The Last Rose of Summer

By Kenna Gordon

Katelin Quinn had a storybook life until tragedy changed its course. Along the road to recovery Kate discovers a forbidden love, a mother’s secret, and a handsome stranger that will change her life, and the life of her sister Kasey, forever. A postcard, faded by time, will lead Katelin back to her Irish heritage, and into the arms of the man she was meant to love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483520513

Book preview

Moore

Chapter One

Katelin began to shiver as she felt the cold mountain stream splash against her face. The smell of pine trees and gasoline that permeated Kate’s nostrils made her stomach feel queasy. She called out to Nick, but the air was silent. Where was Nick? Was he okay? Where were Bryan and Myles? Was someone calling for help? She could hear the sound of muffled voices, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Katelin suddenly realized a sharp shooting pain in her arms and legs. Was she dying? Would she see her family again? God, why wasn't someone calling for help? Her body was cold, and she felt as if life around her was moving in slow motion. She tried to call for Nick again but, as hard as she tried, Kate couldn't get the words to leave her mouth. Katie, Katie she heard Myles say as she felt consciousness fade from her.

It was a late July morning that had begun like any other lazy summer day. The fragrant aroma of Meggie's blueberry scones wafted into Katelin's room from the kitchen. Sweet memories of the plump juicy berries made her mouth begin to water. Lucy, her Irish setter, lay at the foot of the bed basking in the warmth of the summer sun. The morning light shone through a piece of vintage stained glass that hung in her window creating speckles of color that danced around the room like fireflies at night. A collection of pink Depression glass lined the shelves around the room, and a well worn antique quilt hung over the rocking chair next to her bed. Katelin loved antiques; she said that objects with a history intrigued her because each one of them had a story to tell. The music stand in the corner of her room held a recital piece she was working on and in the chair next to it was one of her four violins. I have a violin for every season; Katelin would say in jest. Kate was only eighteen, but she was an old soul and her room reflected that.

As she gathered her thoughts, Katelin could hear Meggie scolding her brother, Bryan Reilly Quinn, Cailin is sleepin, let her be. Meggie Sheehan’s thick Irish brogue wasn't the high rounded accent spoken on the streets of Ulster, but rather the melodic long low vowels of her birthplace in County Cork, Ireland.

Meggie was Kate's great aunt on her mother’s side. She had come from Ireland to take care of the Quinn’s shortly after their eldest son Christopher was born. It was Meggie who raised Katelin and her twin sister Kasey after their mother passed away—they were only sixteen.

Ignoring Meggie's admonishment, Bryan, opened the French doors to the pool house and approached his sister’s room, Are you decent? He shouted, loud enough to wake her.

Bryan was like a bull in a china shop; he spent most of his time crashing through life.

Yes. The word had barely left Katelin's mouth when Bryan abruptly entered her room.

Thanks for knocking, she said sarcastically sitting up in her bed.

Bryan chuckled and greeted his little sister with a kiss on the forehead. Good morning Kate. Myles, Nick, and I are going for a ride in the mountains; would you like to tag along?

Sitting down at the end of the bed Bryan waited for his sister’s response. Katelin could see that her brother was lost in thought as he examined Kate’s most cherished possessions. There was a sea shell on her dresser from their trip to the Virgin Islands, a picture of the two of them at a friend’s cabin near Evergreen, and the antique music box he had given Katelin two Christmas’ ago.

With a note of unhappiness in his voice, he announced, I am going to miss you.

I'll miss you too, Kate gave her brother a hug, in order to comfort him. I’ll come home as often as I can, she promised.

Katelin had interviewed with and auditioned for, the music faculty at Julliard. Her family was excited when they learned that she had been asked to join the other students for the fall semester. However, the unavoidable fact that his sister would be leaving for New York City at the end of the summer made Bryan unhappy.

Kate began playing the violin when she was only five years old, and while most teenagers had posters of rock stars plastered across their bedroom walls, Kate had pictures of Paganini, Pearlman, and Popov. She dreamed of being a concertmaster one day and was excited by the idea of seeing her dream become a reality.

Their special moment together was suddenly interrupted by the sound of Nick running through the kitchen toward the pool house, followed by his brother Myles.

Do you have to run in the house? Meggie asked, as Nick scurried past her.

We love you Meggie. Myles stopped just long enough to give her a peck on the cheek, and continued on through the kitchen to the pool house, and Kate’s room.

Nick Kinkaid and his older brother Myles lived across the street. Their father and mother had moved into the Quinn’s neighborhood shortly before their oldest son Myles was born. Katelin's mother Kathleen and Joanna Kinkaid became close friends and soon the two families were inseparable spending weekends, holidays, and sometimes even vacations together.

Good morning. Nick sat down on the bed next to Kate.

Nick and Katelin had always been close, so it was no surprise to their families when they started dating their junior year of high school.

Good Morning, she replied, softly kissing him on the lips.

Katelin reached for the robe at the end of her bed and noticed Myles leaning against the doorway of her room. His sunglasses were perched on top of his head; his deep set eyes were a misty shade of blue gray, a blue that seemed dreamy this morning. His blond hair and blue eyes made him popular with the girls. Myles could have anyone he wanted, but what he secretly wanted—was someone like Katelin.

Hi Myles. Kate smiled at her friend as she put on the robe.

Hey Katie, are you going for a ride with us?

Sure, she reluctantly agreed. Kate had a lot to do before leaving for New York, but how could she resist a day in the mountains with her three favorite men?

I'll meet you out front in an hour. Now go! Katelin exclaimed, urging them to leave her room.

God I love it when she gets assertive. Nick chuckled and gave Kate one last kiss.

Bryan, Myles, and Nick left Katelin's room and followed the scent of Meggie's delicious scones to the kitchen.

As promised, Katelin met the three out front an hour later. She climbed onto Nick's bike and secured her arms tightly around his waist. The four of them headed up Highway 6, winding their way through Clear Creek Canyon while enjoying the cool mountain breeze and the company of each other.

The drive along the creek had always been one of Katelin's favorites; it ran through the canyon and west towards Blackhawk and Central City. The stream forged its way over rocks, around trees, and through the long gorge, flanked on either side by rugged mountain walls ascending toward the gloriously blue Colorado sky. Clumps of purple and white columbine protruded from crevasses in the rocks, providing patches of loveliness sprinkled against the harsh gray granite. The view was breathtaking. Kate couldn't help but feel blessed to be in the mountains she loved, with the man that she loved—could life get any better?

As they rode up, the mountain highway Katelin noticed a red sports car coming up behind them. The vehicle had already passed Bryan and Myles and was pulling over to pass Nick when a large flatbed truck, coming from the other direction, suddenly appeared around the sharp mountain curve. Unable to pass, the sports car quickly pulled back into their lane clipping the Harley's back tire. The force of the collision caused Nick’s bike to skid erratically,