Tomorrow Comes

By KB Manz

"Can't take back yesterday" and "Tomorrow Comes" are a two book series. In the first book, we learned the "who". In this sequel, we learn the impact that dishonesty and tragedy can have on interrelationships between family members. Devon's struggle with PTSD is only the tip of the iceberg as the rest of the survivors come to terms with life after the event.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Jan 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483459431

Book preview

Author

CHAPTER ONE

Devon just stared at the words on the file she had pulled up. What was he talking about? She took a deep breath and briefly closed her eyes. When she opened them a few minutes later, the words were still on the screen in front of her. No, they were not a figment of her imagination. Lucas really had typed what he knew into a letter to her before he killed himself.

Knowing what little he knew of the secret, Devon realized that Lucas must have been devastated to learn this. No wonder things got so out of hand. She sighed and closed down the file, then logged off his laptop. For several long minutes, she just sat there, arguing with herself.

On the one hand, shouldn’t she tell the rest of her family? Maybe they would help her put the missing pieces together to solve the rest of the puzzle. On the other hand, was it wise to bring this issue up all over again?

It had been more than a year since her brother, Lucas, had murdered their parents and then committed suicide. The surviving members of her family were all starting to heal. She did not want to cause them undue pain.

Devon also realized that she still did not know the entire story and apparently, neither had Lucas. What he had put into the letter was only a part of the secret. She owed it to herself and the others to find out all the facts first, didn’t she? However, how was she supposed to do that on her own?

Obviously, no one else knew so even if she came right out and asked, they would be as clueless now as they were when it happened.

She bit down on her lower lip, a nervous habit she had, and debated her limited options. Maybe what she needed to do was to go further back and find someone from her parent’s past. There might be a name or two in her mother’s address book that she would recognize. Getting up from her desk chair, Devon went over and picked up the little brown box that sat on her nightstand table. Inside, was a small address book where her mother kept all her addresses including emails.

She took her time, reading each entry in the book. While most of the names were familiar, Devon was not sure if any of them would be able to help her. After several long minutes, she found herself in the J section and looked at the entry for Julia Jacobsen-Strong.

Now, she knew this name. Mrs. Strong and Mrs. Williams were longtime friends of her mother and they had been at the funeral too. Devon frowned as she realized that there had been no contact since then. She speculated that that was because both women probably wanted her to have time to grieve. At least, she hoped that was the reason. They might have written her off the way her so-called friends had.

Devon debated for a long time and then took a deep breath. Moving back to her desk, she sat down and booted up her own laptop. She quickly opened up her email and then sent Mrs. Strong a short little note.

Mrs. Strong,

I would like to talk to you as soon as possible. I have a few questions regarding my mother and since you were one of her closest friends, I hope you can help me.

You can either send word through my email or you can call me.

Devon

Devon typed in her cell phone number and then hit send. She had taken the first step and now it was up to Mrs. Strong to see if she would respond.

If Devon did not receive a reply by the end of the week, then she would try Mrs. Matthews.

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Julia was presiding over a work meeting when her phone started to buzz, indicating an incoming email. Excusing herself briefly, she picked it up, glancing down at the unfamiliar address. Because she did not automatically recognize it, she hit busy and hung up, getting back to work. Her day continued as it usually did with meetings and work projects that had to be completed. In fact, Julia did not pay a lot of attention to much of anything unless it was right under her nose.

It was an irritating habit to be sure, even though it meant that once she was committed to a project, she was fully in the moment. Julia had little use for distractions of any kind though she understood emergencies, as did the staff at the accounting firm where she had been a partner for the last decade.

Once she got home, she changed into a casual sweater and pants. Getting comfortable, Julia pulled up her email— Devon Fielding. Julia wondered what the girl could possibly want. Therefore, she clicked it open and read the short note for herself. Hmm, it still sounded cryptic to her but what the hell. She picked up her iPhone and dialed the number provided. The phone rang three times before it was answered. The voice was that of a young female. After a few seconds, Julia decided to leave a message.

Devon, this is Julia Jacobsen-Strong. I just opened your email and thought I should call. What can I do for you?

Julia decided that sounding formal would be the way to handle this. After all, it had been a long time since she had any contact with the girl. To be fair, she could have made the effort. It was just that Harrison Fielding had been so cool and unwelcoming. Without words, he had made it quite clear that once Devon was on the airplane, there would be no contact with her past.

The fact that neither one of them had attempted since that day spoke volumes. Still, Julia was willing to give the girl a chance. It could not have been easy for her. She decided to hear her out.

It was the least she could do in her friend’s memory. Besides, Julia had always liked Devon. Before she had a chance to hang up, there was an answer, so Julia paused, waiting to hear what the girl wanted.

At her end, Devon was keeping the fingers on her left hand crossed for luck. This was the first step, getting Mrs. Strong on the phone. She took a deep breath.

Thank you so much for calling, Mrs. Strong. I know it’s a lot to ask but you were close to my mother for years. I wanted to know if she ever shared anything with you that she might not have wanted my brother and me to know.

What a strange way to word the request, was Julia’s first thought and it had her hesitating. Did the girl suspect something or was this a fishing expedition? Devon, what exactly is it that you want to know?

When in doubt, it was best to let the other person spell things out before volunteering information. Julia had learned this lesson rather painfully a long time ago.

Devon blinked a little at the direct question. She was not at all sure how to word this, but maybe coming right out and telling her would do the trick. She took another deep breath first.

Mrs. Strong, I found a letter from my brother that explains why he did it, well at least part of an explanation. I was really hoping you could tell me more.

She is keeping things very close to the vest, Julia thought. I wonder what exactly the girl already knows.

Devon, this isn’t the kind of thing you discuss on the phone and Montana is very far away. Julia knew that she sounded vague but it worried her that the girl appeared to be digging into something that was better off left in the past.

After all, did it really matter why Lucas killed his parents and then himself? It was such a sordid mess. What good could it possibly do anyone to keep delving into it? It was best to leave that terrible time behind them where it belonged.

I know that, Mrs. Strong but I’m kinda out of options here. You and Mrs. Wood are the only two people I could think of that can help me with this.

Devon bit down on her lower lip as she paced her room, occasionally glancing out the window to look at the growing darkness.

Well, unless you can come up with a good reason why I should get on a plane and come meet you, I don’t see any way we can do this except by phone. Julia sounded practical. There simply was not any other way to handle this situation.

Devon had to agree with that logic even as her mind tried to come up with some idea on how to meet up in person. Mrs. Strong was right though; there was a lot of physical distance between the two of them.

I know and you’re right and I won’t talk about this on the phone. I’ll give it more thought and we can talk again.

That would be best, dear. If you can figure out a way to make this work, give me a call. You have my number now. Good night, Devon. She ended the call as quickly as possible, not even giving the girl a chance to reply.

Julia hung up and immediately punched in another number.

Hello?

Frannie, it’s me. Are you able to talk privately?

Julia wasted no time once her friend picked up.

Of course I can talk privately. The kids are out at a game and my husband is locked up in his home office. Why? What’s going on?

Frannie sounded amused as she sat on the living room couch. She muted the button on the remote control to the wide screen TV and waited for Julia to spill the details. It did not take long. Julia was not one to embellish, that was more Frannie’s way of handling things.

I received a very interesting email and phone call from Devon Fielding. Julia paused, wanting to be sure that she now had her friend’s complete attention. Devon found a letter from Lucas. She learned part of the secret, Frannie.

Are you sure? Frannie was more than a little surprised. Devon had not tried to get in touch with either one of them since the family funeral and now she suddenly felt an urge to reach out to Julia? It did not make a lot of sense.

Of course I’m sure, Frannie. It was Devon on the phone and she confirmed that she sent me an email earlier. She wants to meet in person to talk about what she knows.

Well, that’s not possible. Montana is too far away.

I know, and that’s just what I told her. Devon is not letting this go. She’s agreed to only talk about this in person, yet I don’t see how that is going to happen.

What did you tell her? Frannie was feeling more and more curious by the minute. She tucked her legs underneath her body. Julia now had her complete attention to what was sounding more and more like a true mystery.

Frannie had always had an interest in mysteries of all kinds and was an avid reader of Agatha Christie, as well as Elizabeth George, to name a few.

What could I tell her? I certainly didn’t expect the call, and it’s not as if I was going to tell her the whole story on the phone. Julia paused for a few minutes. The girl is right. She needs to hear the story in person.

It’s like you said. You have distance as a factor in this, Julia. Unless you can come up with a way to change that, I don’t see that you and Devon are going to have that face-to-face chat she thinks she wants. Frannie was positive about that. This distance thing was a major obstacle.

I know that. I also know that she doesn’t sound like she’s going to let it go. Julia paused again, for a minute. I never promised Susanna that I would keep her secret forever.

I never promised her that either. Still curious, Frannie had to ask, What are you going to do?

What can I do? All I can do now is sit and wait.

True, there isn’t anything you can really do right now. I’m glad you let me know, Julia. Frannie tried to sound reassuring. Maybe Devon was reconsidering the lack of contact. Julia could be jumping to conclusions.

You and I were best friends with Susanna. Of course, I wanted you to know. I’ll keep you updated as things progress. Don’t be surprised if Devon contacts you as well. I know that both of our numbers are in that book of her mother’s. That means that she might try and call you. Julia sounded very sure.

I doubt that. Frannie, however, was not convinced. The girl knows that there’s a problem with distance. She’s not going to solve that by calling me. I say that you’re right in waiting. Who knows? Maybe she’ll decide to talk on the phone.

I hope not. That’s not the kind of news I’d want to hear on the phone.

Maybe not, but I still think…. Oh, crap. I just heard the front door open. Frannie lowered her voice. I have to go. Keep me posted." With that said Frannie turned off her phone and fixed the sound on the TV.

Minutes later, her three sons were in the living room, joking around and talking about the basketball game. Frannie joined in on the laughter and dissection of the game and then they all headed into the kitchen for a late night snack.

The rest of the evening saw her readying herself for bed and then she was lying there, in the dark, remembering…

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Several years ago:

What am I going to do? Susanna held out the pregnancy test, her blue eyes filling with tears. Frannie and Julia sat on the floor of her dorm room and stared at the stick. Two pink lines appeared on the stick.

You’re sure you read the instructions correctly? That was Julia. She liked to be accurate.

Susanna nodded and pointed to the garbage can in the corner of the room. Frannie got up and walked over to pick it up for a closer look. She brought it back to where the other two girls were sitting, half tilting the can so that both could see the three other sticks lying inside.

All four said positive and yes, Julia, I can read instructions. What am I going to do?

Julia patted her friend somewhat awkwardly on the back and looked first over at Frannie.

Do you know which guy’s the father? Frannie gasped in shock that she would ask but Julia just raised her eyebrows a little defensively.

Susanna nodded. Yes, she knew who the father was.

Alright, then. You tell him that he’s going to be a father and you see what happens. Julia sounded matter of fact.

Susanna frowned. It’s not that easy, you know. What if he refuses to do the right thing?

Julia shrugged her shoulders. Do you want to keep the baby?

Susanna nodded, again. Of course I do.

Then what difference does it make what the guy says? Of course, you should let him know that you’re not giving it up and that you’re not having an abortion. He’s responsible, Susanna. He’ll have to pay child support, regardless. If he marries you, then there’s no problem but if he doesn’t, then you file a claim against him." Julia sounded so calm and reassuring.

Even Frannie felt better, hearing what Julia had to say.

I’m telling both Fred and Greg.

Julia shook her head, angrily. Are you out of your mind? Why the hell would you do that?

Susanna got to her feet and went to stare at herself in the bedroom mirror. They both deserve a shot at this. If the first guy refuses to marry me, then I’ll tell the second guy.

What if neither one agrees to marriage? Frannie was doubtful.

Susanna turned around and tried a watery smile on her friends. I know it isn’t how you both see things. I have to think about the baby. It will work out, I know it will. Susanna still sounded unsure however.

Fred’s still working in Meadville, isn’t he? That was ever practical Julia.

Yes, he is and I’m going to go down there tomorrow and give him the good news.

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Well? Julia was working at her desk when Susanna returned.

Susanna held up her left hand to show off the engagement ring, which left Julia stunned. "Fred