Release Day Blitz: Remembering Joy by Jenni Moen @jennimoen @NereydaG1003

Remembering Joy

by Jenni Moen

Release Date: 12/13/13

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Love is patient. 

It can happen when you least expect it, where you least expect it, with whom you least expect it.

Love is kind.

But love may not grow out of kindness. It can happen with the person who hates you most because love knows no bounds. 

And it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love doesn't hold a grudge.

Love forgives.

Love forgets.

But when the healing of your heart 

breaks the hearts of the ones you love …

it may seem impossible to

Find joy.

Available from:

Book One:

(linked to Goodreads)

Available from:

  

Excerpt 4: Expert Advice

"Warren, I'm seeing someone, and I'm afraid when mom finds out it's going to push her off the cliff again."

"Awww, shit. Aileen is doing great. She really is. And she talks about you all the time, son. She knows that she ain't always going to be your leading lady. She's prepared for that."

"It's not a girl that's the problem. It's the girl." I looked sullenly at the floor and dragged my foot along a grease stain. I was going to need to remember to take my shoes off before I went in mom's house or she was going to have a shit fit. "Mom's going to go nuts, but it's too late for me to change it. I'm in too deep."

"Has that fancy school taught you how to talk in riddles? What's wrong with this girl you're seeing? Did you meet her up there?"

"I met her up there, but she's actually from here." I took a deep breath. "It's Alexis Harper."

"Why do I know that name? That sounds familiar."

"Alexis Harper. Her dad is Garrett Harper." He looked at me and shook his head as if he was stumped.

Warren's eyes grew to the size of saucers, and he sucked in a sharp breath. "What in the hell is wrong with you, boy? I mean, how does that even happen?"

I shook my head, not sure what to say. How the hell did this even happen?

He was silent for a few long seconds. "I bet that's one hell of a story."

"Yeah, it's some fucked up shit. I can't even explain it to myself. How am I going to explain it to my mom?"

"I don't know," he said, shaking his head sadly. He knew what this was going to do to her. I spent the next hour telling him my story. Our story.

I told him everything. Every last thing that had happened during the past six months.

"Well, I was right. That is one hell of a story," he said, when I was through.

"It's going to kill her," I said.

"You love her?"

"No question."

"You can't walk away?"

"I don't think I could even if mom begged me. No. I won't."

Warren leaned back and crossed his feet. This was it. He was getting ready to dispense some real pearls of wisdom. I could feel it.

"Life's a funny, fucked up thing, Adam. But I think you got it right. You know firsthand how short and unpredictable life can be. If you get a chance at love, take it. If its good for the soul, do it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody ever said it would be easy, but I promise it's worth it. Tackle your problems, and keep your eyes on the prize. Listen to your heart. Go with your gut. But never your brain. Your brain will lead you astray."

"That's it? Go with my gut."

Warren shrugged and smiled slyly. "Yep, that's all I got."

I had been expecting something a little more profound.

About the Author

Jenni Moen lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three crazy, exuberant kids that have the potential to burn the house down at any moment. 

When she's not chauffeuring kids around town, performing her mom duties as a short order cook and maid, or vacuuming for her fastidious husband, she hammers away at her keyboard at her big girl job as a patent attorney. While vodka and exercise have provided some relief from the daily grind, it is reading … and now writing … that are her true escapes.

Author Links:

   

***GIVEAWAY***

1 - Print book set of Remembering Joy and Finding Joy (US only)

3 - eBook sets of Remembering Joy and Finding Joy (INT)

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Book Tour: War of the Wildlands By Lana Axe

War of the Wildlands
Tales from Nol'Deron
Lana Axe

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Publisher: AxeLord Publications

Date of Publication: November 2013

ISBN: 0615897134

Number of pages: 437
Word Count: 76,451

Cover Artist: Michael Gauss

Amazon | BN | Kobo | Smashwords

Book Description:

Unrelenting war between humans and elves threatens to destroy the forest forever.

A tyrant king has declared war on the elves and will stop at nothing to see them annihilated. Despite fighting savagely to defend their homes, the elves are outmatched by vicious attacks from highly skilled battle mages. The elven clans must join forces to have any chance of survival against the ruthless king's army.

Meanwhile, a young half-elf is forced from the human world he has always known and travels into the Wildlands to seek out his elven kin. Along the way, he learns to draw on the magic within himself to craft weapons of tremendous power. When war arrives on his doorstep, he must choose whether to stand with the family he has always known or the elves who share his blood.

Chapter 1

As he did every morning, Yori woke before dawn to begin his work at the smithy. He rose from his small cot and pulled back the curtain that separated his tiny living space from the rest of the shop. He splashed water over his face and around his neck and ran his fingers through his sandy blond hair. Carefully, he positioned a worn red headband at the precise level to cover the pointed tips of his ears. Life was easier in the village of Enald if its citizens could forget for a moment that his father had been an elf.

The shop was open-air with a low wall surrounding it, forcing customers to enter through the area farthest from the furnace. This design helped to avoid accidents from careless citizens, children, and animals. For the last few years, the shop had doubled as Yori's home. His aunt and uncle's cottage was too small to fit everyone comfortably, and the shop was safer having someone present all night. The cool fall weather made for pleasant nights, despite being out of doors. In the winter, he would move his cot closer to the furnace to stay warm.

Grabbing a leather apron from a hook near the anvil, he quickly tied it around himself to cover his tattered gray shirt. He began adding charcoal to the furnace and squeezed the bellows to fan the flames. His Uncle Ren always treated him well, but if the furnace was not hot enough to begin work at dawn, Yori could expect to receive an open-handed smack to the side of his head. To avoid the embarrassment, he always tended the fire first and made its maintenance his top priority throughout the day.

As dawn broke, Yori was still laying out tools for his uncle's use in the day's work. Out of nowhere, he heard a young girl screaming. Startled by the sound, he dropped the pliers in his hand, which fell to the ground with a thud. Realizing the cry had come from his young cousin, he immediately rushed toward the sound. As he stepped out of the shop, he saw arrows whizzing in every direction, and panicked villagers were running away. One lone little girl stood frozen in fear near the well.

Without a thought for his own safety, Yori rushed to the child and grabbed her in his arms. Just as he lifted her to run back to the smithy, his left calf was struck by an arrow. He dropped to his knees, barely setting the girl back on her feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her tear-stained face in his shoulder. Again he lifted her, ignoring the searing pain in his leg. Turning his back to the oncoming arrows in an effort to protect the girl, he limped as quickly as possible back to the safety of the shop.

Placing the girl behind the anvil, he grabbed the axe near the wood pile and readied himself for a fight. He had never been trained in fighting, but he had learned to defend himself as a child. As an outcast, his world had been full of bullies, and he had realized that fighting back felt much better than just accepting a beating. They may have beaten him worse for his efforts, but at least he had earned his lumps. He did not know exactly what he was facing or why his village was being attacked, but he was ready to defend his young cousin against whoever was approaching.

As quickly as the attack had begun, it ended. Villagers once again came out of their homes and began filling the streets. Yori set down the axe and knelt before the sobbing girl.

"Are you hurt, Meladee?" he asked.

The little girl shook her head. She raised an arm and pointed to the arrow sticking out of Yori's leg.

"It looks worse than it feels," he said, attempting to ease the girl's fear. In truth, his leg was throbbing and still bleeding a considerable amount.

Ren rushed out of his small cottage and ran to the smithy. "Yori!" he called. "Have you seen Meladee?"

"She's here," Yori replied.

The girl remained seated until her mother, who had run out of the cottage in her nightdress, rushed to her side. Meladee threw her arms around her mother and continued to weep.

"Yori's hurt," she managed to say through her sobs.

Ren knelt down to have a closer look at the arrow sticking out of Yori's leg. "This is going to hurt," he said, his dark eyes sympathetic. "You might want to bite down on the corner of your apron."

Yori, confused by the comment, looked down at his uncle just in time to see him grab hold of the arrow. In an instant, he yanked the shaft and pulled the arrow free. Yori screamed in pain and fell to his knees, grabbing at his injured calf.

"I told you to bite down on the leather, didn't I?" Ren said with a smile. "You'll be alright. Let's clean it and get a bandage on it."

As he watched his uncle retrieve an iron rod and place it in the fire, Yori realized what his uncle had meant by "clean it". He was going to cauterize it to stop the bleeding and seal the wound from infection. Yori's head swam as his Aunt Trella brought over a bowl of water and some cloth.

"It will only hurt for a second, and then you will feel much better," she said. Gently, she began wiping the wound with a wet cloth.

Ren approached, a red-hot iron rod in his hand. "Don't scream too much or you'll scare Meladee," he said. "Oh, and don't move around too much or I'll have to sit on you." He offered Yori a small stick of wood to bite down on, which the young man graciously accepted.

As the hot metal touched the wound, Yori moaned and grunted in agony. After a few seconds, the procedure was over. The pain had dulled but persisted. All the bleeding had stopped, and Ren offered Yori a hand getting back to his feet. Placing weight on the leg was agony, but he had very little choice. There was work to be done, and he could not spend the day sitting.

"They were Wild Elves," Meladee said quietly, her brown eyes still full of tears.

"You shouldn't be leaving the house alone," her mother chided. "You could have been killed."

"Did you see them, Meladee?" Yori asked, bending to her level.

The little girl nodded.

From the design of the arrow, Yori was forced to accept that the little girl must be correct. The speckled feathers and runed tip of the arrows left no doubt in his mind that Wild Elves had just attacked their village. This could only bring trouble for him and his family. The villagers already disliked him for being a half-breed, but now they might think he was a traitor.

Yori had never known any Wild Elves except his father, but he was killed when Yori was very young. His mother always spoke fondly of him, even though loving him made her an outcast among human society. According to her, the elves were not happy about it either. They refused to allow a human to live among their clan. Therefore, the couple chose to live independently at the edge of the woods. When she died, her brother took Yori in and put him to work in the smithy. He was not treated as a son but as an apprentice. Still, he was grateful to have someone looking after him in any way.

"This wasn't the Sycamore Clan," Ren said, looking at Yori. "Your father's clan is too far from here. I would wager anything it was the Oak Leaf Clan. They're nothing but trouble."

Members of the Oak Leaf Clan had been banned from trading in Enald's marketplace. On several occasions they had been accused of stealing and causing disturbances. They had gotten the reputation as troublemakers, but none of them were ever given a trial. If a human accused a Wild Elf of wrongdoing, then the elf was presumed guilty. King Domren had no use for elves in his kingdom, and he sanctioned all punishments against them.

"We may as well get to work," Ren suggested. "If we carry on like everything is normal, maybe we'll be left in peace." His voice contained very little hope. Since most people in town were aware of Yori's parentage, trouble was likely to find them.

Meladee squeezed Yori tightly before her mother led her back to their cottage. The poor child was covered in black soot from being held tightly against Yori's dusty apron. She would protest having a bath and would dislike having to wear clean clothes. She much preferred her tattered play clothes, which she only wore while she was in the smithy. She loved her cousin dearly and would rather spend the day in the hot, dirty shop than anywhere else as long as Yori was there.

Yori retrieved the pliers he had dropped earlier and continued to prepare his uncle's workbench for the day ahead. He checked on the furnace and decided it was hot enough for now. "Where should I begin?" he asked.

"Fetch that sword we've been working on. We need to finish up the hilt and get the whole thing together." He scratched at his beard as he spoke.

Yori did as he was told. For several weeks, they had worked together on a sword for one of King Domren's lieutenants at the palace. His father was originally from Enald and had purchased swords made by Ren's father. The quality of those swords was superior to the ones being crafted by the palace's smith, and the man had insisted Ren craft one for him in the tradition of his father. Yori himself had done half the work and was quite pleased with the outcome so far.

The sword's hilt was inlaid with ebony stones which Yori had shaped and polished meticulously. He offered the hilt to his uncle, who inspected it closely.

"This is well crafted," he said. "You're ready to fit it to the blade."

Yori carried the sword to his workbench at the back of the shop. As soon as he turned his back, one of Enald's wealthier citizens appeared in the doorway. He was dressed in a fine burgundy tunic and wore a large feather in his hat.

"What does that one know about the attack this morning?" the man said, pointing at Yori.

Yori turned to face the man, his eyes darting nervously to his uncle.

"He knows he got an arrow in the leg for rescuing my daughter," Ren replied, his tone suggesting he was well prepared for an argument.

"If he's been sneaking around with those savages, I'm going to inform the mayor," the man threatened. "His kind are not welcome here. You should have done away with him when he was a baby."

Ren grabbed a hammer from his workbench and walked toward the man. "I suggest you get out of my shop and leave the boy alone."

"Boy?" the man scoffed. "I know for a fact he's at least seventeen. He's a man and should be fighting his own battles by now. A war is coming, and he will betray this town if he gets the chance."

"My family is here," Yori said. "I don't even know any elves other than the ones who trade goods here. They weren't the ones who attacked us."

"So you know which clan it was?" the man asked. "Apparently you do know a thing or two. Perhaps you should come and speak to the mayor yourself and save him the trouble of sending the guards."

"Get out of here before I bury this hammer in your skull!" Ren's tone meant business, and his face was serious. He tightened his grip on the hammer.

Seeing that he had truly angered the smith, the man decided to back down. He turned and strode briskly from the shop.

"I should have kept my mouth shut," Yori said, his pale green eyes focusing on the floor. "I always say the wrong thing."

"Don't worry about it," Ren replied. "It wouldn't have mattered what you said. That asshole came here looking for a fight, and he nearly got one."

Yori turned back to his workbench and tried to occupy his mind with his work. He was worried that others in the village would also come to accuse him, and he hated the thought of causing trouble for his uncle. For now, he would simply focus on his work and avoid visiting other areas of the village.

"You'll have to sleep at the house tonight," Ren said. "I don't know how safe you'll be out here. We'll just have to make some room."

Yori nodded and tried to hide the relief he felt. The last thing he wanted was to be alone at night with a town full of angry citizens. If the attacks continued, his life could very well be in danger.

Author Interview:

The Avid Reader: What inspired you to write War of the Wildlands?

Lana Axe: This story has been swimming around in my head for about eight years. It features a fictional area of forest known as the Wildlands, which were highly inspired by the forests in my home state of Missouri. With all the deforestation going on around us, I hope my story might strike a chord with readers, and maybe even prompt them to action.

The Avid Reader: When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Lana Axe: I'm not sure exactly when it all started. I would guess it happened about eight years ago when I started writing notes for what has become my Tales from Nol'Deron series.

The Avid Reader: What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?

Lana Axe: I've been reading as far back as I can remember. I have always been a bookworm, and I always will be. When I was in elementary school, the librarian gave me special permission to check out books from the older kids' section. I've always remembered feeling proud of that. In high school, I was awarded a scholarship based on the number of books I had read.

The Avid Reader: What genre of books do you enjoy reading?

Lana Axe: I mostly enjoy reading fantasy books. I love being taken to new worlds, especially if it involves magic. I also enjoy sci-fi and historical fiction.

The Avid Reader: What is your favorite book?

Lana Axe: Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi.

The Avid Reader: You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?

Lana Axe: Do I have to choose? It's a close call between Mark Twain and JRR Tolkien. Both men have been true inspirations in my life, and I re-read their works frequently.

The Avid Reader: If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?

Lana Axe: I would love to visit ancient Egypt. They have a fascinating and rich culture that I would love to experience firsthand.

The Avid Reader: When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?

Lana Axe: Most days it comes naturally, but I don't usually write more than a thousand words a day on average. Some days I write more, and some days I have to force myself to write anything.

The Avid Reader: Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?

Lana Axe: I have twelve pets: one dog, three cats, three birds, four turtles, and a bearded dragon.

The Avid Reader: What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?

Lana Axe: Pizza and donuts. Not together, of course.

The Avid Reader: Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?

Lana Axe: Start writing now. Don't keep putting it off. Everyone makes excuses and says there isn't time. Take the time and get started. You won't regret it.

About the Author:

Lana Axe lives in Missouri near the edge of the woods. She is inspired by her love of nature to write about elves, magic, and adventure. Growing up in Mark Twain's backyard inspired her love of fiction from an early age. She grew up an avid reader and went on to study literature in college.

After eight years of jotting notes and building a fantasy world, she has finally begun releasing novels in her Tales from Nol'Deron series. They will feature many of the same characters, but each novel will stand alone.

Author Links:

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Giveaway:

$25 Amazon gift card

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Release Day Blitz: A Breath of Winter By Hailey Edwards @oopsireadagain @HaileyEdwards

Title: A Breath of Winter (Araneae Nation #4)
Author: Hailey Edwards
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Date of Publication: December 10, 2013

Blurb:

There's no easy cure for a love of epidemic proportions.

Araneae Nation, Book 4

Zuri and her mercenary brothers had a simple mission. Transport a captured harbinger to Erania and collect the bounty. But this job turns out to be anything but easy.

Their welcome to the northland is nothing short of frigid. A scuffle with border guards and her prisoner's attempted escape leave Zuri injured-and she and her brothers stuck in quarantine. Worse, the bounty comes with silken strings attached. Strings held by a scientist with a daring, dangerous plan.

Because Zuri and her prisoner barged in before his fail-safes were in place, Henri had no choice but to lock them all down until he's sure there's no risk of spreading plague. He'd planned to study the harbinger, but it's the mercenary holding the leash who intrigues him the most.

When Henri's experiment goes awry, they learn they've all been pawns in a plan with one goal: bring the Araneae Nation to its knees. Zuri is forced to make a choice that could sign her death warrant-or sacrifice everyone she loves.

Warning: This book contains a chair-bound heroine who won't let anyone-least of all a man-push her around. Expect tea-drinking, net-tossing, and knife-wielding. Should you feel compelled to indulge in a bear ride, please keep your hands on the reins and your feet in the stirrups. Author not responsible for possible maulings.

Goodreads

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Excerpt

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A Breath of Winter by Hailey Edwards - Chapter 1 by Dianne Acoba

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About Hailey Edwards

Born in the Deep South, Hailey is a lifelong resident of Alabama. Her husband works for the local sheriff's department and her daughter is counting down the days until she's old enough to audition for American Idol. Her doxie, Black Ilex, helps Hailey write by snoozing in his recliner in her office.

Her desire to explore without leaving the comforts of home fueled her love of reading and writing. Whenever the itch for adventure strikes, Hailey can be found with her nose glued to her Kindle's screen or squinting at her monitor as she writes her next happily-ever-after.

She loves to hear from readers. Drop her a line here. You can also swing by her blog or subscribe to her announcement list for notifications of new releases.

Author links

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway

One ebook of Hailey's backlist from Samhain Publishing. List of books

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Lacey Wolfe's Hot Bods Series

Lacey Wolfe's Hot Bods Series

Fool Me Once

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…

Drew is the last person Skylar wanted to see across from her at a local bar. A month ago he'd wined and dined her all weekend, leaving her feeling fully in love, but then she awoke alone in an empty hotel room and she hadn't heard from him since.

The weekend Drew spent with Skylar was phenomenal. There had never been anyone who made him feel as complete as she did. He shouldn't have disappeared, he should have called, but his feelings for her scared him, so he distanced himself. But when he saw her again, he knew he couldn't stay away any longer.

Skylar's determined not to give Drew another chance to hurt her, but he's just as determined to win her back. Although it won't be easy, he's up to the challenge, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal.

Fool Me Once is on Sale for $.99 in the month of December!

Buy Links: Beachwalk Press Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks

More Than Useful

Can she settle for just a little fun?

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning Adam stops by Amy's bakery for one of her delicious muffins…and a little flirting. When he finally asks her out, Amy is thrilled.

Adam informs her from the beginning that he isn't looking for anything serious. Just a little fun. Amy agrees, even though she isn't entirely sure that's what she wants.

She does her best to play it cool, but Adam is sending so many mixed signals he's confusing her, which she finds incredibly frustrating.

Adam is terrified by the feelings he's developing for Amy. It would be so much easier if he just backed away from her. Then there's his sister, who is insisting that Amy is not the right girl for him.

Will Adam be able to figure out what his heart desires before it's too late and he loses his chance at true happiness?

Content Warning: explicit sex

Buy Links: Beachwalk Press Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks

Accidental Love

Has Jane accidentally fallen for the decoy?

Sometimes there is only one thing to do when you get dumped-make the ex jealous with someone new. Which is exactly what Jane plans to do with Ben, an older, handsome man who has agreed to act as her new love interest.

When Ben meets Toby, Jane's unruly dog, he offers to help her train him. But as Ben helps Jane gain control of her dog, he realizes he's lost control of his feelings, and he's beginning to fall for the much younger woman.

Suddenly, Jane can't seem to remember what she ever saw in her ex. All she can focus on is the way Ben makes her feel each time he kisses her. But now the ex has decided he wants her back, and he's willing to play dirty to make it happen.

Content Warning: Explicit sex

Buy Links: Beachwalk Press Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks

Opposites Attract

Francesca thought she knew what she wanted in life until one stormy night when she got a blast from the past.

When Randy receives a call at his auto shop one night from a woman whose car has broken down and needs a tow, he never imagined he'd be coming face-to-face with his high school sweetheart. Randy has never loved a woman the way he loved Francesca, but she broke his heart, claiming he could never provide the life she was determined to have. That was years ago, but he's still bitter about the way she tossed him aside.

Seeing Randy again, Francesca realizes what a mistake it was to breakup with him. She'd like to try to rekindle the old flame, and she can tell he's still attracted to her too, but every time they're together, all they do is argue. Can she convince Randy she isn't the girl he remembers and that she can settle for love even if it comes without money?

Content Warning: explicit sex

Buy Links: Beachwalk Press Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks

Watch the Trailer: YouTube Link

About The Author:

Lacey Wolfe has always had a passion for words, whether it's getting lost in a book or writing her own. From the time she was a child she would slip away to write short stories about people she knew and fantasies she wished would happen. It has always been her dream to be a published author and with her two children now of school age, she finally has the time to work on making her dream come true.

Lacey lives in Georgia with her husband, son and daughter, their six cats and one black lab who rules the house.

Author Links: Her Site Twitter Facebook

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Book Blitz: Class of '98 by A.L. Player @NereydaG1003 #Giveaway

Class of '98

by A.L. Player

Summary from Goodreads:

Jackie Dunn and Matt Stewart barely knew each other in high school, back when she was a blue-haired alterna-kid and he was a preppy jock. High school rules dictated they'd never hang out, or sit at the same lunch table, or God forbid, date.

But when a weird storm transports them from their ten-year reunion back to senior year, they have to work together to figure out a way to get back to 2008.

Stuck in high school, Jackie and Matt agree to tough it out. They agree to do everything exactly as they remember, even though that means staying with the boyfriend Jackie knows will betray her, or playing nice with the girl that will someday be Matt's ex-wife. Soon, they come to rely on one other, even become friends.

Jackie's just starting to get used to curfews and term papers again, when Matt hits her with the biggest surprise of all: he's fallen in love with her. He'll change the past however he has to if it means a future with Jackie. But Jackie's terrified they'll not only alter their lives, but the lives of everyone around them.

Back to the Future meets She's All That, Class of '98 is a young adult/adult crossover that will appeal to teens and adults.

Available from:
 

CHAPTER ONE

Jackie Dunn needed a change, and she was about to get one.  For four years she had worked in the same bile-yellow cubicle, listening to her officemate hum flat tunes over the partition.  She had slogged through twelve-hour days, translating page after page of legalese that scrambled her brain.  She had taken contracts home over weekends and holidays.  Now all that work was about to pay off.  Today, at four o'clock, she would meet with the partners, who would give her the promotion she'd been desperate for.

            She had the whole day planned for weeks.  First, the purchase of her celebratory coffee a half hour before her meeting with the partners to allow it time to cool to the perfect temperature. That first sugary, whipped-cream-and-chocolate sip would taste particularly good when the partners told her the international liaison position was hers.  Then, she would sign the new contract, which promised not only her own office-complete with hum-silencing door-but also a hefty raise and frequent trips to Spain, Chile, and Argentina to meet with the heads of the companies her firm did business with.  On those late evenings when she thought she couldn't work another minute, she'd used the dreams of sprawling on sunny Chilean beaches or late dinners at the Ritz-Carlton Madrid to propel her forward.

            The icing on her perfect day's cake would be leaving the office a few minutes early to zip down the highway to her ten-year high school reunion.  She picked out her favorite blue dress and brown wedge boots and wore them to work so she wouldn't have to stop by her condo on the way to the school.  Jackie could envision herself, clad in the perfect outfit, greeting old friends and not-so-subtly slipping in news of her promotion.  Her classmates would have to be impressed at how perfectly her life had come together.

The partners announced the month before that the choice was between her and one other candidate, Walker Melton.  She absolutely had the advantage.  As far as she could tell, the most Walker Melton had contributed to the office was a tendency to tell off-color jokes at the worst possible moment.  She hadn't been sure the promotion was hers until that afternoon, though.  The partners went in for their meeting to discuss the candidates, with Jackie's boss, Tyrone, in tow.  Jackie searched Tyrone's face for a sign, and he grinned and winked.  She took the look as a green light to run to Starbucks for the seven-dollar calorie bomb she never would have allowed herself on a normal day. 

At last, the electric-blue clock on her desk clicked over to four o'clock.  Jackie closed her laptop, grabbed the coffee, and walked down the plush carpet to the conference room for her meeting.  Tyrone and the partners were already assembled, standing beside the round oak table.  Her grin wilted a little.  Shouldn't they sit down to sign the contract?  Her stomach dropped.  A quick glance at their hands told her no one had papers of any kind.

Mr. Houston, the short, bald senior partner, nodded at her.  He offered her a tight smile.  "Good afternoon, Jackie.  Thanks for meeting with us."

"Thank you, Mr. Houston."  She went to take a seat in one of the high-backed leather chairs, but he held up a hand to stop her.

"This…this won't take long."

Oh, no.  Jackie placed a hand on the back of the chair, in an imitation of nonchalance, but the wheeled chair shifted and she had to do a quick sidestep to keep her balance.

Tyrone stepped forward.  "Jackie, you know we appreciate how much you do for this company.  This was a really tough decision.  But, in the end, the partners and I have decided to go with Walker."  He smiled a little.  "Something good will come up for you soon, I'm sure."

Jackie gritted her teeth, but the words still screamed in her head.  But my office!  With a door!  The Ritz-Carlton!  The beeeeeeach.  She took a deep breath and nodded.  "Right.  Well.  Thanks for considering me," she said, gripping the coffee in both hands.  She turned to walk out, and Tyrone followed her back to her cubicle.

"Try not to let it get to you," he said.

"You know I do twice the work he does."  Jackie leaned against the wall.  "I basically did the entire last contract translation by myself."

            Tyrone held up his hands.  "It's true.  You're a real team player.  But you have to take into account that Walker's kid was sick those two weeks."

            "I thought the kid just had the chicken pox."

"Walker took on as much as he could, but his family comes first.  That's just not something you have to worry about at this point." 

            Jackie threw a hand in the air.  "And that's what this is about, isn't it?  I'm single, I can spend all weekend poring over work, right?  No kids, no sick days." 

            Tyrone ran a hand over his shaved head.  "Look, when you're the one with a family you'll be glad this company takes that into account.  Your day is coming.  It's just not today."

            Jackie looked down at the formerly celebratory coffee and decided to re-christen it as a comfort coffee.  She raised it to her lips and tilted the cup, ready for its warm reassurance.  Instead, she felt a tap of plastic on her nose, followed by a flood of liquid over her mouth and down her dress.  The lid, now resting in a brownish puddle on the floor, hadn't been on tight enough, and the entire drink now soaked through her favorite outfit. 

She squeezed her eyes shut for a long moment as coffee dripped from her chin.  When she opened them again, Tyrone stood staring at her, his mouth slack and his brown eyes wide.  She straightened her shoulders and back, trying to reclaim what little dignity she could with a beverage slopped down her front.

            "I'm taking a personal day," she said.

            Tyrone glanced at the clock.  "It's four-fifteen."

            She dropped the empty cup into the trashcan and grabbed her purse.  "Then I'm taking a personal hour, I guess.  See you Monday." 

            "Wait," Tyrone said. 

            Jackie turned back to him and fought the urge to scream.  "Yes?"

            He cleared his throat and picked up a file folder from her desk.  "Any chance you could take a look at the new contract this weekend?"

            In the silence that followed, she could hear the drip of coffee from her dress hitting the floor.  Every muscle in her body felt like a rubber band about to snap.  Even her hair was tense.  Tyrone raised his eyebrows.  Finally, Jackie held out a hand, and he gave her the file folder.

            "Thanks," he called over her shoulder as she sped down the hall.

            On the way to the elevator, she ducked into the bathroom for paper towels, but they did nothing to sop up the brown stain spreading across the dress.  The coffee did, however, make the outline of her bra and panties clear through the thin fabric.  She wiped the last of the coffee off her chin then sprinted back out toward the elevator, holding her purse awkwardly across her front to try to cover the mess.  As soon as she hit the button, the elevator door dinged open, and she breathed a little sigh of relief when she stepped in.  Maybe she could get to the parking garage without anyone seeing her. 

            A hand appeared between the closing doors.  They sprang open again and Walker Melton stepped in, all goofy grin, bulging eyes, and a frat-boy sweep of brown hair.  The four-letter words bounced around in Jackie's head so forcefully, she worried they might project out of her eyes and onto the wall of the elevator, like a vulgar PowerPoint slide.

            "Hey, Jackie," he said, as his eyes traveled down her front.  "Whoa, did you spill something?"

            "No.  Purely decorative."  She held her purse in front of her again, jabbing the button for the parking deck five or six more times, until the doors slowly closed.  "I guess congratulations are in order."

            "Thanks.  Not sure my wife is going to like the idea of all those trips abroad.  Maybe if I bring her along once in a while.  Company's already paying for the hotel rooms, right?"  He winked at her. 

            "Look at you, already embezzling like a pro," she said.

            His brow wrinkled, and he took on the faraway look of someone trying to do long division in his head.  "Ha, yeah.  Anyway.  You got anything going on this weekend?"

            The thought smacked her between the eyes: the reunion.  She glanced down at her dress, then over at the ring on Walker's thick finger, glinting in the fluorescent light.

            "I'm supposed to go to my high school reunion, but…I'm not sure if I really want to go anymore," she said.

            "You should go.  Reunions are a blast."  The elevator doors slid open and Walker stepped through.  He waved goodbye and grinned at Jackie.  "Have fun."

            Oh yeah, she thought as the doors slid closed.  After a day like this?  Nothing more fun than a trip down memory lane.

About the Author

A. L. Player teaches middle and high school English in Atlanta, GA.  She lives with her guitar-playing, English-teaching husband and their three crazy rescue dogs.  Her last name gets about the reaction you'd expect.

CLASS OF '98 is A.L.'s first novel.

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