And the winner is...

The winner for the Five Favorite Things Blog Hop is Kimberly Holgate, according to random.org! She's the lucky winner of a copy of Irish Rising. I hope she enjoys it.

This weekend was a very productive weekend. I cleaned my house, especially the kitchen. I even had to get Mr. Marie involved in the washing and putting away the dishes. It was that big an undertaking! I'm not proud of it. I let everything go while I was finishing Bound in Evil.

The house is decorated for Christmas but unfortunately I can't seem to find the wreaths we put on the doors. This upsets me because we don't put up a Christmas tree because of the cats. My husband is afraid of choking  hazards with the cats.While he's going to be a great dad and always look for potential hazards, around Christmas it really sucks! I used to decorate a mean tree. I think of all my Disney ornaments laying in boxes and it just seems wrong.

Also a little disappointed that I didn't receive my first round of edits this weekend. I received a nice note from my copy editor on Tuesday stating, I would receive my edits by Sunday. Well, on Saturday morning when I hadn't heard from her, I decided to email. I didn't receive an answer until late last night. So obviously, no edits. She said she hadn't realized how long the book was and she was going slow and steady with the edits. Hmmmm... now when things are simply stated like that my mind races.

1. It is so bad that it needs A LOT of editing. I'll be the first one to admit I'm not the best editor. I can read, and read, and read. Most of the time, I'll not catch the problems because I read it as it's supposed to be read in my head instead of what's on the page.

2. She never mentioned anything about the content she read. Does she hate it? Does it suck? I've had good responses from people who have read pieces of it but...

Insecurities are buzzing right now. One of the reasons is that my editor in chief didn't read it when I submitted it. On one hand, she has faith in my ability and just sent if off to the editors. But what if it really sucks?

I guess I'm feeling a bit needy today. Yesterday was the hubby's birthday and it was great for him but a lot of planning on my part (and money). This year, he wanted high ticket items. I was able to give them to him because next year we will be focusing on paying for an adoption. I'm also trying to squeeze out one more trip to Disney in May. My entire family is going for my sister's 40th birthday celebration. I missed out on my own because of the rounds and rounds of IVF. I don't want to miss it now.

Time to get ready for work!!! Five more days until vacation, not that I'm counting. School is going to be a tense place today and that's all I'm going to say on the subject.

Peace out,
MRD

Five Favorite Things Holiday Hop

Raindrops on roses,

And Whiskers on kittens,

Bright copper kettles 

and warm woolen mitten

Brown paper packages 

Tied up with string

These are a few of my favorite things

Some of the Secret Cravings Publishing Authors are having a blog hop this weekend showcasing our favorite things. The last is one of our favorite books to give away. The hop will run today and tomorrow (the hubby's birthday!!!) You have many opportunities to win. First comment here to win a copy of my book Irish Rising. Then you have an opportunity to go over to the Secret Cravings Readers Page on Facebook to make a comment for a chance to win. Lastly, go over to the main SCP blog site to win. Wow! So much winner, just call us Oprah, of course without the vast quantities of money (Although Santa, I've been really, really, really good this year!!).

So we begins...

Favorite Food

This one is difficult because I love a lot of food. Food that's not good for you but if I had to narrow  it down to a favorite, it would be chips. Now you're saying, "Marie, that's not specific enough either." The thing is, I will eat any type of chip. I'm an equal opportunity chip eater. The hubby says, "If you were Superman, chips would be your Kryptonite." He's is totally correct. I don't even keep them in the house because I will go through them like a Hoover vacuum cleaner. I mean it. Don't even get me started on Doritos! I have literally made myself sick eating a whole bag. *Hangs head for a moment* Not my most "shiny" moment... oh well.

Favorite Place

My favorite place in the whole entire world is Disney World. Yes, you read it right, Disney World. My sister and I are two of those people if you gave them a trip every year, we'd be making the trek down south to visit Mickey and Minnie. My sister only decorates her Christmas trees with Disney ornaments, not to say I don't have my fair share. I love the hotels, the food, the rides. I don't even mind the heat in August. Although, when we went on our honeymoon it got extremely hot between the temperature and the humidity to try even the vast quantity of my patience. At one point, after an extremely long and hot day, we returned to the hotel. In the lobby, a child of twelve was having a meltdown in front of their equally hot and tired parents. At first, you felt sorry for the couple. NO one wants to have their older child have a meltdown in public. As we got closer, the kid picked it up a few notches, he started jumping up and down screaming at the top of his parents. "I WANT MORE MONEY." Well, maybe it was the heat, or the teacher in me that can't stand a bratty child but for some reason I felt the need to dispel some advice (those of you that know the real mean, know I'd rather swallow my tongue than do something like this.). My husband, sensing with his "hubbysense" must have realized I was going to do something terribly out of character, grabbed my hand and started dragging me through the lobby, a lot faster than my hobbit-size legs could go. As I was dragged by the chaos, I shouted out, "I wouldn't give that kid anything but a time out!" I was immediately put to bed with "heat exhaustion" but since it was the honeymoon, it totally worked out in my favor! ;) 

Favorite thing to do

It's really a toss up between writing and reading. Although, I do love a good movie marathon in there. I'm a creature of habit. Every time I veer out of my comfort zone, something happens. Really, I'm not making it up, "says the fiction writer". I tried camping and hiking. I went on a trip with my husband and brother two summers ago to the top of Mt. GETMETHEFUCKOFF. It was cold, even in August! The final bear in that coffin was when a bear walked through the site and banged on our food locker all night. When the sky finally began to gray with the first morning light, I demanded we break camp and go home. Sorry... my ideal vacation is above. I need a bed, someone to cook my food, and definitely no real bears taking stroll possibly eating a "Little Marie" in the middle of the night. I told my husband I will eventually try camping again but it will have to be at a safe campsite, with running water, showers, and real toilets. A woman has to have some standards!!!

Favorite person

My husband... aw... It's true. For all of the times, he totally frustrates me and makes me angry, he also makes me laugh. I truly married my best friend. I enjoy spending time with him above other people. Sometimes, I think my writing is the hardest on him. When I'm deep into a story, I totally ignore everything and that includes him. So, it's been almost a week since I sent off Bound in Evil to my editor. I've been spending a lot of time with him to make up for weeks and weeks of ignoring him and then falling into the bed for a coma-like sleep!!!

Favorite Book

Asking an author to choose their favorite book is like asking a parent to choose there favorite child. So, I'm going to highlight the book that never seems to get the same attention as the others. Maybe because it's the middle book right now, I really don't know.

Irish Rising

Famous romance writer, Kim Green went to Ireland with her two cousins to research the setting of her new book and have some quality girl bonding fun. She’s in the business of writing about love. She didn’t expect it find her on the street in a sleep Irish town with a sexy, “I want to drown in your chocolate eyes” pub owner.

Duncan Murphy never believed in the old family legend. The idea a trapped mermaid granted his family the ability to recognize their one true love was absurd to him until he spots a sexy American across the street from his pub. Something deep within him recognized her as his other half

They’re drawn together in an explosive first encounter. Life is blissful until a misunderstanding threatens to tear them apart. Is their fragile newfound romance something legends are made of or the misguided belief in an ancient fantasy? 

Comment to win a copy of Kim and Duncan's hot story. What are a few of your favorite things?

Also stop by the Secret Cravings Fan Page to see about other contests and things to win

http://www.facebook.com/secretcravingspublishing

Another place to hop off to is the Secret Cravings Readers page on Facebook. You can found out all of the other places to go to get some holiday goodies.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/256038187798868/

Lastly, (wow), join us on our Secret Cravings Blog Homepage to find out all the other authors on this hop!

http://SECRETCRAVINGSPUBLISHING.BLOGSPOT.COM/

All I can say is that Secret Cravings is the place to be this weekend!!!

Peace out,
MRD

SCP Five Favorite Things' Giveaway

Channeling the spirit of Oprah, some of the authors at Secret Cravings Publishing are having a giveaway blog hop. Each author, starting tomorrow will be putting up a list of our five favorite things. The last thing will be about favorite book to give away. All you have to do is comment and you're entered. So come back and visit me tomorrow to see the goodies I'll be giving away!

Peace out,
MRD

Hump Day Hook Blog

Hi all,
It's Wednesday again and Wednesday is Hump Day Hook. A time when some of the writers at Secret Cravings Publishing give you a little tease of something either old or new. I'm back out of the intense writing cave to start participating again.

More on the good news front, I received word from my line editor last night. She should have the first round of edit from Bound in Evil to me by Sunday. This is one of the reasons why I love being an author at Secret Cravings. I've had the same editor for all of my books. So she knows me and my writing style! Woo-hoo! I don't know about you but I really like edits. It's a process that will only make my story better.

So to celebrate my upcoming release of Bound in Evil, I'm going to give you a little tease. At first here is the cover... which I absolutely love.

Bound in Evil is the first book in my new paranormal erotic romance series. Isn't it both hot and creepy and the same time?

Now a quick look at Bound in Evil.

The scratching came first. Nate heard it coming from beyond the circle of birch trees in front of him. It sounded like something with long nails scratching, scraping, and trying to dig itself out of its grave in the earth. The earth finally cracked and bubbling out of the fissure, a mixture of black mud and rotting leaves. The smell of decay practically choked the breath out of him. The ungodly wailing coming from the monster caused Nate to freeze in his spot. It grew and grew, muck building upon muck, until it had somewhat of a human form, its eyes just huge, deep black caverns, worms wiggling viciously trying to get away from the creature.

            Even though his blood ran cold, Nate stood his ground. “I’m not afraid of you.” They were brave words but when you don’t have anything else, you use what you have.

I hope the small snippet intrigues you and leaves you wanting more for my upcoming new release.

Peace out, 

MRD

A great thanks...

I am overwhelmed with the amount of support  that all of the SCP authors received during our Wounded Warriors Blog Hop. When I signed up, I was extremely leery about getting thirty comments. On a normal day, I usually receive two. I already resigned myself to the fact that no matter what I was going to make my donation. Yes, I did get my normal commenters (love you two) but colored me shocked when thirty-nine other people also commented. It is a testament to people's passion about our former service members that this charity helps.

I have been a super bad blogger lately. In all honesty, blogging is last on my list but I am going to try to at least blog twice a week. If I do more, then I'll consider it a bonus.

SUPER GREAT NEWS!!!

Bound in Evil is finally completed. I sent it off to my editor and it topped the word count at fifty-five thousand words. The relief I felt was overwhelming yesterday. It's not that I didn't enjoy writing the book because I did. I actually think it's one of the best things I've ever written but I also found something out about myself. I don't like writing under a deadline. For most people, a deadline would spur them into action and help them write more. For myself, it creates a writer's blog so big you'd need Paul Bunyon's hatchet to chop through it.

So I'm going to breath for the next few days. My house looks like a bomb had hit it. I haven't cleaned in about two weeks. I love Mr. Marie but a housekeeper, he is not! There is not one Christmas decoration to be found. People on my block are going to start talking soon. I'm never this late with the decorations. Also forget about paperwork with the day job, it's going to take me until Christmas to dig out of that mess. Lastly, I'm going to read. I can't remember the last time I've read a book. I think as a writer, it's good to recharge the batteries by reading some good stories. Maybe that was part of my creative problems with writing this book. I was so focused on the writer in my that I neglected the reader and I think they go hand in hand.

So hopefully in the next two weeks, life will turn to "normal" for a while and then I'll start writing Bound in Deceit, Seth and Gemma's story.

Peace out,
MRD

Wounded Warriors Blog Hop

The holidays are a crazy time. We worry about presents, and decorating (for me I'm finishing the last few thousand words on Bound in Evil. We, at Secret Cravings Publishing, would like to give back to the men and women who have served our country during this holiday season. So during this blog hop, for thirty comments, each of us is giving $30 to the Wounded Warrior Project. Its a wonderful worthwhile charity.

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

I'm giving away a copy of Fated Mates and Saddle Up to one lucky commenter. Tell me about one of your favorite holiday memories. Don't forget to leave your email, so I can get in touch with you for your prize.

Please go back to the main Secret Cravings Blog Hop page to visit the other wonderful authors on this hop. If you're unfamiliar with my work and want to check out my books, click on the links at the side of the page.

http://SECRETCRAVINGSPUBLISHING.BLOGSPOT.COM/

Peace out,
Marie Rose Dufour

Hump Day Hook

Welcome to Wednesday and Hump Day Hook. Here's a never before seen excerpt of Saddle Up. If you love cowboys and cougar stories, this one's for you.

Tasha nervously licked her lips, which immediately brought his attention to her mouth. He groaned and leaned into her slightly, his soft looking lips hovering a mere whisper above hers. His minty breath fanned her face. If either of them moved just a millimeter their lips would meet. Tasha held her breath, her pulse racing with the intense desire to be kissed by this man.

Suddenly a car alarm shrieked out next to them breaking the spell, both of them jumped apart like two teenagers caught necking in the car. She saw regret in his eyes as he moved away from her and closed the door, causing the truck to shake with more force than was necessary. She watched him round the front of the truck as she tried to remember how to breathe. He muttered to himself and even slapped his hat against his leg in frustration.

Happy Veteran's Day

I would like to thank all of the men and women who have served this country. It is due to all of your efforts that I am able to live in a country where I can do what I do. Help SCP celebrate with a special romance anthology. $2.50 of each of each sale of  The Call of Duty Anthology will go to Operation Gratitude which mails packages to soldiers overseas.

http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=15&products_id=448


Military romance can come in as many flavors as ice cream. Call of Duty, a military romance anthology from Secret Cravings Publishing, offers five different flavors of military romance with stories from five different authors. From historical to contemporary, from male military personnel to female, from broken homes to couples just getting together you’ll find emotionally scorching stories with humor, passion and plenty of steam, all ending happily. Enlist in hours of reading pleasure with Call of Duty, a different kind of anthology.Contribute while you read! Secret Cravings Publishing is donating half the proceeds from sales of Call of Duty to Operation: Gratitude, an outfit that funds care packages for the military.

Excerpts

Healing Hearts Excerpt by Jackie M. Smith

Elodie closed her eyes and let Jack hold her. She wanted to pull away, but his comforting arms made her forget her woes and the war raging around them. Why must he be so nice to her? He was her patient, nothing more could happen between them. Besides, once he left her care, she would never see him again.

“We should go back inside,” she said stepping back.

Jack cupped her face and stared into her eyes. His thumb glided along her lips, coaxing them to open. A honeyed sensation pooled within her depths. Her breath slowed and her heart thumped with anticipation. Her gaze went to his tempting lips. If only she could taste him just once before she no longer saw him. He lifted her chin to kiss her cheek. His hot breath warmed her skin and radiated through her. His lips inched to the side and moved across hers in a slow tempting dance. Her head spun with a burning desire for Jack. Heaven help me! She was losing herself, her heart to this man she barely knew. She surrounded his neck with her arms, pulling him closer, feeling him. His tongue requested entrance and she let him in. No man had ever kissed her with such passion. A memory of her fiancé entered her mind. She broke Jack’s spell before she lost herself to him forever. Stepping back, she touched her warm moist lips, oddly longing for another kiss.

“Please forgive me. I shouldn’t have kissed you in such a manner,” he replied with regret in his voice.

Elodie looked at him and saw the distress on his face. Her heart sank. She cleared her throat. “We should get back inside before they come looking for us.”

While she helped Jack in the wheelchair, Elodie willed her heart to stop racing. She touched her lips, still feeling his mouth upon hers. She wished for more of his kisses, but it wasn’t possible. A breath stuck in her throat as the thought of never seeing Jack again ran through her mind. Maybe if they had met in another time or place, love could be possible for them. She squeezed her eyes and chided herself for letting Jack kiss her and for letting herself feel again. She thanked the heavens no one saw them. Her cheeks warmed at the thought of them stealing a kiss. She couldn’t recall one moment when her fiancé had done the same with her. No matter, she reasoned. Jack Cassidy will never kiss her again.

“Thank you for your kindness, mademoiselle,” Jack said, gently grasping her hand.

“Do you need anything?” she asked, adjusting his pillow.

“I’d like some water, please.”

Elodie poured him a glass and handed it to Jack. Their fingers touched, sending a spark through her arm. She bit her lower lip. The need to rest in Jack’s arms grew with every moment passed in his presence. She wanted him to kiss her until she no longer felt her lips. She shook her head.

“Are you all right?” Jack’s low baritone broke her reverie.

She gave a short nod.

“If you need to talk, I’m here,” he said with honesty.

“I’ll check up on you later.” She smiled and released her hand slowly from his.

Elodie walked away, longing for some time alone. But her duties needed her attention first. The distraction, she hoped, would help her forget how much she wanted Jack’s strong arms around her. She shook her head. “Stop thinking about Jack Cassidy,” she chided herself. “He will only leave you too.” Unshed tears stung her eyes as she folded clean linens. Before the head nurse saw her, Elodie wiped at her wet cheek and took a few deep breaths. Once Jack left the hospital, he would forget about her, and she would forget him.

She giggled. How could she forget him? He was unlike any other patient who came into her care. Something about him called out to her. His strength, courage and kindness toward her touched her to her very core. And his lips against hers made him unforgettable. She let out a low groan. Why must he be so irresistible?

A hand on her shoulder gave her a start. She lifted her head and saw Jack standing at the linen closet door. His wide shoulders filled the doorway. A breath caught in her throat.

“What are you doing here? If Nurse Valmont sees you here, she will have my hide.”

He smiled. “I needed something.”

She stood. “What is that?”

“This.”

Jack caught her mouth with his, moving across her lips in a slow and delicious manner. His good arm drew her into his embrace. Her head spun, and she swore she saw stars behind her closed eyes. She searched for a hard surface with her hands and found his chest. A low moan escaped her throat when his tongue glided along her bottom lip. His mouth left hers and descended down her neck, gliding his tongue along the delicate spot behind her ear.

“Jack,” she whispered.

“Hmm,” he replied, feeling his hot breath against her ear.

Heat coursed through her blood, making her weak in the knees. She held on to Jack a bit more, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Kiss me.”

His lips turned up in a boyish grin. “Say it again.”

“Kiss me.”

He granted her wish, tasting her lips once more. She lost herself in his embrace, wishing this moment never ended. Their bodies pressed against each other, she felt his growing desire for her. Or was it her imagination? His ragged breathing teasing her neck told her he wanted her as much as she desired him. She cupped his face and captured his lips as he had done to her. If they had no other moment like this, she wanted Jack to know how much she wanted him, how much he touched her heart in the short time they had known each other. As their tongues mingled, she tasted him until her mind blurred, no longer concerned with her surroundings. All she wanted was to feel Jack and remember this moment forever.

A soft knock at the closed door made Elodie jerk. Panic filled her.

“Hurry. You must hide,” she said, helping Jack hide behind the door before fixing her hair.

She pulled on the knob and relaxed. . “Anything wrong?” Elodie asked Isabelle, hoping her friend didn’t notice her heated cheeks.

“Nurse Valmont needs you.”

“I’ll be right there.” Elodie closed the door and leaned her head against the cool hard surface.

“Please forgive me for getting you in trouble,” Jack spoke behind her.

Elodie turned and cupped his strong jaw between her trembling hands. “You should return to your bed before someone realizes you’re gone, or you will be in trouble.”

He chuckled.

She loved his laugh. Without thinking, she took his lips between hers, tasting him one last time. “Please, leave,” she whispered, leaning her head against his chest.

Jack lifted her chin. “I’ll see you later.”

She nodded.

He left her breathless once more. She let out a low groan, hoping the frustration building within her would leave. Why couldn’t she resist Jack Cassidy? His touch and kisses left a lasting memory within her, and no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t help wanting more of him. Taking a deep breath, she prayed for strength and for her heart to resist the only man who showed her passion. Was it already too late?

To Love a Soldier Excerpt by Lacie Nation

Jamie woke when Adam kicked her as he thrashed around in his sleep. He was having a nightmare. She smoothed his hair trying to calm him. But as soon as her hand made contact with him, he grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the bed. His face no longer held the peaceful look she loved so much. Now, his handsome features were twisted in anguish as horror swirled in his eyes.

"Adam," she said softly so she didn’t scare him anymore than he already was. "Adam, it’s me. It’s Jamie." His grip tightened on her wrists. "Adam, calm down baby."

Adam’s face was only an inch away from hers. Her words weren’t registering, so she did the only thing she could think of. She kissed him. He tensed for a moment before he returned her kiss with so much passion it made her toes curl. Jamie knew she should ask him what had happened, but as she felt the tension in his body leave, she couldn’t bring herself to bring the subject back up.

"I love you Jamie," he whispered against her neck and placed open mouthed kisses on her collarbone. 

Love After All Excerpt by Sandy Sullivan

The satiny slide of silk caressing her left nipple, made her breath catch in her throat. Wayne’s lips followed the material, soft, wet across her breast. He knew exactly what to do to make her want him. How he did it, Maggie didn’t know, but he always seemed to bring out the best and the worst in her, at least from the moment they hooked up again.

The glare of the Vegas lights illuminated the expensive hotel room from the line of windows encompassing one whole wall. No Motel Six for Wayne Ridges. Only the best would do. Penthouse suite, open bar with more liquor than the best cowboy bars in Houston and silk sheets on the bed. Things a top bullrider could afford boggled her mind—luxuries she could only hope to have one day. The room had a huge king sized bed near the bank of windows with a separate living area where one could dine, drink or sit back and watch television if they so chose. Color from the flashing neon lights on the strip, bounced off the white walls of the room, capturing her attention. Flash. Dark. Flash. Dark. The rhythmic pattern of the lights hypnotized her as thoughts of where they would go once this little rendezvous ended, clouded her mind.

"You’re thinkin’ too much, Maggie."

"Sorry."

"What’cha thinkin’ about?" he asked right before his mouth closed over her nipple. Blue eyes glanced up through thick dark lashes. At six foot four and all muscle, the man could stop traffic on a bad day or cause an accident on a good.

Not ready to tell him exactly where her thoughts drifted, she said, "You and what you do to me. You can wind me up like a top."

He slowly drew her nipple into his mouth with a steady pull as his hand crept down her abdomen heading for the place she needed his touch like her next breath.

The suction on her breast made her hips surge up when his fingers found the tiny nub of her sex. God, the man is good. Fingers parted her pussy lips to give him better access to the place he sought. She knew from experience with Wayne, it wouldn’t take much to have her soaring amongst the clouds.

They’d been together for the last two weeks but their time was coming to an end. She had to return to duty while he would return home. Her unit would be shipping out for Afghanistan in two days for an eighteen month tour. She didn’t want to go, but her job called. Normal duty for her meant sheet metal work on jet fighters coming in and out of Nellis Airforce Base. Days on end of riveting, grinding and painting. Most people found her job funny since normally a man would be in this type of position. She didn’t.

"Am I that boring, Maggie?"

"What?" Startled out of her reverence, she said, "No, why would you say something so demeaning?"

"Your mind is wandering off while I’m makin’ love to you. I obviously can’t hold your attention." 

Serving Her Heart Excerpt by D.F. Krieger

The smile on his face reassured her immediately. "We get lots of break downs and, seeing as how I'm one of two towers in this town, I'm often on call during the nights. Though, when I pick up pretty women who've broken down all alone on the highway, I like to invite myself up to their room."

Laurie laughed even as a thrill zipped its way through her body. "Oh really now? And how many of these women would you say you've rescued and seduced in such a manner."

Patrick's expression turned serious as he sat up straight and studied her. "Point five," he replied.

"Point five? What kind of number is that?" Laurie wrinkled her nose, confused by his answer.

"Well, I think I might be about halfway through my first try." He grinned at her and she could have sworn the entire cab of the truck lit up. "Now I implement my cunning strategy of blackmail."

Almost involuntarily, Laurie licked her lips. Blackmail, eh? I hope it involves a kiss, that's for sure. "What strategy would that be?" She was proud that she managed to keep her voice steady despite the increased heart rate she was experiencing.

"I might be able to convince the mechanic at the shop to come in tomorrow morning and fix your car up, if…" He paused and she waited, holding her breath. "If you were willing to go to dinner with me in about an hour."

Even though Laurie wanted to whoop her joy to the world, she managed to contain it. Instead, she leaned forward and in a seductive tone said, "What if I say no?"

"Then I convince the mechanic anyway, clean up, buy flowers, and try harder." Patrick winked at her.

"I'll see you in an hour." She opened the door, pulled her suitcase through the opening behind the seat, climbed out, and made her way to the hotel doors. The bounce in her step was almost as big as the butterflies in her stomach.

Sweet Love Remembered Excerpt by Jean C. Joachim

“Get out of the car.”

“What’d I say?”

“Get out.” Perri shifted the car into drive.

“Look, Perri, the kid’s been gone for five years already. When are you gonna let go?” Ike closed the door but leaned on the open window, in no hurry to leave.

“Mike. The kid’s name was Mike,” Perri said as she peeled out, depressing the gas pedal almost to the floor. “Asshole.”

Perri slowed down when she crossed the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey. She forked right onto the Palisades Parkway, then leaned back against the rich leather seat of her BMW. The drive to Pine Grove was so familiar she could do it in her sleep.

You’d be five today, Mikey. If you had lived. It’s five years since we scattered your ashes in Cedar Lake.

June twenty-second, the day before Mikey’s birthday, was the day of Perri’s annual trip to Pine Grove. She took a shaky breath. SIDS took four-month-old Michael Jessup. The son of Perri and Sergeant Matthew Jessup…once her husband, now her ex. 

Perri pulled into the driveway of the Pine Grove Guesthouse facing Cedar Lake. She had a standing reservation for the same week every year. Lacy Ryan, gray-haired owner of the guesthouse, had Perri’s room ready. She took a freshly baked cookie off the plate Lacy was holding.

“Room’s ready, Perri.” Lacy hugged the pretty brunette.

“What’s all that lumber in old Doc Branford’s yard?” Perri munched on her cookie.

“Doc moved to Florida. Somebody bought the place. Fixin’ it up too.” Lacy took the plate into the kitchen. “Coffee’s still hot.”

Perri felt a twinge in her gut. Doc Branford’s house was the house she and Matt stayed in on their brief honeymoon. He was on leave from the Marines when they met. Every year Perri peered at the old place from next door, watching it get more dilapidated and seedy. She couldn’t bear to stay there. Too many memories…it’s where Mike was conceived. They stayed there again when they brought his ashes up…when they had that brutal fight. Perri shook her head to get rid of the memory.

“He wouldn’t have died if you’d been here instead of Afghanistan!” she screamed at him.

“You…you let my son die!” he hollered back.

The shouting match echoed in her brain as if she was hearing it for the first time. Her stomach knotted as the horrible words they exchanged knifed through her gut.