Losing Gabriel (39 page)

“You play that thing?” Punky gestured at the guitar case.

“I play.”

Punky's face broke into a grin. “Long ride in front of us.”

Sloan caught the hint. She snapped open the case and withdrew the battered guitar. The cab was cramped but she twisted to the side and held her instrument across her lap. Sloan strummed and a song long buried bubbled up and made her smile. She sang,
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…you make me happy when skies are gray…”
With each rendition in every musical genre, she saw Gabe's sweet face. And with it came an infusion of hope. She was the Sing Lady, and he was her heart.

When Sloan finished and rested her guitar, Punky whooped. “Wow, that was fine! You're gonna make this trip a whole lot shorter singing like that.”

Sloan nodded, warmed by the praise from this perfect stranger. Maybe she had a chance in L.A. after all.

“So, tell me your name again. Just want to be able to tell people I gave you a lift when I hear you on the radio someday.”

The sentiment made Sloan smile. “It's Sloan Quen—” She stopped as a truth struck her. She didn't have to be Sloan Quentin anymore. She could be anyone she wanted to be. Anyone. She touched her bracelet, cleared her throat. “My name's Sloan Gabriel.”

Punky slid her a glance. “You mean like the angel?”

“Yes,” Sloan said. “Like the angel.”

I am grateful to fellow writer Mark Parsons and his dear wife, Wendelin Van Draanen, for valuable input about the music business. Thanks, y'all! A big thank-you to Dr. Lee Perry of Chattanooga Allergy Clinic for his expertise about asthma and for answering my hundreds of questions during the writing of this book. Thanks, Doc! Also, I appreciate my personal trainer, Chris Marler, for his input. And a special thank you to Daniel Pippin, RN, for sharing his knowledge about the nursing profession.

LURLENE McDANIEL
began writing inspirational novels about teenagers facing life-altering situations when her son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. “I saw firsthand how chronic illness affects every aspect of a person's life,” she has said. “I want kids to know that while people don't get to choose what life gives to them, they do get to choose how they respond.”

Lurlene McDaniel's novels are hard-hitting and realistic, but also leave readers with inspiration and hope. Her bestselling books have received acclaim from readers, teachers, parents, and reviewers. They include
The Year of Luminous Love
and its companion,
The Year of Chasing Dreams;
Don't Die, My Love; Till Death Do Us Part; Hit and Run; Telling Christina Goodbye; True Love: Three Novels;
and
The End of Forever.

Lurlene McDaniel lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Visit her at
lurlenemcdaniel.com
and on Facebook, and follow
@Lurlene_McD
on Twitter.