Circle in the Sand (28 page)

My parents exchange proud glances, ones I don’t remember seeing in a long time. Maybe
that’s what grandmother has left me.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Bill says. “There is one last thing.” He opens his brief case, reaches
in and gently pulls the item out.

It takes me a second to recognize what it is. A smile materializes on my face. I rise
and take the wooden box in my hands, staring at the top. I run my hands over the exquisite
rose.

“What is it?” my mother asks.

“It’s a keepsake box that Travis made for her.”

“Oh, it’s beautiful,” she says.

“Wow, Sage, a man with skilled hands. How nice for you,” Sierra says.

My mother and I fling our disapproving expressions her way. But I’m immediately drawn
back to the box. It leaves me speechless. I couldn’t be happier that Rose wanted to
leave this for me. Until I lift the lid. That’s when my heart sinks. My eyes sting
and pool with water. The shine of the platinum gold chain catches my eye first. I
grasp the chain between two fingers, drawing it up and out of the box, the sapphire
charm hanging at the end. I set the box on the table, and then lay the charm across
my palm to study its brilliance.

“It’s Rose’s necklace,” my mother says.

Sierra and my father stand. “Is that the one your dad gave to her?” Sierra asks my
father.

“Yes,” he says. “I guess we know why we couldn’t find it for the service.”

I hand the necklace to my mother. “Will you, please?”

She takes it from my hands and places it around my neck, clasping it in the back.
I turn to face her, my fingers reaching for it. “It’s beautiful on you,” she says.
I see her eyes blur with tears.

This is the most precious gift I’ve received in my life, and its presence alone will
not only give me the strength my grandmother lived her life with, but also the love
we ultimately shared.

“Holy crap, that hurts!” Sage yells to Jax, who’s sitting next to her, holding back
a smirk. “He’s sticking me with a needle!”

As I sit in the back pretending not to enjoy it, I can’t believe Sage is going through
with this.

Jax shrugs. “You’re doing great.”

Sage gives two overly enthusiastic thumbs up. “Did all of your tattoos hurt this much?”
she says.

“Not really. Mine were sprinkled on with fairy dust.” Jax says. Then she looks over
at me and gives me that heart-melting smile. It’s the same one she used when she talked
me into being their chauffeur for the day.

“Very funny,” Sage says.

“Believe me,” Jax says. “When Travis sees that, he’ll relieve some of that pain for
you.”

“Really?” Sage says. It wasn’t the purpose of the tattoo, but I’d guess that is an
added bonus. She seems to be insanely wild for the ex-con. I guess he’s proving to
be a decent enough guy. For now. “So, yours gets Ned a little…worked up?” she says.

“Let’s just say he gives them a lot of special attention. Sometimes when we’re in
bed, he…”

“Hey, I’m right here,” I say. But secretly, my pride just went into overdrive.

The tattoo artist, Hank, looks away from his work, giving me an appreciative smile
and head nod.

“Geez, TMI, Jax,” Sage says. “What time is it?”

“It’s only eleven fifteen,” she says. “We’ll make it. And we have most of the day.
I have to be at the bar by six.”

I love that I can read every facial expression Jax has, every nuance in her eyes and
her smile. Even from back here, I can see the mere thought of her new job gets her
excited. I wouldn’t have thought when she took the job two weeks ago that managing
the bar would make her feel this damn good.

“All right, boss lady,” Sage says. “We wouldn’t want you to be late.”

I’m proud of Sage for finally realizing that wanting to change the Jax she has known
and loved for twenty years was just plain crazy.

Jax lifts up her phone, and then snaps a picture of Sage wincing in the reclined chair
with a heavily inked man focused on her left ankle. She types out a quick caption
before reading it aloud, “Go Sage.”

“Who are you sending that to?” Sage asks.

“Only a few hundred people.”

“Nice!” I say.

Forty minutes later, the job is finally done. We examine the artwork while Hank, looks
on.

“I think it’s gorgeous, Sage,” Jax says, admiring the small, red rose located on the
outside of her ankle. “Rose would love it.”

“My grandmother loving a tattoo?” Sage says. I notice her smile through the pain,
so I’ll take that as a yes.

“The new Rose would have. The skinny-dipping one.” I grin.

“You’re right.” Sage’s fingers wander to her grandmother’s charm hanging from the
chain around her neck. I don’t think she’s taken it off since the day she received
it.

“It’s sweet you did it for her,” Jax says.

“Thanks. And thank you for coming with me.”

Jax grabs Sage’s hand, giving it a firm squeeze. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”

Hank leans back, folding his arms across his chest. “Are we going to sing ‘Wind Beneath
My Wings’ now, or are we pretty much done here?”

“We’re done,” Sage says. “Thank you.”

“Thanks, Hank. Tell Gert I said hi,” Jax says.

In the car, Sage props her bandaged ankle on the back of Jax’s seat while I drive.
We make one stop before arriving at our destination. We wait in the car with the windows
rolled down, while a cool breeze filters through them. It has been a pleasant spring
on all accounts. Jax muses about spring, telling us that the season refers to the
idea of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal—something all of us have experienced in one
way or another. But more importantly, Emily, Sage, and Jax have learned to accept
themselves and each other, unconditionally.

Sage’s phone alerts her of a text. Jax and I glance back to see her expression change
as she reads it.

“Good news?” Jax asks.

“It was the foster-care agency thanking me for my donation.”

“That must feel so good.”

It wasn’t long after Rose’s death that Sage finally fulfilled her grandmother’s wish.
To find a place to make a donation that would have special meaning to her. And though
she still hopes to have children of her own one day, the whole storing eggs decision
opened her eyes to other possibilities as well. “It does. I wish I could have shared
this with Rose while she was here though.”

“She trusted you, Sage,” I say.

Then Jax says, “She knew you’d find the right places for her money.”

“I know.” Then she gazes out the window, pointing. “Hey, there she is.”

Emily spots us, invigorates her strides into skips until she is steps away. She pulls
open a door and hops in back, giddy as a teenager out of school for the summer. “God,
I’m glad that’s over.” She eyeballs the girls as they sip dark, cool drinks from a
straw. “Ooh, Java chips. Where’s mine? Where’s mine?”

“Hey, sis,” I say.

Sage hands her the drink from the cup holder. “Hey, sweetie. How was it?”

“Not bad,” Emily says. She sucks down a long drink. “But I couldn’t wait to get out
of there, knowing you guys were coming to get me.” I’m glad she’s ready to enjoy a
day of guilt-free freedom. Knowing that Eric was excited for the extra alone time
with the children makes it that much more special for her.

“We’re a bad influence,” Jax says.

“
You
are,” Sage says to her. Then she brings her foot back down and turns to face Emily.
“So, how’s it really going then?”

It has only been Emily’s third trip to therapy, but I can already see a change in
her.

“I really like the therapist,” Emily says. “I’m comfortable talking to her. And she
has kids too.”

“That’s great, Em,” Sage says.

Emily knows we will always be there for her, supporting her in every way possible.
But I’m relieved that she finally came to admit that she had a problem, something
that had gone on way too long. Realizing she needed some professional help was the
first step.

Emily continues, “The first day, she told me, ‘Turn around and face your fears because
if you run, they’ll just keep chasing you.’ I think I’m ready to do that now. I’m
realizing that freedom means experiencing it all: the joy, the blessings, and even
the hard times.”

“I’m proud of you, Sis,” I say. Then I start the car. “Ready to hit it, ladies?” Yes,
I know. Here I am back as Ned the errand boy. But this is exactly where I belong,
where I’m happiest.

“Wait!” Emily says. “Let me see.” I glance at her in the rearview mirror and see a
frown appear. “Oh, it’s wrapped up.”

“It’s okay. Here.” Sage tugs her ankle closer to her body, then peels back one side
of the bandage so Emily can see it.

“Oh, honey, it’s beautiful.” Her motherly tone seems to make Sage smile proudly.

We drive with the windows down in comfortable silence through the city. Then Jax fiddles
with the radio until she settles on a song that sends all the girls into hysterics.

“Oh my God, Creed!” Emily shouts from the back seat.

“Only Sage would break up with a guy over music,” Jax says.

“It wasn’t normal,” Sage says. “He was obsessed.” Then her voice lowers, imitating
that of a radio announcer. “Welcome to Creed radio. All Creed, all the time.” I glance
back to find her grabbing her head, giving it a vigorous shake. “It drove me crazy
being in that car.”

“But you know,” Emily says, leaning forward. “This song is pretty good.”

Suddenly they are singing and giggling when they mess up the words, transporting me
back in time when three young girls began building lifelong friendships. Only then,
I often felt like the fourth wheel. Now, I am so engrained in their lives that I’m
confident they need me as much as I need them.

When the song is over, I say, “Okay, I’m taking 101.” The freeway is faster, but taking
the coast all the way down to the beach is the only way to go. Riding side-by-side
with the ocean. Another old friend of ours.

Jax reaches over and rests her hand on my leg, reminding me how lucky I am to have
her. I give her a quick wink and a smile before turning back to the road ahead. It’s
days like today that we’ll remember when we look back on our friendship. We’ve had
twenty years of memories, laughter, tears, and triumphs. And it’s these moments that
will keep us bonded together when we’re away from each other, living our own lives,
fulfilling our own dreams. Then, like a circle in the sand, return to each other once
again.

The End

Thanks so much for reading
Circle in the Sand
. I hope you enjoyed it and will help spread the word to new readers, or consider
posting a review. Positive feedback from readers is a joy and so inspirational for
authors. If you would like to try other books by me, please visit my website at
www.liafairchild.com
, or see my listings on Barnes and Noble at
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lia-fairchild

*To be alerted of sales and new releases, sign up for my newsletter here
http://www.liafairchild.com/?p=236

Lucy Lang’s life is spiraling out of control. For years she sacrificed her own needs
to care for her half sister and alcoholic mother, only to be abandoned by both. Now,
at age 30, Lucy finds herself held back by memories and regret as she struggles to
find her own purpose in life. But when her sister needs a kidney transplant, Lucy
is the only one who can save her life.

With the help of new friends and a man who won’t give up on her, Lucy sets out on
a journey to reunite with her sister and find the answers she so desperately needs.
Can she get past her emotions and have a chance at happiness? With its colorful and
endearing cast of characters, In Search of Lucy takes listeners on a rollercoaster
of emotions from sadness and heartache to happiness and hope.

*Available for ebook and in paperback at Barnes and Noble and other retailers.

Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-search-of-lucy-lia-fairchild/1100089133?ean=9781612182834

Book Trailer
http://ow.ly/ai8VS

In Search of Lucy

Vigil Annie

Emma vs. the Tech Guy

A Hint of Murder

Special Delivery

Home for Christmas

First and foremost, I’d like to thank my family. To my husband, Doug, who answered
countless cries for mom with “I’ve got this.” Most writers know the point when you
shut out everything else so you can unload what’s in your brain onto the screen. I
so appreciate the support and patience my husband and children have shown since my
writing journey began.

And to my parents who’ve supported me all my life no matter what I chose to do. But
more importantly, for showing me what hard work and tenacity could accomplish.

To the wonderful, incredibly caring, indie authors that have helped me along the way.
I’ve come to learn that authors are expert in the art of paying it forward. There
are countless names of those who’ve helped me, answered questions, read for me, or
simply been a listening ear when I needed one. To Donna for her expertise, support,
and stellar advice. And to all the Indie Chicks for helping a newbie with all of her
questions. To Jeff for his keen eye and pure mastery of the English language. To Elle
for her big heart and mad design skills in creating my beautiful cover.

To my friends, Tiffany and Jacques, who’ve been huge supporters since I self-published
my first book,
In Search of Lucy
. Thank you for reading my books, always helping to spread the word, and for my lovely
website that Jacques designed and maintains through Raindrop Marketing.

A special thank you to my separated at birth twin, Marla. Thanks for being the best
beta reader and sweetest friend Facebook ever made happen.

And finally, thank you to all the readers that have selected my books to be in their
hands. You have my endless gratitude for taking a chance on a new author and showing
me this is the place I need to be.