A Life Wasted - The Journal Prequel: The Journal

By Victoria Michaels

Margaret Walsh's life has been utterly ordinary…

but her death will unleash secrets no one saw coming.

In the midst of grieving her failed marriage Amanda is dealt the devastating news that her mother, Margaret, has only weeks left to live. She makes the tough decision to bring her mother home to live out her final days.

Amanda remembers Margaret's life as boring and predictable. Full of PTA meetings, bake sales, and bridge games. As Amanda watches her mother deteriorate she feels as if she is looking at her own grim future.

But when Amanda discovers her mother's journal she realizes her mother's life was anything but ordinary…and maybe Amanda still has time to make her own life extraordinary.

This mesmerizing prequel is the perfect start to this inspirational romance series. Ideal for fans of Susan Hatler and Meredith Summers.

Get it now! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Victoria Michaels
• Release date: Jul 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201512514

Victoria Michaels

Victoria Michaels 💋 is the author of the Stephanie Unchained series and is a best-selling breakout author of dozens of steamy romance novels. A former high school English and Literature teacher, Victoria lives in the rural Canadian Rockies with her husband and their three dogs, Jake a border collie, Madeline a Golden Retriever, and Cherry a Labradoodle. Follow Victoria on Facebook and Amazon as well! 💖

Book preview

Synopsis

Be a good mother, a good wife, a good daughter. Raise your children, look after your husband and home. All ideals Amanda has been expected to achieve in her life. That is, until her mother is diagnosed with a terminal illness and given only a few weeks to live.

When Amanda decides to take in and care for her mother until her passing, she isn’t prepared for the onslaught of emotions and memories that take over her. As she and her mother develop a deeper bond, Amanda is forced to question the meaning of life along with her purpose in it. Feeling caught in a game with life itself, Amanda can’t help but feel that by playing a role she never wanted or intended, she has squandered her life away.

Will Amanda ever find the answers to the questions tearing through her heart? In her final days with her mother, can she overcome the pain and despair that has taken over her life? After all, only her mother can teach her the true meaning of living.

This later-life romance is a tale of love, heartbreak, kindness and above all—family.

Like what you’re reading?  Continue with the next book in this series,

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Chapter One

And...stretch...now release. Drop your heels, press your chest back towards your legs as your head floats between your arms, turning the elbows in, and pressing through that middle finger. Karen’s melodic voice takes me away as I try to relax into the pose. Yoga has always been a little difficult for me, but not for my mom. I glance over at her as I think this and realize there is something wrong.

Mom? Are you okay? Coming out of my downward facing dog I quickly move to my mother’s side, concerned with the distressed look on her face.

Oh, I’ll be fine, I’m sure, Mom feigns a smile and drops down to her knees. I got a sharp pain in my abdomen. I probably ate too soon before to class. She pushes back into child’s pose, and I can hear her breathing deepen. Something tells me it’s not indigestion.

Mom and I have been coming to these classes together for years, but she has always been advanced. She told me she got into yoga when it was all the craze back in the ‘70s, but I often wondered why none of her friends did it as well. But today, she is definitely not up to her usual form. The class is almost over, so I decide to not make a big deal of it until later.

Feeling better, Mom? I ask as we pull on our hoodies and head to the car, rolled up mats tucked under our arms.

Don’t worry about me, Amanda. I’m sure I’ll be fine. I just need a little rest. Her voice is stronger now and I feel a little reassured.

Okay but take it easy for the rest of today. I’ll call you this afternoon. I make a mental note to check up on her.

She drops me off at my house and I change and head to the school where I work part-time as a secretary. Soon I am dealing with kids fighting, lost homework, bus schedules and curriculum changes that need material updates. The day is so busy it whips right by, and I have completely forgotten about Mom.

Goodnight, Ms. Petric. The principal waves at me as I head for my car, thinking about what I am going to make for dinner. It’s strange now that the kids are off at school and Cliff has left, there’s only me and I have found that I don’t really like cooking for one. Maybe I’ll swing by Mom’s and see if she wants to go out for an early dinner.

When I pull up to Mom’s house, I remember that she wasn’t feeling well this morning. I’m such a shithead, I scold myself aloud, I should have called to check on her earlier.

I let myself into the house and call out as I toss my keys and purse on the entranceway table. Hi Mom, I hope you are feeling better. Want to grab some dinner?

Back here, honey. I’m just laying down. Mom’s voice sounds weak and tired as she answers me from her bedroom.

Are you okay? I am concerned looking in at her laying on the bed, propped up with a pillow and an afghan blanket pulled up over her legs.

Not really. She responds giving me a weak smile.

Jesus, Mom, what’s wrong? Now I feel panic setting in, and I rush over to sit at the end of her bed, staring into her eyes, searching.

Oh Amanda. After yoga class this morning I didn’t feel any better by lunchtime, so I called Doctor Harris. They had a cancellation, so he was able to fit me in right away.

Oh good, I think to myself, he probably gave her something and it tired her out. That’s good, Mom. What did he say? Is everything alright? I am feeling a bit more relieved now that she’s seen her doctor. She’ll be fine in a couple of days.

Well...not really, Amanda. I’m sick. Really sick. Mom places a hand over mine and gives me a very sad smile.

*

I have never seen a more beautiful day; in fact, one may even describe it as...well...perfect. Staring out the window, I watch as a robin perches on a branch, preening its wings, then flitting off. The flowers are starting to bloom, and