Fall to Pieces - Shari J. Ryan Page 0,98
you get home.”
“Right,” he snickers. “You’ll be asleep in my bed. This drama is unnecessary, Emma, so just stop. I have to get back to work now that I’ve wasted my entire lunch break listening to your empty threats.”
You’re the one who called me; I want to tell him. “Okay,” I calmly say again. “Have a good day?” I hang up the phone and wish I could erase Mike from my life as easily as I could delete him from my phone contacts. Whatever the case, I need to remove that man from my thoughts for a bit so I can put on a smile for Grams. She can always tell something is wrong by the way I blink.
I let myself into her house, finding her leaning against an end table in her living room. “Grams, what’s wrong?” I ask.
She appears startled as she jumps and clutches at the collar of her blouse. “Emma,” she huffs. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
I look past her, toward the microwave. “It’s two fifteen on the dot,” I say. It’s the same time I come by most days. Mom checks in on her in the morning before she goes to work, I usually check on her midday, and Aunt Annie checks on her just before dinner time. Thankfully, we all live in a close vicinity.
“Oh, right, right…sorry,” she says.
“It’s okay,” I tell her as I gently place my hand on her shoulder and guide her into the family room. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes,” she says, the word vibrating against the hollow of her throat.
“Are you in pain? What’s going on?” I ask, immediately filled with concern, but I already know about the palpitations she was getting earlier.
“I think I’m going to die today,” she says, sounding helpless.
“No, you’re not,” I say as I help her take a seat.
Grams sits carefully, sinking into the plushness of her worn heather gray recliner. “I’m ninety-two, Emma. It’s seventy-four years longer than I expected to live.”
I take a seat on the arm of the chair and rest my head on her frail shoulder. “Why are you talking like this?” I ask.
With an exhausted sigh and a slight shake of her head, she replies, “I don’t know.” Her hand drops to her lap, and her eyes go wide as if she’s staring through a wall across the room, or staring at a ghost. “It’s just the truth. I shouldn’t be here.” I’m very confused by what she’s saying, and I wish Grams would explain herself a bit more. “My heart aches. My hands are shaky and my voice always quakes, but I know I’m not ready for the end.”
I spring to my feet. “I’ll call 9-1-1, then your doctor. Did you take a baby aspirin this morning?”
“No,” she snaps before tugging at my arm so I’ll sit back down. “It hurts inside. I’m scared.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about?” She doesn’t speak this way. She’s strong and brave, never afraid.
“It has been more than seventy-four years,” she says again.
“Since what?” I ask.
“It isn’t important,” she says as she presses her head into the indentation she has made on her chair over the years. Her eyelids close, and she places her soft hand on mine. “Emma, you will always be my sweetheart. You know that, right?”
“Grams,” I shout, startled. I press my hands into her shoulders and shake her. “Grams!”
No, no, no! I run to grab my phone, trembling as I dial 9-1-1, and the world freezes in time as I wait what seems like an eternity before my call is connected.
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About the Author
Shari J. Ryan is an USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary Romance and Women’s Fiction.
She lives in Massachusetts with her wicked awesome husband and two amazing sons. Shari started her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer, then found her passion for writing books back in 2011. She has been slaying words and creating imaginary friends ever since.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include: Last Words, The Other Blue Sky, Unspoken Words, A Heart of Time, and Shattered Stars
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Also By Shari J. Ryan
Women’s Fiction / Contemporary Romance
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The Barrel House Series
Bourbon Love Notes - Book 1
Bourbon on the Rocks - Book 2
Bourbon Nights - Book 3
Bourbon Fireball - Book 4
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Shattered Stars
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The Last Words Series
Last Words
The Other Blue Sky
Unspoken Words
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The Heart Series (3 Books) Boxset
Ravel
Red Nights
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Romantic Comedy
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The Man Cave Series (5 books)
Queen of the Throne
Spiked Lemonade
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Romantic Suspense
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Darkest Perception
Raine’s Haven
No Way Out (3 books)
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Acknowledgments
In no particular order because I love you all …
My alpha readers/friends/support/everything … Tracey, Heather, Emily, Heidi, Freesia, and Linda — thank you for keeping up with me when I needed you the most. I’m so grateful for the help and support you give me.
To all who have had a part in helping with this book, thank you so much!
PR & Marketing: Foreword PR
Editing by: Cindy Dimpfl
My family—Mom, Dad, Mark, Ev, Lori, Phil, Ava, Chase, Grandma, and Papa—I love you so much.
My two boys: Bryce and Brayden, my sunshine and sweetest soul, I love watching you grow into the amazing people who will become.
Josh, I love you more than I can ever put into words. Thanks for having my back and being my partner in crime for life. Love you!