Wishful Thinking

By Jenyfer Matthews

Samantha has had more than her share of bad luck in the last couple of years. When her best friend gives her a charmed crystal for her birthday and her luck starts to change for the better, she’s happy enough to accept her good fortune – at least until the bill comes due. What price would you pay to have all your wishes come true?

Wishful Thinking is a 15,000 word magical novella followed by a bonus excerpt of Jenyfer Matthew’s novel ALL THE WAY HOME

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jenyfer Matthews
• Release date: Dec 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301827275

Jenyfer Matthews

Nature or nurture – one way or another Jenyfer was born with a touch of wanderlust, having moved states twice and houses four times before the age of five. The second child of two displaced Midwesterners, Jenyfer grew up in southern Louisiana and spent most of her childhood summers in northern Minnesota, further contributing to her regional identity crisis. She escaped back to the milder climes of the Midwest at the first opportunity by accepting a graduate assistantship at Kent State University, renting an apartment over the phone, and moving to Ohio sight unseen. She cemented her reputation as a daring individualist (or an impulsive flake, depending on your perspective) by eloping with her ex-husband after only ten months – and introducing her family later.The move to Ohio was only the first of several long distance moves for Jenyfer. After a few years in Ohio, she and her husband moved to North Carolina for a job – and then on to the United Arab Emirates where they resided for six years and started a family. Traveling has become something of a passion for Jenyfer who has since visited Greece, Turkey, Germany, Italy, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Oman, and Qatar. Jenyfer and her family lived in Cairo, Egypt for six years before moving back to the US. Jenyfer currently lives in Michigan.Over the years Jenyfer has been a retail clerk, a department store model, a receptionist, a teacher, a freelance newspaper columnist, a librarian, a quilter, and a full-time mother and sports mom / taxi. She’s a Capricorn, a wine lover (but not a snob), and loves to people-watch.Praise for Jenyfer MatthewsJenyfer Matthews is a skillful writer. She has crafted a tale of romantic affection within a superb suspense story. Recommended.”The Romance Studio, on Here To StayMs. Matthews has delivered a laugh out loud novel full of twists and turns and enough sexual heat to balance the tale perfectly. One Crazy Summer is a sweet sexy read that will have you wanting to read it again and again.”Romance Junkies, on One Crazy SummerMs. Jenyfer Matthews’ novel All the Way Home is a touching and poignant tale of healing and rediscovery. {...} Well written and riddled with emotions, sisterly bonds and a deeply moving romance, All the Way Home has secured a permanent place in my heart and on my keeper shelf.Romance Junkies, on All the Way HomeSeparation Anxiety is a beautiful story, beautifully told. Jenyfer Matthews crafts a perfect blend of humor and heart that will leave you longing for more.Gemma Halliday, author of the High Heel Mystery series

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Wishful Thinking

Jenyfer Matthews

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Jenyfer Matthews

Cover Art by www.gypsystyle.net

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Wishful Thinking

A Magical Novella

Jenyfer Matthews

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CHAPTER ONE

What’s so great about birthdays anyway?

The last time I’d actually looked forward to my birthday was the year I turned nine. My mother took me and a group of my very best friends — all six of us — to the cinema to see Grease. It should have been a great birthday, right? Only problem was the movie sold out before we got our tickets so instead of seeing Grease my mother took us to see Watership Down instead. I can still feel the crushing disappointment of that moment. Animated rabbit adventures were no substitute for John Travolta with greased back hair and Olivia Newton-John in leather pants.

I’ve lowered my expectations a lot since that disappointment and it was hardly as if I looked forward to turning another year older at this point in my life, but it was still hard not to smile a little when I saw my friend Tabitha looking so enthusiastic. It was nice that someone was excited about my birthday.

Happy birthday, Sam! Tabitha called as I walked across the restaurant toward her.

I slid into the bench across from her and sank down lower in the booth. Actually, not so happy, but thanks anyway, I answered.

Tabitha poured me a margarita from the pitcher that sat next to her elbow. Here, this will cheer you up. What’s got you so down anyway? Your birthday? It’s just another year.

Right, just another year — down the tube! I drank as much as I dared in one swallow. I didn’t need a brain freeze on top of everything else. I’m at the top of the hill and gaining speed as I go down. I have no job, no money, and I’m divorced — again.

Tabitha nodded attentively as I listed my problems, as if she hadn’t heard them a thousand times already. We’d been friends since our freshman year of high school — longer ago than I cared to dwell on at present.

I thought we agreed that your second divorce didn’t count? she said. Larry was your rebound man from DH. You only married him because DH was so awful and was making your life so difficult after you left him. You wanted someone to love and take care of you and, well, Larry seemed like a good idea at the time.

Incidentally, DH did not stand for dear husband as it is commonly used on the internet. Think of a compound word that rhymes with brick and dead. Tabitha and I had used the abbreviation to stand in for a much more descriptive and accurate phrase to refer to my first ex-husband because I didn’t like to use off-color language in front of my daughter, even if it was the truth.

Larry didn’t rate a derogatory nickname. That would have been like kicking a puppy. He wasn’t a bad person, he just wasn’t the right man for me.

I know, I know, I said. But tell that to the judge — and my lawyer, who just sent me a bill I can’t pay. They certainly think that my second divorce counts.

Tabitha clicked her tongue to express what she thought of my reasoning.

That’s all in the past though, she said. You’ve got a fresh new year ahead of you! What’s done is done. You have to take all your past experiences and use them to help you make better decisions in the future. Don’t look at them as mistakes; look at them as false starts — or learning experiences.

I couldn’t help myself, I laughed. You really are full of it, you know.

I’m only trying to help, she said with a smile. She took a sip of her drink then said, So, I’m guessing your job interview didn’t go well today?

They seemed neutral, I answered. Very, very neutral. And I was advised not to call them, they would call me if they were interested. They didn’t even ask for references. That’s the kiss of death.

Don’t worry about it, Tabitha said, reaching out and taking a tortilla chip. You’ll find the right job. Eventually.

"I’m not