Hello from Belgium,
As I promised, here's another chapter of The Songs of You and Me. If you missed a previous chapter, go back to your inbox and search in the promotions tab or junk folder...
If you're new to my newsletter, here's a little recap. Every week, I've been sending out one chapter of my book The Songs of You and Me. If you would like to read it from the beginning, it's available on Amazon and free in kindle unlimited.
I have been rereading along with you, as I send this email out each week. I do adore Jane and Jackson. If you haven’t read their story yet, it’s about to delve deeper into their history as kids. And you know what they say about history… it has a way of repeating itself. Now, how will they deal with it this time?
Happy Reading!
JANE
My last class ended over an hour ago. I seemed to finally be getting the hang of my job. The freshman classes were fun to teach. I only had one class that proved a handful with their smart-aleck attitude and many students falling behind. But that kept things challenging. I loved a good challenge.
“Will you be joining us for practice this afternoon?” Graham popped his head through my open doorway. Work on the play had progressed fast. Graham was a natural with those kids. I didn’t understand why the job required both of us.
“I can, I just need to make it out of here in time for Emma.”
His smile brightened, and he stepped into my classroom.
“I’m so grateful for your help.” Graham sat on the desk opposite mine. I noticed how his shirt fit nicely around his broad chest. His hair looked like he had run his fingers through it too many times already today, giving it that messy look. He really was an attractive man.
“Honestly, I don’t know why you need me. You do a great job with those kids.”
“Oh…” He waved me off.
“I’m not kidding. I don’t know what use I am.”
Graham smiled, and I noticed green flecks in his dark eyes. He had great eyes.
“Having you there means a lot to the kids…and to me. It’s nice to have your support.” His statement seemed innocent, but with his earlier invite to dinner, I cringed. I didn’t want to lead him on. I wasn’t ready for this. I missed David.
“Anything for the kids, right?” No reason to give him any false hope. I was doing this because Sarah demanded it, as my boss. I wasn’t there to spend time with Graham.
“Hey, Jane. Graham. How’s the play coming along?” Sarah walked in.
Speak of the devil.
“Great. Thanks for suggesting Jane work with me. Her input and help has been invaluable.” Graham directed the comment to Sarah, but she looked to me before answering him.
“Has it now?” She smirked, as if in on some joke I missed. Knowing Sarah, that might be true. “I’m glad I suggested it. The drama club needs a good team this year after Miss Walters retired.”
“I better get going. Practice starts in a few minutes.” Graham walked to the door but paused before leaving. “I’ll see you later, then?” He waited for my answer.
“Sure, I’ll come by for a bit before I leave.”
With that, he left us alone. His retreating footsteps were the only sound heard for a few seconds, before Sarah broke the silence.
“So… Graham.” She trained her bright blue gaze on me.
“Don’t start, you hear?”
“What?”
“Don’t ‘what’ me. You don’t need any encouraging. I’m not interested in Graham, or anyone else. So leave it alone.” David was the man of my dreams. I wasn’t ready to move on. Would I ever be?
“Sure you aren’t.” Sarah crossed her arms and gave me a smug look. “Have you taken him up on his offer for dinner?”
“No. I told you, I’m not interested.” Didn’t she understand the hole David left when he died? I was broken, damaged. I wasn’t healed up yet.
“Interesting.” She gave me another one of her looks, the one that had gotten me in lots of trouble in the past.
“Whatever you’re planning, stop.” Best to nip it in the bud before she got too far.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her innocent look didn’t fool me one bit.
JACKSON
Today had been a grueling day of back-to-back meetings for the school construction project and a meeting with a potential new client up near Lake Peekskill. If I could make a good proposal, I might have landed my second job, a big stepping stone for JW Architecture Ltd.
After the pressure of today’s busy schedule, I looked forward to kicking back and taking it easy tonight. As I considered my options for takeout, I felt my cell vibrate in my pocket.
Sarah: Made lasagna tonight. Loads. Want to come over? About ready to eat.
Sarah’s lasagna was amazing, so going over would normally be an easy choice. After her stunt the other day, I wasn’t so eager. I just wanted a quiet, early night before I got up early to work on the new proposal.
Spending time with Sarah and her family was one of the reasons I’d moved home, though.
Jackson: Sure, be there in 5.
The lasagna was even better than I remembered. Sarah knew how to cook, something I missed a lot in Boston. My ex-wife, Ainsley, cooked, but it was never anything like what Mom or Sarah could do.
“How are you settling in?” Tom plopped down onto the sofa next to me. After all these years, he was still a good friend. Seeing him and Sarah together hit me hard. They fell in love as kids and made it work. Sixteen years, and counting. And if you paid attention, you could still see Tom had lovesick eyes when he looked at my sister. It gave a guy like me hope that true love really did exist.
“It’s been great so far. The house needs some work, and running my own business means long hours, but it’s work I love. I’m not complaining.”
“Sarah told me you ran into Jane the other day?”
“Ran into would be the right word.” My lips curled as I recalled her soft curves smacking into me, the shock on her face at seeing me. It took me back fifteen years.
“A first love is always hard to forget.” Tom smacked me on the back. I winced. He could read me so well.
“How would you know about forgetting? You married your first love!” I play punched him in the arm.
“See what I mean!” Tom shook his head. “I never could’ve let Sarah go. I knew I loved your sister the moment I set my sights on her. When you have a good thing staring you in the face, you don’t let go. You hang on, Jacks.”
Tom’s words kept playing in my mind long after I left their home that night. I found it hard to fall asleep, remembering the times I didn’t hang on to Jane and chose to let go instead. Would it have worked out differently if I fought for her and held on?
Stay tuned for Chapter 6 next week...
I hope you have a wonderful day, and stay tuned for more next week. 😊
Don't want to wait until next week to keep reading? Get the book in Amazon today, or borrow in Kindle Unlimited.
Lots of love,
M
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Mylissa's Books
Rules are made to be Broken (Book 1)
Rules are made to be Ignored (Book 2)
Rules Don't Apply
Playing by the Rules
The Songs of You and Me (Book 1)
The Songs That Brought Me Back (Book 2)
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