The Best of Us (20 page)

But on a happier note, if things finally worked out as I’d hoped, you and Daniel will, not only have worked it out, but finally realized what I’ve known all along…you two are perfect for each other!

If it worked, I wished I’d lived long enough to be able to say you are my sister in law…but then again, you’ve always been my sister, so I am blessed either way! I bet you two will have beautiful babies! Oh how I hope my plan worked.

As for the store, I only saddled you two with it so you’d be forced to talk to each other. Do with it what you will. You can sell it if you want, but please, don’t sell it to Trent. I don’t want to go into why, but you can ask Daniel, he’ll understand.

I’ve been trying to get my life in order. I’ve always been so proud of you and how you had your life under control…well, except for spending too many years avoiding my brother! (Sorry, couldn’t help it!) So today, I went to see my preacher. I took a bunch of items I know longer need and asked him to find someone in need. I’m hoping that a little good karma will help my life start turning around for me. (Quit rolling your eyes, I’m silly, but I still believe that God smiles on those that help others!) Anyway, the preacher said he knew of a young couple that had lost everything in their home when it caught on fire. They managed to get out, but all they had were their pajama’s on…I think the saddest thing he said was that they’d had to cut the woman’s wedding band off her finger because her hand was so badly burned.

You would have been so proud of me! I gave my engagement ring to her. I knew it was the right thing to do! I had just picked it up at the jewelers the day before, but it only brought me pain. I hope it will only bring her joy! It’s a beautiful ring, and I’m happy with the thought of it bringing someone happiness. Anyway, I’ve finally got Trevor out of my system. I know, it took long enough! I haven’t told anyone I did it. I figured I’d just enjoy the freedom from the weight of having the ring without trying to explain why I gave it away. But I feel really good about it. Trevor will be royally ticked off when he finds out, but I don’t plan on letting him know right away. Let him stew over the idea that I have it. (I know, not very nice…but it sure feels good!)

I don’t think you’ll ever see this letter, but if you do, know that you are the best friend I could have ever have asked for and I love you just as if we were blood sisters.

Love ya, Jenna

PS- If, by some miracle, my plan worked, and you and Daniel get married…name your first born after me!

Carly spent the next hour crying for the time she lost with Jenna and the life that was ended too soon. She finally dried her eyes, squared her shoulders and went in search of Daniel. She had plans and needed to get started right away.

Epilogue

One year to the date of Jenna’s death, Treasures and Memories held its grand opening. With the insurance money, Carly turned Treasures into an upscale, but affordable picture studio and gallery. The building was essentially divided into two stores. On one side, was a picture studio where families, grads, and anyone interested, could come have their professional pictures done by a local girl that had made quite a name for herself.

Carly’s work sold for hundreds, and sometimes, thousands of dollars. She was still highly requested for location photo shots, but she planned on being home most of the time. She was in demand enough that she could pick and choose her assignments.

The other side of the store was a photo gallery. Carly took pictures all the time, those that weren’t commissioned ended up in her gallery. She had people driving from all over to purchase her work. It wasn’t commonplace for the general public to own an original work from a famous photographer, so people were willing to pay a pretty penny. But if you were local, Carly gave a huge discount…she would never forget where she was from.

So, to honor Jenna, she incorporated Treasures into the name of the new store, and it still fit perfectly, as if Jenna knew it would. Carly couldn’t help but wish Jenna was here with her to enjoy this perfect moment. Carly was surrounded by friends and family. She’d even invited Glynna, trying to bury the hatchet, but Glynna wouldn’t have any of it. She caused quite a scene when Daniel and Carly became engaged soon after being released from the hospital, and had never spoken to either one of them since.

The whole Wayne clan was here, Mr. Wayne looking healthier and happier every day, his heart attack just a memory now. Even Harm and Carter had made sure they were in town to help celebrate. Carly’s parents were here, mingling and enjoying their daughter’s big night. “No,” Carly thought, “this evening couldn’t get better.”

“
Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. I’d like to say a few words.” Everyone turned to see a very handsome Daniel in a tux. He held up his glass and everyone quieted down to listen.

“
Thank you all for coming. My beautiful wife Carly has poured her heart and soul into this dream and I am so glad you could all join us in celebrating this moment.” He turned to smile warmly at Carly, “Carly, my love, I am honored to be able to share in your dream with you.” He turned back to the crowd, “And I would also like to say; Jenna would have loved to have seen this dream of Carly’s come true too. So, I’d like everyone to raise their glasses with me in a toast to the success of Carly, Treasures and Memories…and to my sister Jenna, who was the best of us!”

The End…for now!

If you enjoyed Daniel’s story in

The Wayne Brothers: Book I

watch for Carter’s story in

The Wayne Brothers: Book II

Also by

Ursula Gorman

Old Acquaintances

Old Acquaintances

by Ursula Gorman

Two years after her mom's death, Rissa is finally ready to get on with her life. But someone else has different plans for her... Rissa Neil is confronted with an unknown enemy who turns her life into a living nightmare. She tries to convince herself that everything happening around her feelings of being watched, strange phone calls when she's away is just coincidence, but she can't fool herself for long. Finally, when two Old Acquaintances of hers are murdered, she turns to her best friend, Matt, for help. But who can she rely on when he suddenly jumps to the top of the suspect list? With only a few leads to go on and nowhere to run, Rissa wants to use herself for bait, but the police want to put her in protective custody. While they butt heads, things heat up as the body count rises and the suspect list dwindles. Detective Stone, a respected detective who lives up to his name, is soon assigned the case, but will he be able to solve the murders of Rissa's Old Acquaintances before the killer decides its time to end the game and destroy Rissa for good?

Old Acquaintances

Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and at
http://ursulagorman.tripod.com

Enjoy an Excerpt from

Old Acquaintances

Once again, Rissa Neil was the only one left to
lock up. It was of her own doing. Her small boutique—her dream since she’d been little—had been showing a steady incline thanks to the extra hours she’d put into it since her mom’s death two years earlier. Her personal life, on the other hand, had shown a steady decline for the same reason. She really didn’t miss dating, but she’d neglected friendships, and it showed. Only one true friend had stuck by her since her mom’s death.

Matt Johns understood, having lost his parents in a skiing accident when he was eighteen. He’d had trouble adjusting with being an adult orphan. His parents had been rich, and a lot of people came out of the woodwork to offer him help and guidance. That is, until they found out that he couldn’t touch the money until he graduated college or turned twentyfive,
whichever came first.

Rissa and her mom had taken Matt under their wings during that difficult first year of his parents’ accident. They asked for nothing; they only wanted to be there for him. During that year he was at their house a lot for support, advice, home-cooked meals, and things he missed being able to do with his parents.

He and Rissa had become very close during that time, a bond that went beyond friendship and became the one relationship they both treasured beyond any other.

Rissa stopped walking when she heard a noise. It was late, and the parking lot was dark. The only light was from a meager streetlight too far away to be of any help. Rissa stood still, listening to the night. She wasn’t sure what had caught her attention, only that there had been a noise that didn’t belong.

Rissa started walking, wishing she’d parked closer to the store. There it was again. She started walking faster while trying to find her keys, realizing how vulnerable she was. This was a shopping district, and no one was out at this time of night. She thought she heard footsteps coming from the bushes that edged the parking lot. She took off running to her car as a dark figure stepped out of the bushes.

In her haste to unlock her car door, she dropped her purse. She carried one of those big purses men always teased women about, and for good reason—she carried everything but the kitchen sink in it. The contents
of her purse scattered all over the pavement and under
her car. She tried to grab as much as she could while constantly looking over her shoulder toward the area she thought the noise had come from. Leaving her keys hanging in the lock, she used both hands to frantically shove her brush and her wallet, along with her makeup bag and the novel she had been reading, back into her bag. She wasn’t concerned about some of the smaller stuff she saw laying around. The parking lot was so dark she wasn’t sure she would be able to find it all anyway. She was more worried about whatever had made the sounds she heard. Figuring she was pressing her luck, she left everything else on the ground, got in her car, and locked the door.

As she pulled out of the lot, she made sure her headlights shone on the area where she had seen the shadow—nothing. “Stupid imagination,” Rissa said with a forced laugh, but she knew she hadn’t imagined it.

As she pulled out, a shadow emerged from the bushes, walked to where Rissa had been parked, and picked something up that had fallen underneath the car.

"Matt, I'm fine. I told you, it was my imagination.”
Rissa regretted the impulse to call Matt. She had been trying to convince him she was okay when she wasn’t even convinced herself.

“
Rissa, honey, you don’t get worked up over nothing.
When are you going to start leaving at a decent
time?” This was Matt’s favorite topic; he was trying to get her back into the world again. It seemed to be working, since she’d agreed to go to a concert with him. Granted, it wasn’t anything crazy, but even the college symphony was better than nothing. Rissa knew that the symphony wasn’t going to find her too many dates, but they weren’t going strictly for her; it was for Laura. Laura was Matt’s girlfriend of just over a year, and that was a record since Matt’s girlfriends didn’t usually last very long. Laura was the assistant conductor of the Jameson College Symphony. While being conductor held great respect and honor; being assistant didn’t.

“
I can come over,” Matt said.

“
I’m okay, really.”

Matt sighed, making Rissa smile. “Fine, have it your way.”

“
Good night, Matt. Love you.”