Can you imagine finding out you're still married...ten years after you thought you got divorced, then having to face the love of your life and go through it all over again? when you barely made it through the first time?
Blurb:
When Rich McConaughey comes back to town, divorce papers in hand, he's in for more than he bargained for. Lisa Young, the woman he was married to for six months, hasn't changed a bit. His mother has though... she's gone from matronly to meow, and his father has taken off with the secretary. Does anything last anymore?
Lisa Young feels chained to the hardware store her family has run for generations. How can she tell her father that she hates the family business? When Rich walks back into her store asking her to finalize a divorce she thought was behind her, she thinks that the answer is to sign on the dotted line and move on. Except, Rich isn't making it so easy... and God has other plans.
For better or for worse, when you're legally wed, things can get complicated.
Excerpt:
"What do you mean we're still married?" She hurried to match his pace."And for crying out loud, slow down."
He slowed his steps to a leisurely stroll and glanced down at her. She only came up to his shoulder, and she resented having to tip her chin to look him in the face. Young Hardware stood on Main Street, one of the first stores built on this street before the town sprung up around a crossroads with a gas station, a diner and a church to serve the farms in that area. Now it joined many businesses flanking Main Street, and she couldn't help but feel like every single of one of them watched.
"We used my Uncle Neil to finalize the divorce, remember?" Rich asked.
"Yes, that sounds right." As she hurried Ricky past Whirlwind Realty, the business next door to the hardware store, she felt a rush of relief that Jane, the head realtor for the place, stood with her back to them. One less person to give her the third degree later.
"Well, as it turns out, Uncle Neil was having trouble with alcohol at the time and..."
"And?"
"And never filed it. It sort of slipped through the cracks."
"Sort of?" What on earth are you talking about?" Lisa heard her voice rising in pitch. "He never filed the papers?"
"Looks that way."
"And how did you figure this out?"
"When the IRS audited me. My accountant thought I'd had my identity stolen. The IRS thought I was fraudulent."
"Ouch." For the first time, a pang of pity replaced irritation for the man. She stopped at the street corner and looked across the intersection at the coffee shop. A couple of people visible in the window ordered their drinks. She glanced back at Rich. "So you came out here to get me to sign?"
He squinted in the bright sunlight and pressed his lips together. Finally, he gave a slow shrug. "That was the plan."
She turned her attention to the envelope in her hands. It had been a long time since she'd held divorce papers, and they still felt ominous and weighty. She nodded.
"Okay. Well, I'll take a look at these then."
"Look, I'm sorry about this." Rich put his hands into his pockets and looked down at his shoes. He raised his gaze to meet hers. "I know this is a surprise."
"You could say that."
He gave her one of those lopsided smiles of his and for just a moment she could see the boy with the spontaneous grin and cajoling eyes she'd fallen in love with all those years ago. Why could Ricky always speed up her heart, even when every logical bone in her body knew he wasn't in her best interest?
"Well." She cleared her throat. "Thank you. I'll see you around, I'm sure."
"You bet."
Lisa raised her hand in an awkward wave and turned back towards the hardware store.
Married. Her body moved like wet clay, and when she fumbled about inside for her feelings she discovered -- nothing. Not yet. Later. Time enough for a meltdown in privacy.
He slowed his steps to a leisurely stroll and glanced down at her. She only came up to his shoulder, and she resented having to tip her chin to look him in the face. Young Hardware stood on Main Street, one of the first stores built on this street before the town sprung up around a crossroads with a gas station, a diner and a church to serve the farms in that area. Now it joined many businesses flanking Main Street, and she couldn't help but feel like every single of one of them watched.
"We used my Uncle Neil to finalize the divorce, remember?" Rich asked.
"Yes, that sounds right." As she hurried Ricky past Whirlwind Realty, the business next door to the hardware store, she felt a rush of relief that Jane, the head realtor for the place, stood with her back to them. One less person to give her the third degree later.
"Well, as it turns out, Uncle Neil was having trouble with alcohol at the time and..."
"And?"
"And never filed it. It sort of slipped through the cracks."
"Sort of?" What on earth are you talking about?" Lisa heard her voice rising in pitch. "He never filed the papers?"
"Looks that way."
"And how did you figure this out?"
"When the IRS audited me. My accountant thought I'd had my identity stolen. The IRS thought I was fraudulent."
"Ouch." For the first time, a pang of pity replaced irritation for the man. She stopped at the street corner and looked across the intersection at the coffee shop. A couple of people visible in the window ordered their drinks. She glanced back at Rich. "So you came out here to get me to sign?"
He squinted in the bright sunlight and pressed his lips together. Finally, he gave a slow shrug. "That was the plan."
She turned her attention to the envelope in her hands. It had been a long time since she'd held divorce papers, and they still felt ominous and weighty. She nodded.
"Okay. Well, I'll take a look at these then."
"Look, I'm sorry about this." Rich put his hands into his pockets and looked down at his shoes. He raised his gaze to meet hers. "I know this is a surprise."
"You could say that."
He gave her one of those lopsided smiles of his and for just a moment she could see the boy with the spontaneous grin and cajoling eyes she'd fallen in love with all those years ago. Why could Ricky always speed up her heart, even when every logical bone in her body knew he wasn't in her best interest?
"Well." She cleared her throat. "Thank you. I'll see you around, I'm sure."
"You bet."
Lisa raised her hand in an awkward wave and turned back towards the hardware store.
Married. Her body moved like wet clay, and when she fumbled about inside for her feelings she discovered -- nothing. Not yet. Later. Time enough for a meltdown in privacy.
Review:
What wonderful characters Ms. Froese brings to us. I love Rich's smile and how it keeps drawing Lisa back, calling to her across the years. I love how Rich is willing to face his own mistakes and let God lead him forward. Her dad is great too, protective, but loving above all else.
I loved it! I loved the the way the truth is brought to light - what tore them apart the first time, and how maturity gives them the strength and understanding they didn't have the first time around.
What a wonderful story of how fragile young love really is, and what a sweet walk down memory lane!
In case you can't tell, I loved it!
I loved it! I loved the the way the truth is brought to light - what tore them apart the first time, and how maturity gives them the strength and understanding they didn't have the first time around.
What a wonderful story of how fragile young love really is, and what a sweet walk down memory lane!
In case you can't tell, I loved it!
Buy links: at Desert Breeze publishing
On Amazon
At Barnes & Noble
About the author:
I am an inspirational fiction writer with a husband, a child, a quirky sense of humor and a passion for what I do. Give me a pot of tea and some peace and quiet, and I can give you a novel. I’ll also give you blog posts, hilarious internet jokes, pictures of my ridiculously intelligent rabbit and other random things that keep me busy.
For more about the author:
http://pattyfroese.com/
On Amazon
At Barnes & Noble
About the author:
I am an inspirational fiction writer with a husband, a child, a quirky sense of humor and a passion for what I do. Give me a pot of tea and some peace and quiet, and I can give you a novel. I’ll also give you blog posts, hilarious internet jokes, pictures of my ridiculously intelligent rabbit and other random things that keep me busy.
For more about the author:
http://pattyfroese.com/
Thanks for stopping by! Great story!
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