Happy New Life (15 page)

“I need to finish getting
ready.” Kristen hugged Liz.

The benefit was sold out.
Everyone came up to Liz and Jenna telling them what a great duo they were. When
it came to the silent auction, the bids were soaring. This year was going to
raise more money than last year. All their planning and hard work had been
worth it.

“Looks like we do make a
good team.” Jenna held a glass of diet coke up to toast Liz. “Best friend?”

“Best friend.” Liz
toasted her back.

Regardless of how Jenna
was going to take the news about Cole, Jenna was her best friend no matter
what. She just hoped she was going to stay Jenna’s best friend.

“Your sister is doing a
great job.” Jenna pointed to Kristen.

She did look cute in her
bow tie and casino outfit. She was chatting with all the gamblers sitting
around her table and dealing out cards like she really knew what she was doing.

“Everyone is enjoying
themselves.” Liz commented, seeing a smile on every face.

Her thoughts trailed to
Cole. She wondered if he was sitting alone watching New Year’s Rocking Eve with
Ryan Seacrest or already in bed.

He had promised to give
her distance until she figured out how to tell Jenna, and he had honored that.

“Are you almost ready for
the big countdown?” Jenna interrupted Liz’s thoughts.

She looked at her watch.

“I am. Only fifteen more
minutes until my new life begins.” Liz smiled

“New life?”

“I vowed to make this
year the first year of the rest of my new life. I have lived here over a year
and just breezed through it. Now I’m going to start living my life.” Liz
nodded.

“What is he doing here?”
Jenna pointed to the gentleman in the grey suit.

Liz recognized Bill
Canfield, one of the only lawyers in town. He was Cole’s lawyer, and she
recently talked to him on the phone.

He had confirmed that the
courts and state had tried to get in touch with Jenna by leaving several
messages on her answering machine, but they didn’t know her answering machine
didn’t work half the time

“Maybe he bought a
ticket.” Liz said.

“That’s Cole’s lawyer.”
Jenna’s eyes narrowed.

Liz was well aware who he
was and vowed not to tell Jenna everything until the New Year. She had fifteen
more minutes to wait.

“How can I help you?”
Jenna asked Bill.

“I have an anonymous
donation of $10,000 to present to MADD.” He handed Jenna a check and walked
away.

Jenna showed Liz the
check with her mouth wide open. They stood there unable to move.

Intuitively, Liz knew the
check was from Cole, but couldn’t say anything or prove it.

“Liz? Liz?” Kristen
screamed across the loud room and pointing to her watch. It was time for Liz to
take her post on the stage for the countdown.

She grabbed the check out
of Jenna’s hand. She was going to make the big announcement before the
countdown about the donation.

“Can I have your
attention please?” Liz felt good about the way she looked. She was confident
and ready to lead the countdown she had been dreading.

“I would like to make a
wonderful announcement before we start the New Year.”

The room didn’t take long
to quiet down. She noticed that Jenna had stopped Bill in the back of the room.
Bill was telling Jenna something, but Liz couldn’t make out what they were
saying. Jenna’s shoulders bobbed up and down.

Jenna was going to have
to wait, the countdown to the New Year was surely not going to wait.

“I wanted to announce
that MADD has received an anonymous donation of $10,000 tonight!” Liz yelled
into the microphone.

The room exploded in
cheers

Jenna walked back toward
the stage, being stopped occasionally by partygoers patting her on the back.
Everyone wanted to know who the big anonymous donor was. Jenna was wiping the
tears from her eyes. She was grinning from ear to ear.

“Let’s start this New
Year!” Jenna yelled to the crowd as she joined Liz on stage.

“Ready, best friend?”
Jenna asked Liz.

“Ready.” Liz took the
microphone. “10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

Liz felt arms wrap around
her waist. She turned around. Cole was holding her. Jenna stood next to them
smiling.

“That darn answering
machine. It only records half the messages I get. I am going to buy a new one
first thing tomorrow.”

“Happy New Year, baby.”
Cole’s kiss rang through her veins.

Over his shoulder, Jenna
was smiling.

Jenna mouthed, “I’m
sorry. Bill told me everything.” She gave Cole a hug.

“I am so sorry, Jenna.”
Cole was sincere. “I wanted to die. I would never drive drunk. I would never
want to kill my wife or Dan. Every day I live with the guilt that my drinking
caused it. I hope you can forgive me. I love you like a sister Jenna.”

Jenna shook her head
while her tears swelled up on the edge of her eyelids.

“I didn’t care what
happened to me. I wanted the death penalty.” His voice cracked. “I didn’t know
that you were unaware of the findings. I was shocked by your reaction at the
coffee house. Then Liz came into my life.” He turned to Liz. “The last thing I
was planning on was falling in love again.”

“I accept your apology. I
know you are a good man. You will make a good match for my best friend.” Jenna
hugged Liz.

“Let’s go start our new
life.” Cole whispered into Liz’s ear.

Walking out of the
benefit, hand in hand, Liz noticed Kristen staring at them. Kristen gave her a
nod of approval. Liz knew that she would catch up with Kristen tomorrow.

She was changing her
life.

She was starting a new
life.

From that moment on, she
would make more time for friends, family and herself. And now Cole would be
part of her family… and her new life.

About The Author

Tonya
Kappes

“Full of wit, humor
and colorful characters, Tonya Kappes delivers a fun, fast-paced story that
will leave you hooked!” Bestselling Author, Jane Porter

“Fun, fresh, and
flirty, Carpe Bead ’Em is the perfect read on a hot summer day. Tonya
Kappes’ voice shines in her debut novel.” Author Heather Webber

“
Tonya Kappes
strings together the perfect blend of family, friends, and fun.” Author Misa
Ramirez

Tonya is an Amazon Movers and Shakers, and
International bestselling author. She writes humorous cozy mystery and women’s
fiction that involves quirky characters in quirky situations.

Splitsville.com, the first novel in the Olivia
Davis Mystery Series, is a double finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book
Awards in the Mystery and Humorous Categories.

Carpe Bead ‘em is a finalist in Amazon’s eFestival
of Words in the Women’s Fiction Category.
She travel to various writer's groups giving workshops on marketing and
promoting no matter where you are in your career or what journey you take in
publication.

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