotel,” he said. He stuffed the rest
of the clothes into the suitcases and flipped the tops over to cover
everything.
Normally,
traveling for work didn’t bother Joseph, but for some reason these two
back-to-back trips had been stressing him out. I’d been consumed with finals
and defending my dissertation for weeks, but even with all of that I had
noticed he was acting different than usual. Probably just worrying about me
traveling out of the country alone. He was a seasoned traveler, while I’d only
ever crossed the border into Mexico once during a spring break trip my freshman
year of college.
“I’ll
be fine,” I reassured him. “I have all your tips written down, my passport in
my purse, bug spray for the mosquitos, and photocopies on my passport and all
my other documents just in case. You prepared me well.”
Joseph’s
brows knit together. “I know. You’ll be fine.”
“Then
what?” I asked.
“Did
you look at those condos I sent you links to?” Joseph asked.
Laughing
a little, I rolled my eyes. “I’ll do it when I get back. Everything’s been so
hectic the last few days, I haven’t had time. I know you’ve already picked out
the one you like most, anyway. I’ll be happy with whatever you choose. You
always find the best, well, everything.”
I
kissed him on the cheek and turned away, only barely seeing his shoulders drop
in disappointment. Why was he worrying about finding a new place now? He
wouldn’t even be back in town for two weeks. That would give me plenty of time
to look over the condos he liked. After the stress of defending my dissertation
and handling my family, who insisted on coming to celebrate even though I
wouldn’t walk for graduation until next May, I needed this trip to relax and
regroup. I only had a few weeks before I started my new job as a financial
analyst, which made choosing a new place to live about the last thing I wanted
to worry about.
“Want
me to help you get your bags to the car?” I asked.
Joseph
offered a small smile. “Sure. Thanks.”
He
still seemed despondent as we walked down the stairs from our second floor
apartment and crossed the parking lot. Whatever he was thinking, he kept it to himself.
The silence of mid-morning outside a university apartment building after the
end of the semester was usually peaceful. As I handed Joseph a suitcase, it
felt oppressive.
“I’ll
look at the condos as soon as I get back,” I told him. “Promise. It’s nice that
you want my input.”
Joseph
frowned. “I want you to care, Sara.”
Surprised
by the bite of his tone, I didn’t immediately reach for the next suitcase. “I
do care. I just know you’ll pick something better than I would. You always do.”
Sighing,
Joseph shook his head. “A condo would be our first real place together.” He
gestured at the old, but fairly nice building behind us. “University housing
doesn’t count. Choosing something shouldn’t just be my decision. It should be
both of us.”
Although
I didn’t get why he was pushing about it at that moment, I tried to understand
his frustration. “I didn’t realize you felt that way. I’ll look at the condos
when I get to the hotel, okay? I’ll text you which ones I like.”
Regarding
me dubiously, he asked, “You will?”
“Sure.”
If it was really bothering him that much, of course I would do it.
Joseph’s
tense demeanor relaxed somewhat. “I better get going or I won’t have time to
change clothes before my dinner meeting tonight.”
He
closed the trunk lid and pulled me against him. Slowly, he kissed me. I felt
how much he was going to miss me with every gentle caress. Pulling in closer, I
deepened the kiss. I wished he were coming with me. Sitting on the beach with
him, walking through the waves, dancing under the stars…. As much as I enjoyed
Greenly’s
family and friends,
Joseph was the one I wanted to share those moments with.
When
we finally pulled back from each other, I said, “I’ll miss you.”
Joseph
chuckled. “You’ll be having too much fun to miss me.”
Rolling
my eyes, I stepped back to give him room to grab the computer bag sitting by
his feet. He stood, and pinned a serious gaze on me. “You need to be at the
airport by one-thirty, at the latest.”
I
held back the urge to shake my head at him. “I know, I know. You already
programmed an alarm into my phone to remind when to leave the house. I’m not
going to miss my flight.” Giving him a little shove toward the driver’s side, I
said, “You’re going to miss your meeting, though, if you don’t get going.”
Opening
his door, he set his computer bag on the passenger seat then looked back at me.
“I hope you have a good trip.” His expression was more serious than the comment
warranted, but there was simply no puzzling him out.
“You
too,” I replied.
I
stood and watched him go, waving as he pulled out of the parking lot and onto
the street. Hopefully by the time he came home he’d be over his sullen mood.
Joseph’s job paid well, enough so that he could afford an apartment or condo
two or three times nicer than where we lived. He had only stayed in the
university housing for me, so I could be closer to classes.
It
was understandable that he was anxious to move somewhere nicer. With two good
incomes, we could find something really great, maybe even buy instead of rent.
Promising myself I would look over the condo choices while I waited for my
flight, I headed back up the stairs to finish packing my own bags.
When
I made it to the bedroom and discovered my carryon bag in the closet, I found
it already weighted down. Not sure what might have been inside it, I unzipped
the case and shook my head. When had Joseph packed my bag? My sweetheart of a
boyfriend loved taking care of people, but I was perfectly capable of packing
my own things. Hard to fault him for being nice, though.
I
lugged the suitcase out of the closet and set it on the bed. I doubted he had
forgotten anything—since he never did—but I sifted through the contents just in
case. It was no surprise when I couldn’t find a single thing he had overlooked.
All I needed was to add my toiletries and I’d be set.
It
took only a few seconds to sweep my toothbrush and makeup into my travel bag.
What held me up was noticing not only had Joseph taken his usual personal care
items, he’d pretty much cleaned out the medicine cabinet.
What is his deal
with this trip?
Shaking my head, again, I tossed my toiletries into the
suitcase, zipped it, and set it by the door.
Glancing
at my phone, I saw I still had two hours until I needed to leave and wandered
into the kitchen. Eating at the airport sounded much less appealing than having
some of the leftover lasagna Joseph had made the night before. Ten minutes
later, I was parked on the couch, eating lasagna, and watching an episode of
Grey’s
Anatomy
. Twenty minutes after that, I was asleep.
Look
for Sara’s disastrous attempts to figure out how to take care of herself and a
Siamese cat that hates her in “The Oblivious Girl’s Handbook” October 2016.
This
will release in novella form in the
Christmas, Pets & Kisses 2 Box Set
,
and as a full novel as part of
The Handbook Series
in November 2016.
The
Handbook Series
The
Crazy Girl’s Handbook
The
Oblivious Girl’s Handbook
(Coming Dec 2016)
Eliza
Carlisle Mystery Series
Trouble
Magnet
The
Catalyst
The
Ghost Host Series
The
Ghost Host
Escaping
Fate Series
Escaping
Fate
Soul
Stone
Oracle
Lost
(Coming
Soon)
Twin
Souls Saga
Twin
Souls
Shaxoa’s
Gift
Qaletaqa
The
Destroyer Trilogy
Inquest
Secret
of Betrayal
Darkening
Chaos
Someone
Wicked This Way Comes Series
Wicked
Hunger
Wicked
Power
Wicked
Glory
Wicked
Revenge
The
Aerling Series
Invisible
Intangible
Invincible
The
Date Shark Series
Date
Shark
Shark
Out Of Water
The
Only Shark
In
The Sea
Shark
In
Troubled Waters
DelSheree Gladden was one of those shy, quiet kids who
spent more time reading than talking. Literally. She didn't speak a single word
for the first three months of preschool, but she had already taught herself to
read. Her fascination with reading led to many hours spent in the library and
bookstores, and eventually to writing. She wrote her first novel when she was
sixteen years old, but spent ten years rewriting and perfecting it before
having it published.
Native to New Mexico, DelSheree and her husband spent
several years in Colorado for college and work before moving back home to be
near family again. Their two children love having their
cousins
close by. When not writing, you can find DelSheree reading, painting, sewing
and trying not to get bitten by small children in her work as a dental
hygienist. DelSheree has several bestselling young adult series, including
"Invisible" which was part of the USA Today Bestselling box set,
"Pandora." The “Date Shark Series” is her first contemporary romance
series, now joined by her first romantic comedy, “The Crazy Girl’s Handbook,”
and the comedic “Eliza Carlisle Mystery Series.”
Connect with DelSheree Gladden
Online
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDelShereeGladden
http://www.delshereegladden.com/
http://www.pinterest.com/delsheree/
https://plus.google.com/+DelShereeGladden/posts?cfem=1
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvhRQvJy3KJhllsepnX6ogQ/videos
https://www.linkedin.com/in/delshereegladden
http://writepublishrepeat.libsyn.com/
(podcast)