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
Ring. Ring. As the house phone rang, Arielle continued to fumble with the wrong key in the front door lock. The handle on her grocery tote tore, and the wriggling lobster bag crashed to the slate steps. “That probably wasn’t good for its health.” A celebratory dinner was more important than the phone. Besides, there was no one she was dying to talk to. She knelt and peered into the clear plastic bag. Were they still moving? A sigh hissed from her lips. “Good, I don’t have to drop everything and cook you now.” At fifteen dollars a pound, there was no way she would miss out on the tasty treat.
Leaving the lobsters and the rest of the groceries on the ground, with shoulders sagging, she jabbed the correct key in the lock, which turned effortlessly. At last, I’m home. Way too much peopling today.
The silence of the house was better than a warm hug. Gathering the groceries, she walked inside and on her way to the kitchen touched the top of the simple silver frame containing Eli’s picture.
The phone rang again. Someone is persistent. Not bothering to disguise her annoyance, she snapped. “Hello.”
“Arielle, it’s Winnie. Am I disturbing you?”
The smile was evident in the older woman’s voice. “This is a surprise, and no I just dropped something.”
Soft laughter came through the line. “I tried you on your cell. When you didn’t answer, I remembered you had a house phone and dialed.”
Perched on the edge of the stool she laughed, “I’m a dinosaur.”
“I have one too, but rarely use it anymore except when I forget to charge my cell. But that’s not why I’m calling. Ellie’s heading up the fundraising committee for the art benefit to enhance the town park. I’m sure you’ve heard about it.”
“I have now. What would you like? A donation?” With a sinking in her gut, Arielle sighed. It’s never that easy.
“A painting would be lovely, but I volunteered to call and ask if you’d attend the event and be there when your painting’s auctioned.”
Through the expanse of glass that overlooked the lake, ducks taking flight from the rippling water’s surface captured her attention. To be around all those people for hours on end? For several long seconds she didn’t respond. The painting was an easy request. Showing up was the hard part. But showing up for Ellie McKenna Stone? That made it easier.
“Does Ellie want to pick out the painting? She can have her choice. Except Tapestry.” That was the first major work she painted after Eli passed. So much of her grief layered within each brushstroke on the canvas. Nausea twisted her gut just thinking of the all-consuming grief that threatened once again to drag her down. I couldn’t bear to let it go. If I did, it would be like losing him all over again.
“Arielle, no one would ever think to ask for that painting. It’s too important.”
The empathy in Winnie’s words left tears burning her eyes. She understood. The older woman had lost her husband years ago, and she emerged from her grief using paint and canvas.
“Have Ellie give me a call and we’ll arrange a time for her to come by.” The younger woman was a doll, and Arielle had helped her when someone had been trying to destroy her new gallery, The Looking Glass. It’s been too long since I’ve spent time with like minds. “How about we have lunch? The days are still warm. The view of the lake is stunning. And then we can head into the studio and pick out the painting Ellie thinks would fetch the best price.”
Winnie’s laughter tinkled like chimes dancing in the breeze. “Every painting of yours will make an excellent dent in the fund-raising coffers.”
“Who else will she ask? With the creatives we know, coming up with some excellent pieces that will bring in buyers and money should be easy.”
“My thoughts exactly. I’m going to make a few calls. Does next week sound okay for lunch?”
With a quick glance at the wall calendar, her chin dipped. Every day was open for the entire month. “I’ll double-check my book and send you both a text.”
“Perfect—and thank you for helping. I know the personal appearance is a big ask, and I wouldn’t if it wasn’t for Ellie. You know I adore my nephew’s wife.”
“She’s one of the few people I’ll come out of the studio for.” With a promise to be in touch soon, she hung up the phone. Before she could stand, the phone rang again.
Smiling, she said, “Hello, Winnie. What did you forget?”
“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 this-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.
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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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