New Title 1
He smirked at me.
“Sebastian,” I said, my voice serious, “if it hadn’t been for me, you would have gone to college, gotten your degree…”
I waved away his denial.
“We both know that’s true: well, here we are – I can pay off the mortgage, you can use the GI bill, go to college, get your degree, if that’s what you want.”
He shifted uncomfortably. “It doesn’t feel right, Caro. Let me think about it.”
He was so frustrating, I wanted to hit him. Or kiss him. Probably both.
And, as we were on a roll, I decided to tackle one more task that we’d both been putting off.
I took a deep breath.
“Sebastian,” I said, gently, “it’s time you decided what you want to do with your uniforms – and your medals.”
His sudden, sharp intake of breath showed how hard he found this, but he nodded slowly, staring at the floor. Then he squared his shoulders and met my steady gaze.
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
We stood up and I took him by the hand, leading him into the spare room. He leaned against the door frame, his arms folded tightly across his chest. I gave him a quick, encouraging smile, then pulled out his duffel bag and backpack from under the bed.
His Dress Blues and khaki Service Uniform were crumpled and rather sad when I dragged them out. There was no sign of his desert utility uniform; I didn’t want to think about the reason why – I assumed the doctors would have had to cut him out of it when...
He stared at the clothes coldly, keeping all his emotions tightly contained.
“Get rid of them, Caro. I don’t want to see them again.”
“And the medals?”
His Service Uniform was festooned with an array of colorful ribbons and medals. I ran through them in my mind, as I touched them one by one: his Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Marine Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and a Navy and Marine Corps Medal. And, still in its presentation box at the bottom of his backpack, his Purple Heart, for being wounded in action.
As Sebastian watched, I opened the box, stroking the ridges of silky ribbon, and ran my finger over the embossed words, ‘For military merit’.
“Do what you want with them,” he said, his face creasing with pain. “I don’t want to see them. Ever.”
I took another deep breath.
“You don’t want to save them to… maybe… show our children… if…”
He looked up suddenly, a smile hovering around his lips. “You… you’d try?”
“Yes, Sebastian… we will try.”
He let out a shout of pure happiness and scooped me up, twirling me around.
“Let’s start trying right now,” he breathed out onto my skin.
“I’m still on the Pill!” I laughed.
“Doesn’t matter,” he murmured into my neck. “I want to practice.”
I kissed him hard, as he walked me backwards into our bedroom.
As Sebastian had once said, if children happened, we’d welcome them, if not, well, that was okay, too.
We had our whole lives ahead of us.
Epilogue
When a woman reaches forty, she is no longer young, but not yet old. My friends had offered this piece of wisdom on my birthday seven months ago.
And yet, it seemed that my life was starting again, or, perhaps I should say, entering a new phase.
Surrounded by love, my beautiful 28 year old husband stood at my side, and in front of our friends, we were joined together by the sacred vows of marriage.
Marc, between assignments, had flown in from France and we’d had an evening drinking to Liz’s memory, recalling her humor and craziness, her warmth and strength – crying just a little. And the day before, Ches and his family had arrived from San Diego. His children had peered at me shyly until they spotted Sebastian, and then they’d tried to throw themselves at him, their mother gently restraining them, afraid they’d hurt him. He waved away her concerns and let them climb all over him. It was a wonderful thing to see and my spirits soared, full of hope for the future.
Mitch and Shirley had arrived from South Carolina, and Shirley wept copiously, apologizing over and over. I finally realized that she was apologizing for not having received my letter seven years earlier. We cried together and hugged each other, and agreed to leave the past in the past. Even Donna had flown up for our special day, although Johan had been too ill to travel. Donna had written to us with their congratulations as soon as Shirley had given them the good news. It was strange to see her after all those years, but having her there – smiling with maternal pride – somehow everything had come full circle.
Nicole, Jenna and Alice were there to support me: Nicole determinedly arguing until the last second that I should go on at least one shopping spree to find a bridal outfit; and me stating with equal determination that it would never happen.
My friends’ initial wariness of Sebastian had long since worn off, and they treated him something like a younger brother, much to his irritation and my amusement.
Sebastian stood by my side in front of the deputy clerk at City Hall and promised to love me every day for the rest of his life. I cried tears of joy, and said I would never again let anything separate us.
The day was cold and clear, and the crystal sun shone on our small party as we celebrated the life that Sebastian and I were, at last, going to have.
Despite the difficulties we had been through, despite the difficulties we had yet to face, I had never been happier in my whole life, full of hope and gazing through tears at the man I loved. We were beginning again, or, perhaps, adding a new chapter to our story.
The bride wore jeans.
THE END
For their support, encouragement and selfless promotion of my stories, I’d like to thank…
The Book Bloggers
Aestas: Aestas Book Blog
Rose: The Book List Reviews
Angie: The Smut Club
Lindsay: Madison Says
S: Smitten’s Book Blog
Lisa: The Indie Bookshelf
Emily and the Girls: The Sub Club Books
Lori: Lori’s Book Blog
Crystal: Crystal’s Random Thoughts
The Red Red Red Devotees
Sasha Cameron
Pollypeach44
Dw and pB
Dina
Cori and Mercia
Karen Wright
Ellie
Chris L
Grublue
Roppongi Cat
KP
The Blog Mistress
And thanks to everyone who has read this book and told me how much you’ve enjoyed Caroline and Sebastian’s story.
To show my appreciation, I’ll be posting several free one-off short stories from Sebastian’s point of view. I hope you enjoy them.
Please visit www.janeharveyberrick.com
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COMING NEXT!
A New Adult Novel
Dangerous to Know (published May 2013)
Jane Harvey-Berrick
Nineteen year old Daniel Colton is the man on campus all the guys want to be, and the bad boy all the girls want to be with. His insanely hot tatted up body screams sex, while his eyebrow piercing only enhances his beautiful face, and there are rumors he has piercings in other places as well. This walking one night stand is sullen, mysterious and moody, with an explosive temper. Is he really mad, bad and dangerous to know?
Daniel lives with his older brother, Zeb, a well-known drug dealer with ties to a local gang. Their home has become party central in the months following their parent’s tragic death. You want to party non-stop, drugs, alcohol, no questions asked? The Colton house is the place to go.
Lisanne Maclaine is a good girl. She comes from a stable family, and has done what is expected of her. She’s lived a sheltered life, and was looking forward to the independence starting college will
bring her. She’s a music major and dreams of making a living doing what she loves, playing the violin and singing the blues.
When Daniel and Lisanne have to work together on a business assignment, Lisanne is less than thrilled. She never wanted to be in this class in the first place. She is only minoring in business to pacify her parents, and now she is stuck working with him. Mr. Cocky-and-arrogant. Daniel’s bad boy reputation precedes him, and he is the epitome of what Lisanne despises. He’s rude and obnoxious and has a chip on his shoulder and she just wants to get this assignment over with. She knows he’s nothing but trouble and she should stay away, but there is something about Daniel that draws her in.
Slowly she builds a friendship with Daniel and discovers there is a lot more to this college bad boy than his reputation. He’s intelligent and funny and good company, okay and sexy as all hell. But he’s got a secret. Once she discovers what it is she finally sees Daniel for who he really is. It explains why he’s so closed off to everyone, and determined to keep people at arms’ length. But being his secret-keeper is harder than she ever dreamed.
Can Lisanne keep Daniel’s secret? What will it cost her? Can she help falling for the notorious ladies’ man? Who else will be vying for his attention and affections? Can Lisanne follow her dreams and have it all? Or will she decide that Daniel is just too Dangerous to Know?
“You know Jane Harvey-Berrick can deliver the goods, as always, this one won’t disappoint!”
e-book
ISBN 9780957496163
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ADULTS
www.janeharveyberrick.com
The Education of Sebastian
Jane Harvey-Berrick
A friendship between the lost and lonely Caroline, and the unhappy Sebastian, leads to an illicit love that threatens them both.
e-book
ISBN 9780955315077
The Education of Caroline
Jane Harvey-Berrick
Ten years after their first affair, Sebastian and Caroline meet again: this time in very different circumstances, against the background of the war in Afghanistan. Now a successful journalist, Caroline meets US Marine Sebastian Hunter – can old passions be rekindled?
e-book
ISBN 9780955315084
The concluding story of ‘The Education of Sebastian’.
One Careful Owner (published Summer 2013)
Jane Harvey-Berrick
When 34 year old Alex Winter moves into a small Pennsylvanian town, he’s looking for a quiet life. His only friend is Max, an elderly Boxer dog, who has several unfortunate issues of personal hygiene.
When women start queuing up to date Alex, life gets tricky – especially as romance is the last thing on his mind – and not forgetting the dark secret he’s determined to keep hidden.
e-book
ISBN 9780957496149
The New Samurai
Jane Harvey-Berrick
Teaching in an inner city school in London is hard enough, but when Sam loses his job and his domineering girlfriend dumps him on Valentine’s Day, he decides to start again somewhere new… in Japan. It’s not long before his ‘no women’ rule is under attack.
e-book
ISBN 9780955315060
Sexy and funny, this book will appeal to fans of ‘One Day’.
Expo$ure
Jane Harvey-Berrick
What would you do if you found out a really, really important secret? What would you do if people were prepared to kill to stop you revealing this secret? And what would you do if the secret was held by the US government?
e-book
ISBN 9780955315053
A thriller that will appeal to readers of ‘The Ghost’.
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NEW ADULT
Dazzled (published Autumn 2013)
Jane Harvey-Berrick
Miles Stevens is a jobbing actor in London when he stumbles into the role of a lifetime.
Hollywood claims him as one of their own and so begins his picaresque journey through the parties, premieres, agents and leading ladies – and everyone wants something from him. His best friend Clare is determined that they’ll have to go through her to get it.
e-book
ISBN 9780955315091
Fabulous and funny, this book will appeal to readers of ‘Wallbanger’ and ‘Love Unscripted’.
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YOUNG ADULT
The Dark Detective: Venator
Jane Harvey-Berrick
At 20 years old, Max Darke finds himself in sole charge of the Metropolitan Police Demon Division in London. It’s not a job for the faint hearted and some days, work is Hell.
e-book
ISBN 9780955315046
The Dark Detective: Paukúnnum (published Winter 2013)
Jane Harvey-Berrick
Max has been chosen to select and train a new recruit for the CIA’s demon division – and it’s not easy after what happened to Max’s colleague Walter J. Caspar, who is currently residing in a secure psychiatric facility. To add to Max’s troubles, someone – or something – doesn’t want him in Virginia, not least a tribe of Algonquian demons.
e-book
ISBN 9780957496156
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CHILDREN’S BOOKS
www.janewestwriting.co.uk
For ages 9 to 12
Tartu and the Pharaoh’s Curse
Jane A. C. West
Working on an archaeological dig in Egypt with her Uncle Howard, Tartu stumbles across the secret burial chamber of an ancient Pharaoh, uncovering a glittering treasure horde – and a deadly secret.
Black-and-white illustrations, paperback, e-book
ISBN 978095531508
Tartu’s Close Encounter
Jane A. C. West
What really happened at Windsor Castle the night the Queen’s favourite corgi was abducted? Who are the mysterious visitors and what do they want?
Black-and-white illustrations, paperback, e-book
ISBN 9780955315015
Pip of Pengersick – A Smuggler’s Tale
Jane A. C. West
Adopted into a family of notorious Cornish smugglers, Pip of Pengersick takes to life on the high seas as she learns the trade of those who sail by a dark moon.
Winner of the Holyer An Gof Best Children’s Book.
Black-and-white illustrations, paperback, e-book
ISBN 9780955315022
Pip of Pengersick – My Part in Napoleon’s Downfall
Jane A. C. West
When Pip, a small black-and-white dog, finds a Spanish galleon that has been driven aground by wreckers on a remote Cornish coast, the ripples of this event reach far away London, and a Europe savaged by the Wolf of France, Napoleon Bonaparte himself.
Black-and-white illustrations, paperback, e-book
ISBN 9780955315039
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PICTURE BOOKS
www.facebook.com/mousart.mouses
Ages 5 to 6 – picture books for new readers
At the Seaside
Steve Empson and Jane A. C. West
Mr and Mrs Mouse have an adventure at the seaside. Thank goodness Mrs Mouse is a cool, surfing mouse because Mr Mouse needs rescuing – again!
Colour e-book
ISBN 9780957496125
The Magic Carpet Ride
Steve Empson and Jane A. C. West
Mrs Mouse’s magic carpet takes her and Mr Mouse on a ride to the moon. There they meet some lunar mice and discover that the moon really is made of cheese – as well as investigating the chocolate mines on the dark side of the moon.
Colour e-book
ISBN 9780957496132
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INTRODUCING…
ADULTS
Allied Froth
Steve Empson
Inept MI5 agent Dexter Kitehawk must stop Adolf Froth from poisoning the world with his extra-strong lager.
‘Allied Froth’ is a romp through the six senses and five continents inhabited by a circus of freaks, weirdos, sil
ent movie actors and ne’er-do-wells, with Dexter as the clown prince.