looking for a new life, and I found you. And I don’t want my life with you to end.”
“Thank Christ.” He brushed a kiss to her lips. “Otherwise this would have been an awkward moment. Flip it over.”
She did, and in her hand on the back side of his note, were two tickets to Rome, Italy.
“You want to take me to Rome?” she asked.
“I want to take you a lot of places, but I figured I have a lot of groveling to do, so I picked one off your list first,” he teased, and she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. “With that reaction, I’m good going solely off your list.”
“I love lists,” she said, kissing him again. “And I love you.”
And when they were done kissing, Annie asked, “Did you read the PS on the back of my last note?”
His expression said he had, in fact, not. She pressed her lips together while he flipped it over, then let out a laugh.
“I guess I have a lot more groveling to do.” He planted one on her that left them both breathless, and Annie was no longer afraid to be one of a kind, because with Emmitt she was perfectly happy to be exactly who she was—living and loving and thriving in the in-between.
Dear Reader,
This story began nineteen years ago in a hospital in Hanoi, when our family was brought together in the most unexpected of ways.
There I stood, staring down at my daughter, Thuy, with her gentle spirit and cute little ears—a sign of luck, I was told—and I thought, What a miracle. Among the billions of people on this planet, and separated by over seven thousand miles of ocean, we managed to find each other. Being a mother and raising Thuy has been the greatest experience of my life.
Her journey hasn’t always been easy. I’ve watched with pride and sometimes anger as she’s struggled and fought for her place, not just as a woman but as a woman of color, in today’s society. Raised in a predominantly white community, she felt isolated as the only Asian girl with white parents.
She felt trapped between two cultures, fearing she’d never be fully accepted by either. It was her courage and desire to see people like her in the pages of my books that inspired me to write RomeAntically Challenged, a story about a Vietnamese adoptee’s journey toward self-discovery when her origins are seven thousand miles away.
I am thrilled to introduce Annie Walsh and Emmitt Bradley, two lost souls who come to Rome, Rhode Island, in hopes of finding that elusive thing they’re missing—not knowing that the answer might be standing right in front of them. I truly hope you have loved reading their story as much as I loved writing it.
With love,
Marina Adair
Acknowledgments
When my husband and I met two strangers at the San Francisco International Airport, we had no idea it would end up here. I want to thank Rich and Hoan Sherwood for welcoming two complete unknowns into your family and, especially Hoan, my real-life Joan of Arc, for charging through every obstacle so we could bring our daughter home. And to the other gracious people whose kindness I could never even begin to repay: Aunti Thao and Brother-in-law Hai for treating us like family, Phuong Anh for ensuring Thuy was in my arms on Mother’s Day, Thai and Van Nguyen for being our Ho Chi Minh City liaisons (and lifelong friends). And to Dr. Tsuong, Nurse Tran, and the entire nursing staff at Hanoi Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital for the excellent care and compassion you showed our family. To Mr. Dat, Mrs. Thu from the Ministry of Health, the people from the passport and visa offices, and the many, many other people who were a part of this amazing journey. And to North Bay Adoption, on behalf of all the families you helped, thank you for your dedication to international adoption, uniting families, and believing that families come in all forms.
A special thank-you to my editor Alicia Condon for her enthusiasm and support for a story about a woman of color and about marginalized communities, Alex Nicolajsen for encouraging me to write Annie as I saw her and for your friendship, and the rest of the team at Kensington for all the support. And to my wonderful agent, Jill Marsal, who has become one of the most important women in my life, I treasure you.
And finally, to my husband, Rocco, a master of the art of handholding and unconditional love. And to my daughter, Thuy, the inspiration behind Annie, a character who represents all your sides. Being your mother has been the most rewarding and important part of my life, I couldn’t be prouder of the woman you’ve become. The day you were placed in my arms was the day my heart became whole.
Marina Adair may have been raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but with a Southern father and a live-in granny, growing up was closer to the Clampetts than the Cleavers. Marina graduated magna cum laude with a BA in film studies and is working toward a master’s of fine arts in creative writing at San Jose State University. A member of the Romance Writers of America, she currently resides in the majestic redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains with her husband, daughter, three kitties, eleven chickens, and the occasional wild turkey. Check out her website at www.MarinaAdair.com or become a fan on Facebook, MarinaAdair, and follow her on Twitter: MarinaEAdair.