“Dylan, I told you not to run in here,” she reminded him, catching him as they attempted to run past.
“Mommy, come quick,” Isabelle insisted, pulling Adrian away from Christian.
“What is it, sweetheart?” she asked, as her daughter dragged her across the room, saying she needed to show her something. They stopped in front of the first painting in the collection, the one of the little girl on the other side.
“That’s me, Mommy.” Isabelle pointed at the portrait.
Adrian smiled. “Yes, it does look a lot like you.”
“No, that’s me,” she insisted. “Look.”
Adrian examined the portrait of the little girl she’d met on the other side years ago, the one who’d told her it wasn’t her time yet and encouraged her to make things right with her mother. She looked into her daughter’s eyes, realizing they were more familiar than she’d ever known. The honey ribbons woven throughout the hazel eyes, and her soft, pink, bow-shaped lips. There was no denying it. It was her, the little girl she’d met years ago, now standing in front of her. She couldn’t speak, overwhelmed with emotion. How was that possible?
“You see now, don’t you?” Isabelle smiled, twisting back and forth, her white and purple lace dress swishing from side to side.
“Yes.” Tears welled in Adrian’s eyes.
“She’s okay too, you know.” She pointed toward the picture of her and Margaret, the one Adrian had painted for her right before she died. Overcome with emotion, Adrian wiped her tear-stained cheeks.
“Don’t cry, Mommy.” Isabelle reached for her mother’s hand, her tiny brow furrowed. “Be happy.”
Adrian pulled her into a hug, gripping tightly. “I am happy, baby girl. More than you could ever know.”
The Story Continues…
Thank you so much for reading Unfinished Business. I sincerely hope you enjoyed spending time with these characters as much as I did. As a thanks for reading, I’d like to send you a free chapter not included in this book.
Want to know how Margaret handled her journey to the other side? Click here to receive a copy of Journey to Heaven, an Unfinished Business Companion free when you sign up for my newsletter. Happy reading!
Acknowledgments
Bringing this story to life was more challenging and rewarding than I ever imagined. Through its many different forms over many years, my parents, Linda Rash and Claude Hensley, were there every step of the way. I want to thank them for being my first fans from the moment I took my first breath. Thanks to Linda and Claude for being wonderfully supportive parents and encouraging my creativity. I couldn’t have chosen better if I tried.
Also, I couldn’t have done this without the support of my partner, Dwight Hume. Thank you, sweetheart, for allowing me to bend your ear about my story ad nauseum, for providing insight into the inner workings of the male brain, and for your love and encouragement. You continue to amaze me every day.
To the brave souls who read an early draft and helped shape the story into what it is today: Linda Rash, Claude Hensley, Mary Crockett, Eric Brown, Anita Hensley, Michelle Park, and Leigh Koritke; thank you, from the bottom of my heart. This book wouldn’t exist without you.
To family and friends who are practically family: Pamella Hensley, Brette Rash, Jane Hume, Nina and Ligia Miquel-Ghaziosharif, Lorie Vassar and Keena Jeffery; love you, and thank you for everything.
Behind every good story is hours of research, and this one is no different. Thank you, Paul A. Smith, for helping me understand the ins and outs of fertility and family law over shells of kava; Hemali Patel for answering medical questions; and Vivian Best for bravely sharing your experience with postpartum; without which the story would lack authenticity.
Thank you, Paula Lester, who polished my rough edges with her savvy edits, and Diren Yardimli for creating a work of art for the cover. Also, big thanks to Pat Dunlap Evans for developmental editing feedback that helped shape the story.
And most of all, thank you, Dear Reader, for spending time with the characters in this book. I sincerely hope you enjoyed them as much as I do. If you feel so inclined, please leave a review on your favorite review site. I’d love to hear your feedback.
For my mother, Linda, a truly amazing woman.
About the Author
Roxanne Hensley is the author of Women’s Fiction and Romance with happily ever afters and a hint of magical realism. Always a storyteller, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing from Florida State University. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading one of the hundreds of books on her Kindle, shredding the air guitar, quoting movie lines and lyrics, crocheting, singing when she thinks no one is listening, or binge watching Netflix. She lives in Austin, Texas with her partner, Dwight, and two cats, Sookie and Gandalf.
To find out more about Roxanne and be the first to know about new releases, sign up for her newsletter on her official website: www.roxannehensley.com
Copyright © 2019 by Roxanne Hensley
ISBN: 978-1-7341258-0-1
ISBN: 978-1-7341258-2-5
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019916319
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Let’s keep in touch!
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
The Story Continues…
Acknowledgments
About the Author