In The Stars Part I, Episode 6: Gemini

By Debbie McGowan

It’s quiz night at the Red Lion—time for The Circle
to pit their wits against the rest of the regulars...
...and each other.
The sound of wedding bells is, most definitely, in the air!

The story continues in the novella, Breaking Waves, and In The Stars Part II: Cancer–Sagittarius.

* * * * *

‘Gemini’ is the sixth episode of In The Stars. For those readers unfamiliar with the series, ‘Capricorn’ (episode one) re-introduces the main characters, so you could pick it up from here and perhaps catch up with the previous books later.

In The Stars explores the day-to-day lives of The Circle—nine friends from high school, now it their late thirties—following them through celebration, loss, illness and life-changing decisions.

Each episode covers the period of time indicated by the zodiac sign from which it takes its title.

The full novels of In The Stars Part I: Capricorn–Gemini and In The Stars Part II: Cancer–Sagittarius are also available for purchase (paperback/ebook).

In The Stars Part I is season four in the Hiding Behind The Couch Series.

The story follows chronologically from The Harder They Fall (Season Three), Crying in the Rain (Novel) and First Christmas (Novella). It continues in Breaking Waves (Novella) and In The Stars Part II (Season Five).

* * * * *

What readers say about the Hiding Behind The Couch Series:

“The remarkable characterisation in these novels is what makes them for me.”

“This story reminds me of my favorite movies about friendship and relationships.”

“Few authors have explored the depths of longtime friends within a group, or ‘circle’ the way Debbie McGowan has!”

“I have a love-hate relationship with Debbie McGowan’s Hiding Behind the Couch Series. I love to read them, I HATE it when they’re over.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
• Release date: May 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781909192676

Debbie McGowan

Debbie McGowan is an award-winning author of contemporary fiction that celebrates life, love and relationships in all their diversity. Since the publication in 2004 of her debut novel, Champagne—based on a stage show co-written and co-produced with her husband—she has published many further works—novels, short stories and novellas—including two ongoing series: Hiding Behind The Couch (a literary ‘soap opera’ centring on the lives of nine long-term friends) and Checking Him Out (LGBTQ romance). Debbie has been a finalist in both the Rainbow Awards and the Bisexual Book Awards, and in 2016, she won the Lambda Literary Award (Lammy) for her novel, When Skies Have Fallen: a British historical romance spanning twenty-three years, from the end of WWII to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967. Through her independent publishing company, Debbie gives voices to other authors whose work would be deemed unprofitable by mainstream publishing houses.

Book preview

In The Stars Part I, Episode 6: Gemini

Hiding Behind The Couch

Season Four

by

Debbie McGowan

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

Copyright 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 Debbie McGowan at Smashwords.

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/debbiemcgowan

This book is available in print at most online retailers.

Cover Design by Debbie McGowan

Licensed stock images: usage is not indicative

of the models’ identity, activities or preferences.

Zodiac Illustrations by Emma Pickering

http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

* * * * *

This novel is a work of fiction and the characters and events in it exist only in its pages and in the author’s imagination.

* * * * *

It’s quiz night at the Red Lion—time for The Circle

to pit their wits against the rest of the regulars…

…and each other.

The sound of wedding bells is, most definitely, in the air!

The story continues in the novella, Breaking Waves, and In The Stars Part II: Cancer–Sagittarius.

* * * * *

‘Gemini’ is the sixth episode of In The Stars. For those readers unfamiliar with the series, ‘Capricorn’ (episode one) re-introduces the main characters, so you could pick it up from here and perhaps catch up with the previous books later.

In The Stars explores the day-to-day lives of The Circle—nine friends from high school, now it their late thirties—following them through celebration, loss, illness and life-changing decisions.

Each episode covers the period of time indicated by the zodiac sign from which it takes its title.

The full novels of In The Stars Part I: Capricorn–Gemini and In The Stars Part II: Cancer–Sagittarius are also available for purchase (paperback/ebook).

In The Stars Part I is Season Four in the Hiding Behind The Couch Series. This book is also available as six separate episodes.

The story follows chronologically from The Harder They Fall (Season Three), Crying in the Rain (Novel) and First Christmas (Novella). It continues in Breaking Waves (Novella) and In The Stars Part II (Season Five).

* * * * *

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my wonderful proofreaders, Tracy and Andrea, for your persistence in / insistence on finding and then laughing at my dreadful mistakes, not to mention your extraordinary expertise in all matters, but in particular, those of bingo and health care! The Circle thank you, too!

***

‘Love Hearts’ used with kind permission:

Swizzels Matlow Ltd.

www.lovehearts.com

Excerpts from:

‘The Signs’, by Henry Van Dyke

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Poems of Henry Van Dyke.

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare.

Reproduced under the terms of the

Project Gutenberg Licence.

www.gutenberg.org

‘Footprints In Your Heart’, by Eleanor Roosevelt;

also attributed as

‘Today is a Gift’, by Laszlo Kotro-Kosztandi.

Further bibliographic information unavailable.

* * * * *

Dedication

For my friends on the flat roof:

we steered a wayward ship,

lost and found God, glimpsed Satan,

didn’t learn a lot of Latin.

And for Powelly, rider on the storm.

Elf people, though, dude. Seriously?

* * * * *

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Rotation: Wednesday 24th–Sunday 28th May

Two Minds: Monday 29th May

Flat: Tuesday 30th May

Two Hearts: Thursday 1st June

Perfect Match: Friday 2nd June

As One: Monday 5th June

If: Monday 19th June

When: Monday 19th June

The Story Continues

About the Author

By the Author

Beaten Track Publishing

* * * * *

In the magical universe there are no coincidences and there are no accidents. Nothing happens unless someone wills it to happen.

William S. Burroughs

* * * * *

Gemini

Bitter his life who lives for self alone,

Poor would he be with riches and a throne:

But friendship doubles all we are and own.

Rotation

Wednesday 24th–Sunday 28th May

Hiya, Shaunna called, dropping her bag in the living room. Jess was standing in the kitchen, a teabag dangling from her fingers.

Hi, she called back. Today, she was dressed—in light, non-restrictive clothes, but they were at least clothes, not a nightshirt and socks.

How’re you feeling? You look loads better.

Yeah, I am, thanks. Well… People don’t get better when they’re dying.

Shaunna smiled, understanding what had been left unsaid. You’ll have to take whatever good days you get, if you’re planning on staying with us a while. It sounded callous, but it wasn’t intended to be. She’d nursed her mother to the end, and it was a truth she’d realised during those final few months: that the truth itself could not be denied, because the end would come, regardless, and it made the little things so much more significant, the tiniest of joys more important than ever.

Together, they had sat in the garden and watched bees and butterflies for hour upon hour upon hour, hardly daring to stir, for fear of disturbing their beautiful toils. They had listened to the birds in the early morning, and to their absence at midnight, talked of everything, and nothing at all. When the darkest days arrived, they were brighter for the time they had shared together while they still could.

Jess interrupted Shaunna’s reminiscence. What was that pain management thingy you were talking about?

Acupressure.

Like acupuncture?

Basically, but without needles. Josh says it’s all in your head, but they use it at the hospice, and it works for a lot of people. I’ll bring my book with me next time. It’s got all the pressure points in it—we can figure it out between us.

Or we could walk to your house in a little while and get it?

Shaunna visualised the route and marked off in her mind the places they could stop so Jess could rest. OK, she agreed. There was the sound of movement above them.

Andy’s up, Jess observed. He’d been having trouble sleeping for weeks. Now it seemed he couldn’t get enough. I’ll go and get my shoes and tell him what we’re doing. In fact, he can have my cup of tea. Ooh, I’m quite excited to be going out!

Shaunna watched Jess shift weightlessly away, almost floating up the stairs. She’d lost so much weight it was frightening, and Shaunna could appreciate the others would be having quite a time coping. She heard the toilet flush, the bathroom door open, then close, then footsteps on the stairs, heavy this time.

Hi. Andy came into the kitchen and picked an apple out of the fruit bowl. He examined his first choice, decided it didn’t fit and swapped it for another.

Hi, Shaunna responded. He bit into the fruit and grimaced. She laughed. Toothpaste and apple doesn’t go, does it? He shook his head and shuddered. How are you doing?

He bit into the apple again.

I’ll ask another time, she said.

He walked past her and opened the door, glancing outside at the bright, sunny morning. It’s a nice day.

Yes, it is.

If you need me—

I won’t.

But if you do—

Andy, Shaunna said sharply. Have a rest, for God’s sake. I know it’s tough for you to step aside, but as Josh said, you’ve got to let us help. For you and for us. And I’ll look after her, I promise.

But—

But nothing. She grabbed him by the scruff. If you say anything else, I’ll… Their faces were close. Too close.

You’ll what? Break my nose?

Worse.

Ohhh, Andy tried to mock, but he was laughing. I’m sooo scared!

Just watch it, she warned, releasing him and smoothing his t-shirt. She peered up into his eyes, their faces still only inches apart. They heard Jess coming back down the stairs. Shaunna quickly kissed his cheek and moved away. A blush spread outwards from the spot where her lips had touched.

OK, Jess said brightly. I’m ready.

Shaunna nodded at Andy. We’ll see you later.

Give me a ring if you—

Shut it, she called back as the front door closed behind them. He scratched his head, took another bite of the apple, and went back to bed.

***

They set off at a steady, but leisurely pace. The sun was bright but not too warm; it was a glorious day. Jess was enjoying the chance to be outside, and away from Andy. She knew he was doing it for her, but he was being overprotective, not allowing her to do so much as cook a meal, and it was driving her crazy. However, she didn’t know how to address it without upsetting him. Since last weekend, he somehow seemed different, like he was operating on automatic, a robot going through the motions, and talking to him was an utterly unnerving experience. It was almost as if his body was there, but his mind was elsewhere. She could understand if that was what he needed to do to deal with this, or perhaps he thought it was what she needed. It was impossible to tell, and unless he let her in, there was no way of asking the question.

Penny for them, Shaunna prompted, glancing sideways at her friend.

Jess shook her head noncommittally and shrugged. I was thinking about Andy. He’s doing this weird coping thing, where he talks the talk, but there’s no-one home.

Yeah. I noticed that. Shaunna realised Jess was slightly out of breath. Do you need to rest?

Jess nodded and slowed to a stop. I can’t decide. She frowned, but didn’t say anything else for a while. I’m not sure if I’ve accepted it, or I’ve just pushed it out of my head, but I’m kind of OK with it, you know?

Shaunna listened quietly, using eye movement to encourage Jess to continue.

"When I resigned from the CPS, it suddenly dawned on me. If I died tomorrow, I’d have achieved absolutely nothing. Setting up the business was so risky, but it’s the