Not Her Story by Linda Bleser

Author:Linda Bleser [Bleser, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: amnesia; novel; suspense; past secrets; lies; writer; contemporary; damaged heroine. deception; mystery/suspense; troubled past
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Present Day

The next morning, Ben slipped out of bed early while Meg was still asleep. He had an hour before he had to leave for work and his mind was swirling with ideas. He made a cup of coffee and went down to the basement where he had a small desk in what he liked to call “his writing corner.” He opened his laptop, anxious to begin.

When was the last time he’d felt the urge to write? He couldn’t remember. His muse had abandoned him, and he hadn’t felt creative in months, maybe years. Now, finally, he had a story to tell. But this was different. This was his life…or a fairytale version.

At first, he’d only intended to set the facts down into some kind of story bible he could give to Lucy and Sierra. That way they would be sure to keep their facts straight and not get tripped up on some small piece of information one of them was unaware of.

But soon the character he was writing about began to speak to him. He felt that familiar rush of inspiration, the need to discover more about the person developing on the page. Ideas came rushing to him and he wrote feverishly. He’d forgotten what it felt like to be totally in the flow.

Meg’s new story took on a life of its own. He embellished details until the character he created became more real to him than the wife he’d known all these years. Her tics and traits were endearing, her character flawless. She was every man’s dream and every woman’s best friend.

He continued writing, caught up in the imaginary story of the way things could have been.

“Not Chinese again,” Ben said with an indulgent smile.

“I can’t help it,” Meg replied. “I’m addicted to teriyaki sauce.”

“I’ll buy you a bottle.”

“Oh, come on,” she said. “It’ll be my treat.”

Ben caved in. He really couldn’t complain. He liked Chinese food as much as Meg did, and Lucky Yum Yum’s buffet was one of their favorite places to eat. He’d just hoped for something with a little more class to pop the question tonight, but Meg had shot down each and every one of his dinner suggestions. So Chinese it would be.

Ben imagined himself telling the story of their engagement for years to come. “It was her choice to go for Chinese,” he’d say. “I’d have preferred dinner by candlelight, but whatever Meg wants, Meg gets.” Then she’d smile at him with a look of adoration.

At least that’s how it went in his own imagination.

And everything went just as he’d imagined it would, right up to the moment their fortune cookies arrived. Ben snapped his open first and read, “All of your questions will soon be answered.”

Well, that was encouraging. He fingered the ring in his pocket while Meg opened her cookie. “What’s it say?”

She smiled as she read the fortune. “The decisions you make today will change your life forever.”

“That’s true,” he said. He slid out of the booth and bent down on one knee.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.