Bones of a Feather - Carolyn Haines [0]
Acknowledgments
A book is a long labor of inspiration and then just plain hard work. The St. Martin’s team—Kelley Ragland, Matt Martz, Sarah Melnyk, Hiro Kimura, and the dozens of sales reps, marketers, and forces that I don’t even know about that go into putting a book into the hands of the readers—has been wonderful to work with.
I also want to acknowledge the booksellers who recommend my books. The publishing world is changing, and I’ve never been fond of radical change in any form. But I have unshakable faith that there will always be those of us who write stories, those who sell stories, and those who can’t imagine life without reading. We are bonded in a business that requires long, long hours but so much joy. So while I thank the bookstores that put my books on the shelf, I also thank the readers.
In the past year, the folks who love my characters have talked about my books and brought new readers to the Bones series. I owe these friends a lot, and I will do my best each time I sit down to write to “build” a story that fulfills my end of this bargain.
A year’s worth of thanks go to Marian Young. We’ve been together a long time, and I couldn’t have had a better agent along this road.
I’ve put together a real team of talented people, including Priya, who are helping me with new ideas and ventures. Rebecca Crowley at RTC Publicity, Stephanie Ryan, graphic designer, Jennifer Williamson, business brain, and Sarah Bewley, the czar of terrific workshops/fun events—I thank them all.
Suzann Ledbetter Ellingsworth provided the valuable service of reading this book. Few books are created without the input of friends and professionals. In my case, I’m lucky to have both helping me to make my story as good as it can be.
The fun continues with the next installment of Sarah Booth and her friends, which I’m busy writing now. Thank you all.
Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Also by Carolyn Haines
Copyright
1
Graf Milieu, my fiancé, stands in the sunlight filtering through the sheers of the bedroom window. His dark hair hangs over one eye as he drinks a cup of coffee and watches over me.
“I love you, Sarah Booth Delaney,” he says, and he means every word.
“Come here.” I reach for him, light winking on the diamond of my engagement ring. My hands know the contours of his body, the curve of bicep and length of thigh. Male perfection. The bed is empty without him.
“Sleep, Sarah Booth.”
“No, wait,” I tell him. “Don’t go. Come back to bed.”
“Sleep,” he orders. He smiles and fades as the dream recedes and I open my eyes to a sunny morning. Graf is gone, and I’m home in the middle of the Mississippi Delta at the height of summer. Even so early in the morning, the day is already hot.
I roll out of bed and pad barefoot down the stairs toward the kitchen and coffee. The dream has left me empty and dissatisfied.
Wandering the rooms of Dahlia House, I have an inkling of what it must be like to be Jitty. This old house, my family dwelling, the repository of my roots and history, is empty without the warm energy of my significant other, Graf Milieu. That handsome hunk of man drove away at the crack of dawn this morning, headed to the Memphis airport and a flight to Hollywood. He’s taken the lead in a new thriller set in Louisiana. The good news is, once the location work starts, he’ll be one state away. Close enough for some “us” time.
For now, though, I’m alone in Zinnia, Mississippi, land of my birth and place where my ancestors rest. Some easy, some not. A long list of repairs on my rambling home awaits my attention. For too long, Dahlia House has been neglected.
“Follow the yellow brick road!