Audiobook - Adult - Jenna Stern

Transcript

Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
the patio gate rattled the privacy fence around. The pool was eight feet high, constructed of wooden slats in a solid lattice. We've but the gate was made of wrought iron bars. Startled Jane set up and glanced over Jane. It was Leah Street, of all people. She looked frantic, and she rattled the gate again, as if she could shake it open. Jane bolted from the Shays and ran toward the gate. Her heart almost leapt from her chest. Says Strong, was the panic that seized her. Leo. What's wrong? Is it T. J? Leah blinked, as if Jane's questions surprised her. Her strangely intent gaze locked on Jane. Yes, it's T J. Open the gate. Jane skidded to a halt in front of the gate and reach to open it, then realized you didn't have a key to the lock. Open the gate, Leah repeated. I can't I don't have the key. I'll get Shelly. Jane was almost weeping in terror as she turned away, but Leah reached through the gate and grabbed her arm. Startled out of her panic, Jane jerked free and world to stare at Leah. What the **** The words died in her throat Leah's outstretched hand had blood on it, and two of her fingernails were broken. The woman pressed closer to the gate, and Jane saw more red splotches on her baggy skirt. Instinct had Jane backing up a step open the God damn gate. Leah shook the gate with her left hand, as if she were a crazed chimpanzee on the inside of a cage. Her feathery blonde hair flew around her face. Jane stared at the blood and the blond hair. She saw the weird glitter in Leah's eyes, twisted expression on her face, and everything inside her went cold. Marcy opened her briefcase, and I got a pad of paper and a pen slapping them down on the table. He most certainly would. Let's see, What would Mr Perfect be like? He'd have to do the dishes half the time without being asked, T. J said marshy scribbled on her pad. Okay, Number one, do the dishes. Jane protested. No, Hey, doing the dishes can be number one. We have more serious issues to address first. Yeah, Luna said. Seriously, what do we think a perfect man would be like? I never thought about it in those terms. Maybe it would help if I had it clear in my mind what I like in a man. They all paused. This is going to take some thinking, Marcy pronounced. Not for me, T J said. The most important thing is that he wants the same things out of life that you do. They lapsed into a little pond of silence. Then Marcy repeated it as she wrote, Wants the same things out of life. That's number one are. We agreed. That's important, Jane said. But I'm not sure it's number one. Then what's number one for you? Faithfulness. Life's too short to waste it on someone you can't trust. You should be able to depend on the man you love not to lie to you or cheat on you. If you have, that is the base. You can work on the other stuff. That's number one for May, Luna said quietly. TJ thought about it, Okay, she finally said If Galen wasn't faithful, I wouldn't want to have a baby with him. I'll go along with that, Marcie said. I can't stand a two timer. Number one. He's faithful dozen. Cheat or lie. They all nodded. What else? She stumbled over Boo Boo. On the way back to bed, the cat jumped up with startled yell and Jane damn near had a heart attack. Jesus, boo! You scared the **** out of me. She wasn't used to having a pet in the house, and she was always forgetting to watch where she stepped. Why on earth her mother had wanted her to baby sit the cat instead of Shelley was beyond her. Shelly had kids who could play with Boo Boo and keep him entertained. Since school was out for summer vacation, someone was home at both their houses almost all day, every day. But no Jane had to keep boo boo. Never mind that she was single, was at work five days a week and wasn't used to having a pet. If you did have a pet, it wouldn't be one like Boo Boo anyway. And Boo Boo didn't like her. He liked her well enough when he was in his home coming around to be petted. But he didn't like being in her home at all. Eight Oclock found her checking over the tally of guests who had walked through the turnstiles that day at the sound of her name. She raised her head and looked through the plate glass windows that enclosed her office to see Faith Scott charging around the fountain. Outside. The girl was out of breath, her broadly smiling face bathed with a film of healthy perspiration when she came to an abrupt halt on the other side of the glass and cried, Isn't it great? Haley Haley slid the window open so they could hear each other without shouting. She was laughing at the sheer delight written all over faiths Features. Isn't what great Daddy told me? You're coming to dinner with us? Indeed, Tyler looked quite pleased with himself as he sauntered around the pool of water surrounding the fountain. His coat was negligently hitched over his shoulder by an index finger. His Longstride brought him quickly up to the window, where he casually draped his arm around faith shoulders. I, he said. Odell stared at the body of his son, lying gray blue on a metal table at the county morgue and felt a sick rage rising up inside him. Purvis stood beside him. I'm sorry, Odell, he said. Odell didn't speak, couldn't speak, couldn't even look away from Randy's cold rigid face. The Dupri kid is dead too. And your son in law is close to it. I reckon your girl would be mighty glad to see you about now. Odell cared about his daughter in his way. But Randy had been his only son. A red haze blurred his vision. I know you're in bad shape right now. Purvis went on quietly, and I sure don't blame you for that. We're gonna nail wherever did this, Odell. But if there's any way you can help, if you know anything at all. He knew all right. He knew. But he would be damned if he'd let the liberal courts handle the matter. Damned a hellfire forever if he'd see the son of a *****. You done this sent to some cushy country club prison? No, sir. Odell, how would make sure that justice was done? He'd see to it personally. Because change can be challenging, sometimes even frightening. Being in a resourceful state of mind makes all the difference in achieving it. Whether you want to stop isolating yourself and join a support group or talk out your anger instead of eating over it, using an anchor to first achieve a positive state can make any behavior change easier to accomplish. Here are six examples of how to do it. Number one. Pick your state of mind. You've been eating because, for instance, you're lonely and want to have more intimate contact with others. You know you have to feel better about yourself as a person to do this state of mind. Self confidence, appreciation of your assets and your capacity for personal connection. Number two. Remember when you felt it before? Think back to a time when you felt strong about your personal worth. Perhaps it was when you pulled off a big project. Choose one of these times and go back there in your mind. Remembering what you did heard, saw and felt. Number three Choose your anchor, something you can use now as an association to call up the state of mind you're in.