30 Days (Lost Love Trilogy #1) - Belle Brooks Page 0,80
cause him to breathe heavily, and when his eyes met mine again, they were soft yet sad. “What’s wrong?”
“Abstar,” he began, as if hesitant to continue. “I made a mistake. A whopping big one. And I want you to know I’m deeply sorry.”
“Dad …” I bit at my lip.
“I want this to turn out okay. Well, I’m hoping. I need to do this with you now before too much more time passes.”
“You can’t adopt me out. I’m much too old, you know,” I teased, hoping to prolong a situation I could see was going to cause me hurt.
“I’m not adopting you out, silly girl. This isn’t one of those joking times, Abstar. I need to be serious now.”
“Okay,” I muttered.
“So about a month ago, I was given some news.”
“No. Dad, are you dying? Please don’t tell me you’re sick, have cancer, or are dying. I can’t live without you. Are we going to the Brisbane hospital? Oh crap, we are, aren’t we?”
Dad placed his hand on top of mine, which was resting on my knee. “Stop. Don’t get your knickers in a knot, sweetheart. I’m not dying. I’m going nowhere near the pearly gates of Heaven for a very long time. Now breathe before you turn blue.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“I don’t mean to. I just can’t find the words to tell you what needs to be said.”
“You’ve never had trouble before.” My thumbnail slipped between my teeth, a nervous habit.
“Baby girl … I was so drunk and stupid. Actually, I don’t want you to ever think you can use alcohol as an excuse, so scrap that.” His words are hesitant, his breath laboured.
“Dad, I promise whatever it is, it’ll be okay. I love you. You’re my daddy. You can say it.”
And just as he went to speak, Rodger the Dodger started barrelling smoke from under the hood and the car chugged to the emergency lane off the highway.
“Oh bugger,” Dad said, opening the driver’s door. “Don’t do this to me now, Grandpa Rodger. What has you burning up, old friend?” he spoke out loud to his beloved car.
“What’s the problem?” I jumped out to help him, and the warm sun instantly heated my chilled skin, skin I’d not realised had become so cold from the Dodger’s air-conditioning.
“Not sure yet, baby girl. Step back while I get this hood lifted.” Smoke puffed from under the cover like from a steam train. “I’m going to have to call someone to help with this. Stand clear of the old guy, will you?”
“Okay.” I approached the driver’s door.
I took one step, two steps, three steps to the side, and stood watching puffs of smoke drifting across the highway.
“Hey, mate, have a wee problem,” I heard Dad say before I looked over the roof of the car and saw him grinning his cheeky grin at me with his mobile in hand.
Screech!
The sound was deafening.
“Dad, watch out!” I shrieked at the top of my lungs.
Bang. Crash!
The crunch of splitting metal raced through my ears.
“No,” I wailed.
Rodger was pushed towards me, another car forcing him my way. I stood still, shocked, frozen. The car spun around my body, missing me on every turn. The entire world slowed. I tried to scream as my head turned to witness Rodger reared up on its side before it flipped repeatedly.
“Dad,” I screamed when I could find my voice again. My breath hitched and my legs gave way. I was falling …
“I’ve got you,” he said. Chocolate eyes stared into mine. “Holy shit,” he cussed with his mouth wide open.
Marcus.
My eyes spring open. I’m huffing and puffing, my fear palpable. I calm my breathing, but I still feel like I’m falling. Marcus caught me. I’m awake? Confusion. “Holy fuck, we’re actually falling,” I cry.
Confusion.
Wait.
The plane! “Holy fuck! We’re actually falling!”
“Don’t panic, Abigail.” The captain’s tone is strained. “I’ve got this old girl under control. I’ll get her to the ground. Hold on tight.”
“Holy fuck … holy fuck,” I repeat under my breath as my life flashes before my eyes, stopping on a vision of Marcus, who is peacefully standing in front of me. A wide smile, a small scar no bigger than my fingernail, a face of a god gazing at me adoringly. We’re dancing on top of a mountain. I’m blissfully happy. My skin glows, and I’m wearing a flowy blue dress, which fans outwards as Marcus spins me, causing me to laugh loudly.
“I love you, Abigail,” Marcus whispers, pressing his body to mine. His warmth leaves me as he drops to one knee.
A red velvet box is held open.
I take a step back as my heart bursts with excitement. I squeal, stepping back a few more times …
I slip. I’m slipping. I fall. My hands cling onto a cliff face as my nails scrape through the dirt. I’m not stopping. I’m going over. The pain in Marcus’s voice as he screams my name is torturous. I can’t hold on. I’m falling …
The plane windows rattle around me. My gaze darts frantically in every direction before I squeeze my eyes shut and breathe out, “I’m going to die.”
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Acknowledgements
Where to start?
Without these following people I’m not sure I’d have published in the end, so a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to: Liz Lovelock, Kirsty Roworth, Tracey Wilson-Vuolo, Rhona Tactor … You ladies are the most amazing and kindest people. I am so incredibly lucky to get to call you all my friends.
To my darling children who make me strive to be all that I can be in this life. I love you to the moon and back.
To my wonderful editorial and creative crew: Lauren McKellar, KM Golland, Jaye Cox, and Marisa Rose-Wesley. You ladies have talent beyond belief and I’m so grateful for all that you have done to assist me on my journey.
Lastly, I’d like to thank everybody who has helped to promote my work, and to all the readers. Without readers, there’d be no purpose for my words.
Also by Belle
Coming Soon – Pre order now available
The Mama Diaries: Book One
Available Now
Thirty Days Trilogy
30 Days: Part One
30 Days: Part Two
30 Days: Part Three
The Game Of Life Series
One Fear
Two Footsteps
Three Breaths
Four Hearts
Five Fights
Standalones
All for You
Winner
That Guy
Game of Life
Miss Not Together
Bang Bang
Serials
Mister Uno
Mister Dos
Mister Tres
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