WOMEN'S FICTION BY MADELAIDE JAMES
Tuckaway Bay Books by Madelaide James
Madelaide James is the women’s fiction pen name for bestselling romance author Maddie James.
While Maddie dabbles with cowboys and small town happily-ever-afters, Madelaide explores the complicated relationship journeys of women and their lives, loves, friends, and families--attempting to tackle some of those problems through story. She figures she’s lived long enough to bring some of her own life experiences into the mix.
That One Summer
He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who couldn’t commit.An excerpt from That One Summer
“You
broke him. You know that, don’t you?”
Lia shook herself. Aunt Grace stared at her, leaning forward in her wicker chair. Lia wasn’t exactly sure
how long either of them had slept. “I’m sorry. I think I may have dozed.”
“You broke his heart, Lia. Please
don’t break it again.”
Her gaze caught Grace’s and held. “I
would never do that,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to back then.”
“I hope not.”
“Aunt Grace.” Lia scooted closer to
the edge of her seat. “I loved him. I wanted to be with him, but he and I
didn’t want the same things. I had pressure from my parents to get back to
Chicago and job offers were waiting there. I was young and confused and….”
Grace put up a hand. “You’ve had
twenty years to think about it, Lia. That’s all that matters, and I hope that
you have. Did you make the right decision? Who knows? But the past is the past.
What’s important now, is what you do next.”
Suddenly, Ron’s voice was in Lia’s
ear. What have we been doing for the past six years, Lia, if we are not moving
this relationship forward? What are you going to do now?
And Alice’s. I know the primary
reason your marriage failed was because Grant wasn’t Zach. And it’s why you and
Ron haven’t married, too.
Had she been shoving away the truth all
these years because she was trying to make a life out of a years-old mistake?
“I have to go.” Lia stood, looking
down at Grace.
“Do what you think best, dear.”
“Can I get an Uber out here?”
Grace nodded. “Damn newfangled
technology that I don’t understand—but yes, so they tell me.”
Lia was grateful. “I’m sorry to leave
so abruptly. Please tell Zach that I’ll see him later.” She turned and headed
for the door.
“Lia?”
She turned back. “Yes?”
“Is that all you want me to tell
him?”
Nodding, she said, “Yes. I have some
things to figure out and I need to do it alone.” Then she rushed back and gave
Grace a hug. “Thanks for being hard on me. I could always count on you to not
pull punches. Thank you for opening my eyes.”
Grace squeezed her hand. “Go figure out
your life, Lia. It’s the only one you have.”