Thanks for the Memories: Forever and a Day Book 1.5: Forever and a Day

By Libby Austin

     Jason knew Candice's biggest Christmas wish was to remember the past eighteen years. As Thanksgiving approached, Candice retreated further within herself. Jason enlisted the help of their family and friends to grant Candice's wish. Each shared their cherished memories and placed them in a tin. Surprised to find the collection of tins, she couldn't help but wonder what was inside.

     With each memory, Candice felt a little more connected to the life and people she'd forgotten in the wake of her accident. Each one brought a sense of fulfillment and longing. When Christmas day arrived, would Candice be able to say thanks for the memories?
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Infinity & Beyond Publishing
• Release date: Jan 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507057513

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Libby Austin

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons—living, dead, or imaginary, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at [e-mail].

Cover Design by: Libby Austin and Christine, Perfectly Publishable Editing, Formatting, and Design

Editing by: Book Peddler’s Editing and Indie Solutions

Formatting by: Allusion Graphics, LLC/Publishing & Book Formatting

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your interest in reading thanks for the memories. I hope you enjoy the memories contained within the novella. This is a companion novella to the novel through infinity. It is not intended to be a complete story in its own right, as not all characters are identified and their history explained. thanks for the memories is a small collection of memories and traditions shared with a wife, mother, daughter, friend, siste

r-

or daughte

r-

i

n-

law, who is still growing into the life she’s reclaimed. If you enjoy reading thanks for the memories, please consider reading through infinity to experience the Woodruff family’s journey as they struggle to regain a forgotten promise of love through infinity & beyond…

Sincerely,

Libby

through infinity and thanks for the memories Characters

Candice Woodruff – wife, mother, daughter, friend, siste

r-

and daughte

r-

i

n-

law

Jason Woodruff – Candice’s husband

Damaris (Rissa) – Candice and Jason’s thirteen-year-old daughter

Sybany (Bunny) – Candice and Jason’s eleven-year-old daughter

Xavier (Frogger) – Candice and Jason’s nine-year-old son

Dawson (Duck) – Candice and Jason’s five-year-old son

Kitty – Candice’s mom

Meri – Candice’s sister

Macy – Jason’s sister

Marlene – Jason’s mom

JW – Jason’s dad

Jeff – Macy’s husband

Johnna – Candice’s siste

r-

i

n-

law

Marcus Williams – Rogers family friend

Bethany, Tonya, and Melissa – Candice’s best friends

The ‘official’ start of the holiday season and I felt like singing You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch at the thought of the days to come. Every time someone mentioned one of our Christmas traditions, I inwardly cringed. I wanted to be excited, but once again, I felt like I was letting my family down because I didn’t remember ‘our’ traditions. Oh, I knew there were traditions that I carried on from my childhood, but what about the ones that began with the family I’d helped create? It shouldn’t be a big deal to ask what kinds of things we did, but I remembered how much I looked forward to the special things my parents did when I was a kid. Guilt filled me that I couldn’t remember a single Christmas with Jason and our children and wouldn’t be able to fulfill their expectations. While I had so much to be thankful for, I found myself dwelling on the loss.

Oh well, suck it up, buttercup, I chastised myself. It was time to leave the tranquility of my little sanctuary at the top of my closet for what was sure to be bedlam—my entire family and then some would be gathering together to celebrate Thanksgiving. It was time to put those flash cards to use again. UGH…

Hours later I was worn out from smiling, chatting, and eating. Thanksgiving dinner was fun and entertaining. Because there were so many of us, we rented out the local community center. Dinner was organized chaos. At one point during the blessing, I leaned over and asked Jason how many times Pappy would say Amen before we actually got to eat. For the record, he said it five times. Pappy had become even more longwinded than he had been from my memory, and I thought he had rambled back then. The best part of the day was hearing our kids say, We are most grateful for our mom and dad.

Jason had already brought down all of our Christmas decorations from storage. This whole weekend would be dedicated to decorating the house. Relief filled me that I hadn’t completely flipped my lid over the past eighteen years and decided I liked Black Friday shopping. I shudder to think, but I finally understood Jason’s dig about my Amazon addiction because I loved shopping online. The specials were already popping up on my phone.

By the time we arrived home, it was close to time to start Dawson’s bedtime routine. I started to tell him to go get his stuff ready for his bath when Jason interrupted me. Hold up, Duck, we gotta show Mommy her surprise.

I quirked my eyebrow at him and asked, What surprise?

It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if we told you, now would it? Jason laughed as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders to direct me into the living room.

On the coffee table there were a bunch of metal canisters of all different sizes. Each was decorated and numbered. Since they weren’t in order, I couldn’t tell how many there were, but there were a lot.

Jason sat us down on the couch and handed me a parchment scroll tied with a ribbon. I glanced up at him as if to ask what’s this?

Just open it, he said with a nod of his head to gesture to the scroll.

My curiosity won out. I untied the ribbon, unrolled the scroll, and began reading. It was decorated with drawings from different skill levels, which made it obvious whom they were drawn by.

I was speechless and unsure of what to do, so in a shaky voice I said, Y’all really wrote Santa for me?

Yes, ma’am.

Yes, Mommy.

Uh huh.

Wiping a tear from my eye, I tried to keep myself from losing it. Jou aren’ suppose ta weak, Mommy, Dawson told me.

I laughed at his innocence. I know, buddy, but I’m just so happy I can’t keep it in. Dawson looked over at Jason for guidance. Jason gave him a subtle nod and Dawson dropped it.

Come on, Momma, open your first present, Sybany said, bouncing in her excitement. It did my heart good to see her coming out of her shell more and more. She vibrated with energy.

Okay, okay, I said laughingly. Which one do I open first?

Ugh, the one with the one on it, Xavier pointed out the obvious.

I scanned the table until I found the canister labeled ‘1’ and reached for it. Holding it up to my ear, I jiggled it.

Owwww, jou aren’t suppose ta shake da presents, Mommy, Dawson admonished me.

Sorry, buddy, I apologized. "I just wanted to make the surprise last a