Page 93 of Romantic Hero
After a few rings I hear a click. ‘You’ve reached the voicemail of Melissa Murphy of Central Therapies. Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you.’
I take a deep breath. ‘Hi, Melissa. This is Gertie Bickerstaff – you probably don’t remember me – I visited you for grief counselling four years ago and then sort of, you know, stopped coming without a proper explanation. If it’s all right with you I was hoping I could make a new appointment, please? I’d like to start up our sessions again. Thanks.’
Ending the message, I slip River’s cowboy hat onto my head. Then I grab my laptop, open up a brand-new document and type two words so full of potential, so full of hope, they make me giddy with anticipation.
Chapter One
I run my hand along the edge of the Stetson and smile.
I reckon it’s about time I figure out what I’m made of.
Just me.
A leading lady.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
One Year Later
Dear Gertie,
USA Today Bestseller!!! We are all cheering you on at the agency.
Safe flying tonight. Also have you finished the draft of your next book yet? No pressure, obviously, but I can’t wait to read it. A romance novel in which a fictional character comes to the real world? Now where on earth did you possibly get an idea like that?!
All best,
Bridget
How is it all going? Are the readers lovely? Are you feeling proud and fulfilled? I hope so because you fucking should. Miss you! Hope the horse-tour goes well. Couldn’t be me! Love Marisol xx
P.S. I got the chamomile for Josie’s birthday tomorrow. I’ll laythem on her headstone for you and let her know you’ll be visiting as soon as you return
If you come across that wicked man River Oakley while you’re in Texas you tell him I want my dog back. In fact, you grab that dog and you bring him back on the plane. I will pay for his fare.
Mrs Casablancas
‘Now we’ll take one final question from the audience before Gertie has to leave,’ the bookshop owner says to the surprisingly large crowd that’s gathered to see me in Texas, every one of them holding copies of the final Bedlam Creek novel.
A friendly-looking round-faced girl raises her hand.
‘Go ahead,’ the bookseller nods at her.
‘Hi Gertie! I thought this was the most romantic book in the whole series. I loved it. And I wanted to know – what doyouthink true romance is?’
I bite down on the corner of my lip. ‘You know, I – a lot like Ethan – used to think that romance was in the grand gestures. The flowers, the surprise trips, the public declarations and scattered rose petals. The stuff of TV shows and movies and – yes – romance novels. But while writing this book I came to the conclusion that true romance, in my experience, is quieter than that. It’s having someone to navigate your life with and knowing that they’re the absolute only person you want to do that with. It’s rooting for each other, holding eachother up in ways that are practical and emotional. It’s everyday thoughtfulness. Warming up your cold feet with their feet. Learning how to make a cup of tea just the way you like it. Lending you courage when you don’t know how to be brave, or donkey-riding you around the neighbourhood because you broke your ankle and was sick of being indoors. It’s being on each other’s team, no matter what. Being each other’s number one fan. That, to me, is true romance. Oh, and, of course, a mind-blowing sexual connection definitely helps.’
‘Hell, yeah!’ the girl cheers, sitting back down with a laugh. ‘Thanks!’
‘Fantastic,’ the bookshop owner says. ‘Now we will have a signing line, so if y’all could queue over in the—’
‘Wait!’ Another reader jumps up. ‘I’m sorry, I just thought of a question.’
‘I’m afraid the question portion is—’
‘It’s fine!’ I say. ‘We can do one more! What did you want to ask?’
‘I was wondering – in the book, Cassidy’s brother River Oakley disappears and we never get to find out what happened to him. There were lots of rumours in Bedlam about why he left so suddenly: that he was on the run from a cartel, that he went into witness protection, that he joined a travelling circus. Which one doyoubelieve? What do you think happened to River Oakley?’
