Oblivion (43 page)

Varen leaned back in his chair. He peered out the window toward the condo complex.

“I do,” he said. “And whatever happens next, this is all extra, you know. The part after the ending.”

“After the
happy
ending,” Isobel corrected. “The afterword!” she added, perking up in her seat.

“Epilogue,” Varen said.

“Wait,” she said, suppressing a smile, “I thought that's what the talking was called.”

“Dialogue,” Varen replied, affecting a stern glower as he played along. Folding his green-jacketed arms on the table, he hooked the handle of his mug with a finger and lifted his coffee—black—to his lips.

Isobel tried hard not to laugh. The moment felt like one relived from the past, a throwback to those first days. But when Varen lost his seriousness before he could take a sip, smiling in spite of his efforts to keep a straight face, Isobel grinned too.

When the bells on the café door rang, Isobel's gaze strayed over Varen's safety-pin-studded shoulder. But her smile fell fast when she took in the pair who had just entered from the street.

Varen's expression sobered with hers. Setting his coffee cup in its saucer, he twisted to look at the young girl and her mother.

Varen's mother.

“Here to pick up the German chocolate,” Madeline said after approaching the counter. “You're holding it under the name Alexander.”

Isobel drew in a sharp breath, recognizing Varen's middle name.

As if sensing Varen's penetrating gaze, the girl, who couldn't have been much younger than Danny, turned her head to stare at him, blond braids flying.

“Veronica,” Madeline said, nudging the girl as the clerk disappeared into the back room. “It's not polite to stare.”

Quickly Varen turned toward Isobel again, his face white.

Tense in her seat, Isobel switched her focus between the woman—who after accepting a white cake box from the returning clerk, took her receipt—and Varen, who, mouth slightly agape, lip ring glinting in the late-afternoon sun, gripped the edge of the table.

“Do you want me to—” Isobel asked in a small whisper, but she stopped when, shutting his eyes, Varen shook his head once.

“Thank you,” Madeline said then, ushering the girl ahead of her and leading her through the door.

The bells jangled a second time as the pair left, heading across the street.

Varen reopened his eyes and watched them the entire way, until they disappeared behind the tall brick walls girdling the condominiums.

Isobel sat silent, watching Varen intently, bracing herself for whatever his reaction would be.

“We could still catch them,” she whispered.

Varen looked away from the window and back to his mug. His brow knitted. He blinked slowly, jaw flexing. Then, at last, he spoke.

“There's a beach,” he said, his voice half breath, “about an hour away. A cape, actually. Probably more rock than sand. And I know it's cold, but do you want to go? Just to walk.” He nodded to the cake before finally looking up at her. “I'm finished. If . . . if you are.”

She tilted her head at him. “You mean you want to—”

“Make out at sunset?” he interrupted. “Yeah. I kind of do.”

Varen's smile returned, though different from before. Sadder now, but . . . peaceful, as well. Satisfied, maybe.

“Weeell,” Isobel said. “In
that
case, yes, I do. And . . . yeah. I'm finished too.”

Crafting the final book in a trilogy has been, for me, both rewarding and challenging—a journey full of twists and turns that weren't always restricted to just those unfolding on the page. As a result, I have needed a great deal of support throughout the writing of this last volume of the Nevermore story, and I owe much gratitude to many people.

First, I'd like to thank my family and, in particular, my mom, who has always been my biggest supporter regarding any of my creative endeavors. Thanks, Mom, you're my hero and my best friend. Thanks also to my three brothers—Daniel Miller, Michael Creagh, and Thomas Creagh—who have not only inspired me (and many of Danny's antics) but have cheered me up and cheered me on. Thanks as well to their families and to all of my extended family for all your encouragement.

I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to my agent, Tracey Adams, and also to Josh Adams and all the folks at Adams Literary. I appreciate your guidance as well as your encouragement and enthusiasm for this project.

Many thanks go to my editor Namrata Tripathi, who helped shape the entirety of Isobel and Varen's story and who pushed me to dig deeper with this book. Thank you also for taking a shine to these characters from the beginning, and for helping me to hone my skills as a writer and a storyteller.

An enormous thank-you goes to my other editor, Emma Ledbetter, whose extra time and attention to this last volume has proven invaluable. Thank you as well for your encouragement, for asking the right questions and then asking again. Thanks in addition for doing so much polishing and for working so closely with me on the little stuff (especially the little stuff!) as well as the big stuff and for being so kind and patient. You've been incredible.

In addition to my editors, I am indebted to my entire team at Atheneum, who have put tremendous effort into each of the Nevermore books, providing everything from the most gorgeous covers to mad ninja copyediting skills, not to mention all those touches that have prepared my work for the shelf.

To my critique group, Bill Wolfe, Katie McGarry, Colette Ballard, Kurt Hampe, and Bethany Griffin: Where would I be without you guys? Thank you for your advice, your input, and for your honest thoughts regarding my work and this project. Thank you all for the laughs and for putting up with (and sometimes joining
in
with) the strangeness that is me. Thanks for being my friends as well as my colleagues. Every time we meet, I walk away a better writer. For that, I don't think I could ever thank any of you enough.

Special thanks go to Kurt Hampe, who helped reshape and spiff up the first portion of
Oblivion
. Another big ol', extra-large slice of special thanks goes to my good buddy Bill Wolfe, who read, reread, and offered notes on every scrap of this novel. Thanks for telling me to keep on keepin' on, for meeting with me for coffee shop writing time, and for offering vital insight on my plotting for world domination. Er, I mean for this story. (Halloween Movie.) My good friend April Joye Cannon is deserving of a great deal of special thanks as well. How many times did you read how many drafts? I lost count. Thanks for lending me your eyes and your thoughts, your talent for problem solving and for snappy dialogue, too. I am beyond lucky to have you in my corner.

Thank you to: Nick Passafiume, for reading each draft, for offering your insight and your encouragement. To Jeannine Noe for our many phone calls and in-person chats (most about the same thing, I know) and for being my sounding board and my friend. To Collyn Justus for meeting me to write, for helping me to craft the perfect pirate name, for letting me bounce ideas off you, and for sharing your lovely smile. To Jackie Adams Marrs, for our plot chats, replotting chats, and for letting me help with the Lightning McQueen cake.

I am also grateful to Cecy Grisham King for our Fourth of July discussion and a subsequent coffee shop conversation. I'm not sure if you remember what you told me, but I do. And always will.

During the writing of this novel, a certain Joe King taught me both how to fish and how to golf. Thanks, Joe, for the invite. It meant more than you know, and you were totally right. About the fishing, the golfing,
and
about the importance of taking a break.

And that brings me to David Grisham. Thanks for the good times and the laughter. Thanks for hashing out the tough scenes with me and for taking me to fly that kite.

In addition to perhaps more chocolate than was necessary, this book has been made possible by bucket loads of coffee. Quite a bit of that coffee (well, most of it, actually) was provided by the lovely folks at the various Louisville Heine Brothers' locations. I'd like to say thank you to the wonderful baristas for putting up with me, for preparing excellent coffee, and for resisting the urge to run or hide behind the counter whenever you saw me park my car. (Holly, I'm still chagrined about that orange juice episode, you know. I think I must have had my South Pole elf shoes on that day.)

Along with lots of coffee, a great deal of research has gone into the construction of the Nevermore novels. It has been a joy and pleasure to research the life and works of the American legend, Edgar Allan Poe. As strange as it may sound, I have often caught myself fancying that I really do know the man. While conducting research, I have met several folks who have not only shared my affinity for Mr. Poe and his contributions to American literature, but who have also helped provide me with the information I needed to represent Eddie in an accurate and respectful way. Thank you to the Poe Society of Baltimore and to Mark Redfield, Jeff Jerome, and the city of Baltimore. I am appreciative not only for the personal help you have given to me, but for your tireless work toward keeping Poe's legacy alive, for preserving his memory, and for sharing your knowledge of his life and writings with the world and with each new generation.

Much of my research has also brought me repeatedly to the familiar doors of the Louisville Free Public Library, and I would like to express my gratitude to my friends at each of the different branches. I appreciate your continued support of my writing endeavors, and each time I walk into any location, you all make me feel so special. Extra thanks are due here to Peter Howard for your help with locating information and translations regarding Yiddish lullabies and for being so kind as to do a bit of digging on my behalf.

To Michael Steinmacher, another incredible librarian and friend: Thank you for your continued interest in my career, your enthusiasm for my work, and inviting (and re-inviting!) me to speak at Barr Memorial Library. You're the best, Commissioner.

Books are written and books are printed, but before they truly live, they must be read. Without my readership, I might still be a writer, but I would not be an author. Thank you to all of you who have read any one of my novels. Your support and enthusiasm for my work and these characters brings me such joy. I appreciate as well all the booksellers who have hand-sold my novels and the librarians who have personally placed my work in the hands of readers. I could receive no higher compliment.

Writing is often a joyful act for me, yet sometimes it is difficult. I have quick easy days and I have slow tough ones. But every day during the writing of this book and every day before and since, I know I have had guidance from above. So I will end with thanking God, my writing companion and the source of all my inspiration. Thank you for bringing me and these characters who I love full circle.

Also by Kelly Creagh

NEVERMORE

ENSHADOWED