Second Week Of December

By Jan Thorn

Is love in the stars? in the air? or, in the cards?
Can we find ourselves during a long walk on the beach? a short walk on a pier? or, a quick bike ride into town?
Would destiny call through the reeds? as a bellowing horn? or, as a barking dog?
Do you believe in fate? destiny? or, the after-life?
These are questions that thirty-one year old Janie wasn't even considering, she didn't need to.
She was a good girl, she followed the rules. Her life had direction, she was on the right track, or so she thought, until last December when her comfortable little world unraveled. Comfortably married for a few years to her college sweetheart, steady job, great dog, nice apartment. While she and Tom's marriage wasn't a Hollywood romance, she was confident that eventually, in time, and with some effort, there would be a house and children.
It's that time of year, the height of the holiday season, the second week of December to be exact. Too much seasonal hype Janie always thought, holiday decorations in full force, parties galore, so much good cheer. Last year, at Janie's company's annual holiday function, there was plenty of food, way too much alcohol and an overabundance of Joy. Not just happy, fun-party joy, but over-indulgent, perpetually flirtatious Joy -- with Janie's husband, Tom, in what turned into the water-cooler talk of the office, and, as the new year unfolded, the dissolution of her marriage.
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, again, Janie finds herself surrounded by the usual merriment, but she is sad and alone. Her husband's infidelity has forced her to face re-inventing herself as her dream-life crumbled. Not only was she subjected to stares and whispers at work, but she was forced into a new space socially, and residentially. Most recently the death of her long-time canine companion, Maggie, has been the icing on her 'emotional' cake.
Now she must rebuild her life, alone. With no plan, direction or hope she feels lost in the dark until a random stranger offers more than just 'a light.'
Join her on a magical tale of love, loss and personal discovery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jan Thorn
• Release date: Dec 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9780997145205

Book preview

SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER.

by J. THORN

Copyright 2014 Janice Thorn

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Table of Contents

December 10

August 15

December 12

About Janice Thorn

Contact Janice Thorn

December 10

Second week of December, I couldn’t believe it was here. I couldn’t believe I was here, the company Christmas party at the pier. This was where my comfortable little world started to unravel last year, and in two weeks it would be a new year. My resolution to myself would be to turn the page on that comfortable little ‘married’ mindset and this horribly uncomfortable last year. I scanned the room from my safety zone by the window and watched my co-workers partaking in holiday merriment together, ugh -- so phony I could vomit. On Monday there would be plenty of water cooler talk about who-goosed-who, and worse, but I was determined not to be at the center of that controversy this year. My husband’s infidelity with Joy, the buxom, borderline raunchy, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants accounting admin, in the adjacent and vacant dining room and the subsequent fall-out, as her belly expanded and my marriage dissolved, had been enough to keep the rumor mill hopping for more than the first half of the year. Thankfully, Wanda quit before delivering my husband’s illegitimate child and the divorce was finalized before the birth certificate was issued. It had been a banner year, but it wasn’t the kind of banner you wanted to fly.

You okay? Kate asked quietly as she approached with two large glasses of chardonnay.

Fine, just reminiscing.

Don’t, she advised as she handed me the oversized wine glass, you look somber.

I am somber.

Well, don’t be, this is supposed to be a happy, c-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-o-r-y event. she emphasized ‘celebratory’ by hanging on each syllable. If you’re not happy, people will talk, that’s the last thing you need.

Oh, you don’t have to tell me about that. But after the year I’ve had, if I’m too happy people will talk too. I don’t need any more extracurricular headlining.

She looked at me and nodded, you know, you’re right. You’re damned no matter what you do. So, don’t get drunk and don’t kiss or sleep with anyone tonight. She reflected on what she just said and took a sip of her wine, however, also keep in mind that frowning is very bad for your skin and you’re no spring chicken, she pointed her finger at me, so you better be careful.

Oh, gee, thanks for the advice and encouragement. You’re a real peach

Anytime, that’s what friends are for.

Katie and I were great friends, had been since grade school. She was the one who recruited me to this position ten years ago when I told her I was looking for a new job. There had been plenty of times during my 12 years at Hobbs and Johnson that I had been grateful to have her so close, but