Author Archive

I was packed for a cruise to the Bahamas when I got the call: Daddy died of a massive heart attack. Details were sketchy, but his last minutes on earth were spent snow-blowing his driveway. This month marks one year since he left. I repacked my suitcase to accommodate the New Hampshire winter, but kept...
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Rachel is in the lobby of the Afterglow Journey Center, baffled by her receptionist’s hesitation on answering her question. “Tina, I was just talking with Mrs. Stone an hour ago. Is she still cleaning out Mr. Stone’s room or isn’t she?” The girl just stared at me like I had lost my mind. “Tina. Why won’t...
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Rachel lingers on the bench outside the Afterglow Journey Center. She pulls Mrs. Stone’s book of poetry out of her briefcase and reads the next poem. It’s 10:20 AM. We sit on the couch an inch apart, a sea between us. He grips my hand as a line thrown to a drowning man ~ The weight of...
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Rachel is absorbed in Mrs. Stone’s book of poetry amidst a restless sea of defendants and plaintiffs, all waiting for their day in court. It’s 9:45 a.m. When lies are love and love is a lie When truth is pain one can’t deny How does a heart fulfill its vow When fear ...
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Rachel’s court date is delayed. She stuffs Mrs. Stone’s journal in her briefcase and heads out. It’s 9:05 AM. The first poem in Mrs. Stone’s journal was short, but drenched with pain—my pain. Betrayal and lies all wrapped up in a cloak of romance. It stung, and dredged up nasty...
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Rachel walks to the elevator with Mrs. Stone’s journal in her hand. It is 8:45 a.m._____________________________________________ I don’t remember walking to the elevator. In fact, I don’t remember anything from the moment Mrs. Stone handed me her journal until I opened it and began reading. “Read this before you go...
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Mrs. Stone’s story of the late Russell Stone hit a nerve in Rachel. It is 8:30 a.m. ___________________ The anger rising in me was shocking. I wanted to run like villagers do when the volcano they live by day in and day out starts rumbling. Mrs. Stone could see the eruption forming...
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Mrs. Stone’s journal shakes in Rachel’s trembling hands; the poem devours her like quicksand. It is 8:15 AM. The ink on the page dripped with pain. I read it again… He died at 8 The funeral was at 12. He emerged a zombie at 18 Married at 21. It died at 24. The second wedding Was ’94. 5...
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At 8 AM, Rachel ushers Mrs. Stone into the Afterglow Room where her staff laid the body of Russell Stone. Candlelight cast a reverent halo around the deceased; soft, ethereal music welcomed the grieving widow. The scene changed quickly. I’m still in shock. How can I explain this? We walked into the room. Mrs. Stone...
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Rachel is on the hunt to find out who called Mrs. Stone. Somehow, Mrs. Stone had learned of her husband’s death before Rachel called, which normally wouldn’t be an issue, but in the case of the Stone’s, it is far more than an issue. My anger rose to another level...
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