Title After All These Years
Author Lucinda Race
Genre Later in Life Second Chance Romance
Book Blurb
Enjoy this small town, later in life, romance by award-winning and bestselling author, Lucinda Race.
A breathtaking story of love, loss, and the extraordinary courage it takes to open your heart a second time.
Arielle Clark thought she had made peace with her solitary life: a successful artist living by the lake with her heart carefully guarded after loss. But when her long-lost first love unexpectedly reappeared in her life following a car accident, everything she thought she knew began to unravel.
Thirty years after walking away without as much as a goodbye, architect Simon Baker has driven across the country with one purpose: to see Arielle. Whether to win her back or finally let her go, he’s determined to confront the past that has haunted him.
Forced into close proximity, Arielle and Simon must face the heart-wrenching truth about what truly happened the summer before college—a truth that could shatter the fragile hope of reconnection and become the foundation of a love powerful enough to heal old wounds.
With raw emotion and tender vulnerability, After All These Years explores whether true love can survive the weight of unspoken pain, and if some connections are truly meant to endure—no matter how much time has passed.
After All These Years is the seventh novel in the McKenna Family Romance Series, although each book can be read as standalone. It’s a second chance romance of love and forgiveness, this romantic story with a guaranteed happily ever after. Happy reading!
Excerpt
“Ms. Clark, this is Officer Bell from the Loudon Police Department.”
Ice water washed through her veins. Her heartbeat slowed. The last time she had gotten a call like this¾ Forcing that memory from her mind, she asked, “How can I help you, Officer?”
“Earlier today, there was a car accident on Route 309 heading into town. The driver had your name, address, and phone number in his wallet.”
Pressing her hand to her throat, she sucked in a ragged breath. “Who is it?” Longing to ask if they were okay, the words failed her as a dark cloud loomed over the conversation.
“Simon Baker.”
“Is he-Simon,” her voice quivered.
“The ambulance is en route to the hospital. If you were expecting him, I wanted you to know what had happened.”
“How badly is he injured?”
“Laceration to his head, possible broken wrist. Luckily, his airbag deployed, or it could have been much worse.”
“Thank you for telling me.” The words came out in a rush.
“Will you meet me at the hospital? I’m sure he’ll be happy to see a friendly face.”
Biting her lower lip, her thoughts raced. Simon. Here. With her information. Why is he in town?
“Are you there, Ms. Clark?”
With a trembling voice, she said, “Yes. I’m here.” Should she tell Officer Bell she wasn’t expecting him? “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” The words tumbled out of her mouth before she completed the thought.
“No rush. The doctors will do x-rays, and he’ll probably need stitches, too. This has to come as a shock; please drive carefully.”
Setting the phone in the cradle she hurriedly put the groceries away all the while wondering, In what realm of normalcy does my first love show up in town with my name and address in his wallet? Scooping her keys from the counter and grabbing her shoulder bag, she raced out the front door, slowing to a walk. The house phone rang again—this time she ignored it. This wasn’t like the last time she had gotten a call from a police officer. Not even close.
***
The emergency room parking area was empty. Hesitating for a moment—Am I really doing this?—she walked through the automatic door. Crossing the lobby to the admission desk, she waited for the receptionist to look up.
A middle-aged man with kind brown eyes said, “May I help you?”
“Yes. Simon Baker was brought in a while ago. A car accident.”
Tapping a few keys, he looked up. “Yes, and you are?”
“Arielle Clark-” she hesitated to use the word friend. They hadn’t seen each other in thirty years. Instead, she stammered, “Officer Bell called me.”
With a nod toward the vacant bench, he said, “I’ll let someone know you’re waiting.”
Perched on the edge of a chair, she glanced around. Why was my name in Simon’s wallet? The day he left—without a word—with his family, had devastated her. The wall clocked ticked off seconds dragged like hours. Twisting the shoulder bag strap in her hands, she stood. I’m not waiting any longer. A petite woman in blue scrubs and a white lab coat entered the waiting area and looked at her. “Arielle Clark?”
“Yes.”
“If you’ll follow me, you can see Mr. Baker now. Not to worry, he looks worse than he is. I’ll let him fill you in on the details.” With a flick of the curtain an older version of the boy she had loved lay prone on a narrow bed. The stale air was heavy with antiseptic, and it coated the back of her throat, causing a tickle.
Above his left eye was a square white bandage, his face pale, and his eyes closed. A soft cast was on his right wrist. Noticing the blood covering the front of what once was a pale blue polo shirt, her stomach flipped.
“Once his discharge papers are finished, you can leave.” Dragging the curtain partially closed, she bustled away. The squeaking of her sneakers on the linoleum floor seemed out of place with the image of the efficient doctor.
Pushing himself to a half-sitting position, confusion filled his hazel eyes. A touch of gray in his dark brown hair added to his charming good looks.
With a slow, unblinking stare, she lifted her hand. “Hi. It’s been a while.”
There it was—the dimple appeared on his right cheek as a smile tipped his lips. “Hello. Arielle?”
Locking her knees to keep them from knocking, she said, “In the flesh.” Heat rushed over her skin. Damn. Now, he’s going to think I’m a love-sick girl pining for him. Maybe I never got over you, but you don’t deserve to know that.
“What… What are you doing here?”
Taking a hesitant step closer to the hospital bed, she looked into his eyes. “A police officer called and said you’d been in an accident near here. Apparently, you had my contact information in your wallet.” With a slight shrug, she glanced at the clock and back. “I’m guessing it was a shot in the dark that we might know each other.”
Licking his lips, he closed his eyes. “Now you’ve been dragged into this mess. I’m sorry.”
Another step closer. Then she leaned in. “The doctor thinks you’re leaving with me.”
Eyes squinting, he pushed himself up and searched her face. Her stomach flipped as she took a deep breath, bracing herself for whatever he was about to say next.
“Do you know if my car is drivable?”
Frozen in place, her heart pounded. To be this close and not be able to touch his face. “I’m sorry, no.”
The curtain zipped over the rod and the doctor stepped in. “Good news. Your wrist isn’t broken—just a bad sprain.” The doctor looked up from the chart in her hand. “Technically, a grade two. Follow up with your primary care doctor in seven to ten days to get the stitches out above your eye.” With a smile and a nod, she said, “You were lucky, Mr. Baker. The seatbelt and airbag did their jobs. It could have been much worse. However, you do have a slight concussion and you’ll need someone to wake you every hour during the night. Just to be safe.”
“Grade two for the sprain?” Arielle asked. Not that she needed to know, it just popped out.
“Yes. It should heal in three to six weeks. Icing the wrist, wearing the splint, and keeping it elevated above your heart is best. Bottom line, baby it for a bit and take Tylenol for discomfort. If it gets worse, come back and see us or your primary care.”
“But I don’t¾” Simon stammered.
“Thank you, Doctor.” Arielle was unsure how this was something she needed to be involved in. For now, she was. If for no other reason than because they had once been friends. With a brisk nod, she said, “I’ll make sure he follows your instructions and if there are any concerns during the night I’ll call the emergency room.”
Simon’s brow arched. “You will?”
Lifting her head, she made eye contact. A sizzle of electricity jolted her. “First stop, the police station. Do you have a bag?”
Swinging his legs off the bed closer to where she stood, he clasped her extended hand. Grimacing, his gaze seemed to go from unfocused to focused. “This isn’t the best meet–cute.”
“Nobody can have two meet–cutes in with the same person in one lifetime. At least not with me.”
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Author Biography
Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is an avid fan of fiction. As a young girl, she spent hours reading cozy mystery and romance novels and getting lost in the fun and hope they represent. While her friends dreamed of becoming doctors and engineers, her dream was to become an expert at crafting a captivating novel.
As life twisted and turned, she found herself writing nonfiction but longed to return to her true passion. After developing the storylines for the McKenna Family Romance series and the Paranormal Cozy Nook Bookstore Series, she decided it was time to start living her dream. Her fingers practically fly over computer keys. She weaves paranormal cozy mystery stories and romance with guaranteed happily ever afters.
Lucinda lives with her two little dogs, a miniature long hair dachshund and a shitzu mix rescue, in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts. When she's not at her day job, she’s immersed in her fictional worlds. And if she’s not writing mystery, suspense or romance novels, she’s reading everything she can get her hands on.
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