Side Trip
PRAISE FOR KERRY LONSDALE
Everything We Keep
A TOP AMAZON BESTSELLER OF 2016 AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER
AMAZON CHARTS BESTSELLER
LIZ & LISA BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH SELECTION
POPSUGAR AND REDBOOK FALL MUST-READ SELECTION
“This fantastic debut is glowing with adrenaline-inducing suspense and unexpected twists. Don’t make other plans when you open up Everything We Keep; you will devour it in one sitting.”
—Redbook magazine
“Aimee’s electrifying journey to piece together the puzzle of mystery surrounding her fiancé’s disappearance is a heart-pounding reading experience every hopeless romantic and shock-loving fiction lover should treat themselves to.”
—POPSUGAR
“You’ll need an ample supply of tissues and emotional strength for this one . . . From Northern California author Kerry Lonsdale comes a heart-wrenching story about fate sweeping away life in an instant.”
—Sunset magazine
“Gushing with adrenaline-inducing plot, this is the phenomenally written debut every fall reader will be swooning over.”
—Coastal Living
“A beautifully crafted novel about unconditional love, heartbreak, and letting go, Everything We Keep captures readers with its one-of-a-kind, suspenseful plot. Depicting grief and loss, but also healing and hope in their rawest forms, this novel will capture hearts and minds, keeping readers up all night, desperate to learn the truth.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A perfect page-turner for summer.”
—Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of Hidden and Fractured
“Heartfelt and suspenseful, Everything We Keep beautifully navigates the deep waters of grief, and one woman’s search to reconcile a past she can’t release and a future she wants to embrace. Lonsdale’s writing is crisp and effortless and utterly irresistible—and her expertly layered exploration of the journey from loss to renewal is sure to make this a book club must-read. Everything We Keep drew me in from the first page and held me fast all the way to its deeply satisfying ending.”
—Erika Marks, author of The Last Treasure
“In Everything We Keep, Kerry Lonsdale brilliantly explores the grief of loss, if we can really let go of our great loves, and if some secrets are better left buried. With a good dose of drama, a heart-wrenching love story, and the suspense of unanswered questions, Lonsdale’s layered and engrossing debut is a captivating read.”
—Karma Brown, bestselling author of Come Away with Me
“A stunning debut with a memorable twist, Everything We Keep effortlessly layers family secrets into a suspenseful story of grief, love, and art. This is a gem of a book.”
—Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us
“Everything We Keep takes your breath from the very first line and keeps it through a heart-reeling number of twists and turns. Well plotted, with wonderful writing and pacing, on the surface it appears to be a story of love and loss, but just as you begin to think you’ve worked it out, you’re blindsided and realize you haven’t. It will keep you reading and guessing, and trust me, you still won’t have it figured out. Not until the very end.”
—Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of The Truth We Bury and What Lies Below
“Wow—it’s been a long time since I ignored all of my responsibilities and read a book straight through, but it couldn’t be helped with Everything We Keep. I was intrigued from the start . . . So many questions, and Lonsdale answers them in the most intriguing and captivating way possible.”
—Camille Di Maio, author of The Memory of Us
All the Breaking Waves
AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH: LITERATURE & FICTION CATEGORY
LIZ & LISA BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH SELECTION
“Blending elements of magic and mystery, All the Breaking Waves is a compelling portrayal of one mother’s journey as she grapples with her small daughter’s horrific visions that force her to confront a haunting secret from her past. Examining issues of love, loss, and the often-fragile ground of relationships and forgiveness, this tenderly told story will have you turning the pages long past midnight.”
—Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of The Truth We Bury and What Lies Below
“With a touch of the paranormal, All the Breaking Waves is an emotional story about lost love, family secrets, and finding beauty in things people fear . . . or simply discard. A perfect book club pick!”
—Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us
“A masterful tale of magic realism and family saga. With its heartfelt characters, relationships generational and maternal, and a long-ago romance, we are drawn into Molly’s world. While her intuitive gifts may be ethereal, her fears and hopes for her daughter and personal desires are extraordinarily relatable. Woven with a thread of pure magic, Lonsdale crafts an intriguing story of love, mystery, and family loyalty that will captivate and entertain readers.”
—Laura Spinella, bestselling author of Ghost Gifts
Everything We Left Behind
AMAZON CHARTS AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER
AMAZON EDITORS’ RECOMMENDED BEACH READ
LIZ & LISA BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH SELECTION
“In this suspenseful sequel to Everything We Keep . . . readers will be captivated as the truth unravels, hanging on every word.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A stunning fusion of suspense, family drama, and redemption, Everything We Left Behind will hold the reader spellbound to the last sentence.”
—A. J. Banner, #1 Kindle and USA Today bestselling author of The Twilight Wife and The Good Neighbor
“Love, loss, and secrets drive Kerry Lonsdale’s twisty follow-up to the bestselling Everything We Keep. Everything We Left Behind is an enthralling and entertaining read. You’ll be turning the pages as fast as you can to see how it ends.”
—Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, authors of The Good Widow
“While Everything We Left Behind, the long-anticipated sequel to Everything We Keep, is page-turning and suspenseful, at its center it is the story of a man struggling to discover the truth of his own identity. A man who is determined above all else to protect his family, a man who is willing to risk everything to find out the truth and to ultimately uncover the secrets of his own heart. For everyone who has read Everything We Keep (if you haven’t, go do that now!), this is your novel, answering every question, tying up every thread to an oh-so-satisfying conclusion.”
—Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of The Truth We Bury and What Lies Below
“With one smart, unexpected twist after another, this page-turner is as surprising as it is emotionally insightful. Everything We Left Behind showcases Kerry Lonsdale at the top of her game.”
—Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Life and Other Near-Death Experiences
“Told through a unique perspective, Everything We Left Behind is a compelling story about one man’s journey to find himself in the wake of trauma, dark secrets, and loss. As past and present merge, he struggles to confront fear and find trust, but two constants remain: his love for his young sons and his need to protect them from danger. This novel has everything—romance, suspense, mystery, family drama. What a page-turner!”
—Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us
Everything We Give
WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER
“Fans will not be disappointed in this stunning conclusion to the Everything Series. With Lonsdale’s signature twists and turns, nothing is a given until the last, satisfying page. I cried, I bit my nails, and I lost myself in images of wild horses galloping across rural Spain as I journeyed through Ian’s past and present. A page-turner about the devastating impact of mental illness and dark secrets on a family, Everything We Give is also a story filled with the enduring power of love.”
—Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us
“Kerry Lonsdale gives everything away in this final book in the Everything Series, Everything We Give. Questions involving an enigmatic woman, the mystery of her name and her identity, and her connection to Ian kick off what is a fast-paced and sensual story of suspense. Like Everything We Keep and Everything We Left Behind, books one and two in this delectable and layered series, Everything We Give is the frosting on the cake, delivering more than one surprise and a total knockout punch of an ending.”
—Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of The Truth We Bury and What Lies Below
“Kerry Lonsdale brings the conclusion to the Everything Series to a magnificent ending. Ian’s journey through past and present is a trip to remember. A fast-paced thriller with romance and intrigue. Bravo, Kerry!”
—Kaira Rouda, USA Today bestselling author of Best Day Ever
“Everything We Give is a satisfying conclusion to this series, which began with a funeral when there should have been a wedding and ends with the final fallout from the mysterious woman who warned the almost-widow that all was not as it seemed. Lonsdale has woven together a tapestry of characters—Aimee, Ian, James—whose lives are intertwined in ways even they don’t entirely know. [It’s] both a romance and a mystery, [and] readers will turn these engrossing pages quickly to find out what their final fates would be. Fans of this series will not be disappointed.”
—Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of Hidden and The Good Liar
Last Summer
AMAZON CHARTS AND WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER
“An involving story weaves a tale of recovery into a mystery that embraces relationships, danger, and new beginnings.”
—Midwest Book Review
“To say that this book is a page-turner is an understatement.”
—Criminal Element
“This was a highly entertaining and wildly addictive read that is perfect for summer! . . . Compulsive, sexy, and tense.”
—Novelgossip
“Last Summer is one hell of a ride with a heroine who’s easy to relate to and a glossy romantic mystery that holds the reader’s attention.”
—All About Romance
“Lonsdale doles out the clues to Ella’s lost time in the perfect amount of bits and pieces to keep the suspense going . . . The story was well written, fast paced, and full of suspense. This was a great summer read.”
—Mystery Playground
“Last Summer is utterly captivating and impossible to put down, so strap yourself in for a ride. In addition to being a superb writer, Kerry Lonsdale has a talent for creating complex characters who wrestle with very real situations. Last Summer is her best yet, a sly suspense coupled with sizzling romance and unending twists. Lonsdale should be on every reader’s radar.”
—J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of Lie to Me and Tear Me Apart
“Last Summer is a compelling and chilling suspense that kept me turning the pages until the very end. This was my first Kerry Lonsdale novel, but it definitely won’t be my last.”
—T.R. Ragan, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Evil Never Dies
“Move over, Gone Girl, and make way for Last Summer, a taut, intricately plotted novel of secrets and lies, love and betrayal. I thought I knew where the story was going, but the final, shocking twist gave me a serious case of whiplash. Just wow.”
—A. J. Banner, USA Today and #1 Amazon Kindle bestselling author
“Last Summer is a deliciously dark and twisty tale that leaves you wondering who you should root for until the very end.”
—Victoria Helen Stone, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Jane Doe
ALSO BY KERRY LONSDALE
THE EVERYTHING SERIES
Everything We Keep
Everything We Left Behind
Everything We Give
STAND-ALONES
All the Breaking Waves
Last Summer
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT PAGE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Text copyright © 2020 by Kerry Lonsdale Inc.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Lake Union Publishing, Seattle
Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Lake Union Publishing are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.
ISBN-13: 9781542016964
ISBN-10: 1542016967
Cover design by Rex Bonomelli
DEDICATION
For my daughter, Brenna.
May you always find the music in you and the words to express it.
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
START READING
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
EPILOGUE
JOYRIDE
COMING SUMMER 2021
AUTHOR NOTE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
START READING
Without music, life would be a mistake.
—Friedrich Nietzsche
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 1
AFTER
Joy
Joy shouldn’t have agreed to Dylan’s deal. She should have let him say goodbye, because goodbye would have been much easier than the crushing despair she feels right now. She wouldn’t be left wondering what might happen between them, or what could happen down the road. What didn’t happen today. Things she shouldn’t be wondering about.
But that doesn’t stop her from looking toward the sliding glass doors to the British Airways check-in counter at JFK, the terminal Dylan just walked into. She presses a hand to the center of her chest and breathes through the gaping hole his departure has left. She aches.
Songwriter, music producer, and record label executive Dylan Westfield is a brilliant musician, and one of the most talented singers she’s had the privilege to hear. A temporary friend she met ten days ago. She’ll never again hear his voice, or touch his face, or see the smile that could melt hearts. This can’t be how it ends. What if she goes in after him? What if she tells him how she feels? What if—
A shrill whistle blows behind her. Numbly, Joy turns her head to the sound. A stout, red-faced airport security officer stands by her brand-new 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle. Both the passenger- and driver-side doors are open. They’d been so caught up in each other and their last moment together that neither had bothered to close their door.
“This your car, lady?” the officer demands.
Joy nods.
“You need to move it. Come on, get a move on.”
Move on.
Dylan’s moving on. She agreed to do the same.
Together their chemistry had been off the charts, something undefinable and more than anything she’s known before. But she can’t delude herself that anything good can come of starting something with a man she met only ten days previous. Dylan is set on living his best life. With plenty to look forward to, she’s determined to do the same. A new home, new city, new job as an entry-level cosmetic lab tech at Vintage Chic. She should be excited about working in a lab on their lipstick line, mixing oils and colorants. It’s an incredible opportunity. Her sister, Judy, would have been ecstatic to work there.
Joy swipes the moisture from under her eyes, and her engagement ring catches the waning New York sunlight. The ring Mark had placed on her finger just two short months ago, the day after she graduated from UCLA. The man faithfully waiting for her at his apartment in Manhattan.
Guilt takes a roll downhill in her stomach.
Joy closes the passenger door and walks around to the driver’s side. She sinks into the seat Dylan recently vacated and shuts the door. She takes a deep breath, and a wave of longing washes over her. Her car smells like him. It feels so empty without him.
She feels empty.
She plucks a soiled tissue from the cup holder and dabs her eyes, willing the tears to dry up. She needs to stop crying and she needs to put him out of her mind.
Leaning across the seat, she grabs her purse from the passenger-side footwell and roots through the bag. Her hand deliberately dives past Judy’s Route 66 Bucket List, the list Joy failed to complete.
That hadn’t been part of the plan, and she feels like she let Judy down. Her sister would have completed the list no matter what. She was efficient like that, with laser-sharp focus. It was one of the many traits Joy had admired in her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
She takes a deep, pained breath and grabs her phone. Two texts had arrived during the time Dylan parked her car curbside and left: one from Taryn, the other from Mark.
She reads Taryn’s text first and feels a hint of relief and a smidge less lonely. They’ve been inseparable since the day Taryn toddled three doors down wearing nothing but a saggy potty-training diaper and the sticky, Kermit-green stain of Popsicle drippings on her bare chest. Her BFF texted that she’s in line for a promotion at the social media agency where she works in LA. With luck, she’ll be able to transfer to New York within a few months.
Mark’s text is more sobering. He’s waiting for her. He can’t wait to see her. He can’t wait to make love with her.
Joy swallows her guilt and brings up Mark’s address. She launches the directions to his place—their place—and buckles her seat belt, giving the belt two sharp tugs to ensure it’s latched. She shifts the car into gear the same moment the officer loudly raps his knuckles on her window.
“Move on, lady!”
Joy does, merging into the airport traffic, resisting the urge to look back. Because what she might want, or who, doesn’t matter. It hasn’t mattered for years.
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 2
BEFORE
Joy
Ludlow, California
A tall drink of water.
Joy never contemplated the meaning behind that idiom. She never considered using it to describe a guy. The expression was archaic. Something her grandmother would have said. Or Judy, given that it was dated slang and her older sister had loved everything retro, specifically anything circa 1950s. But then Joy saw him. Now she couldn’t think of a better way to describe the man she’d been watching through the window.
She felt parched, her mouth dry. It could very well be from ogling the gorgeous guy with the heather-gray, sweat-drenched T-shirt and stonewashed jeans that fit him way too well as he bent over the engine of his beat-up Pontiac Bonneville rather than the triple-digit dry heat baking the asphalt and everything alive outside Rob’s Diner, where Joy had stopped for a cheeseburger and fries. Food Judy would have ordered if she’d had the chance to take this trip.
Her sister had loved cheeseburgers, and she and Joy had eaten their share at In-N-Out Burger. Joy missed those weekly outings when Judy would buy their meals. They’d eat them outside on the white tables with red chairs under a duo of palm trees, the sun setting over SoCal suburbia.
Joy sucked her Cherry Coke through a red-striped plastic straw and watched the man outside. He straightened, wiped his forearm across his glistening forehead, and looked east down the sprawling stretch of Route 66. She didn’t know how he could stand the desert heat. August in Ludlow was brutal, and tall-drink-of-water guy had been tinkering under the hood of his Pontiac for well over forty minutes. He’d arrived right after Joy had been seated at a window booth.
She liked watching him, which was a first for her. She didn’t ogle guys. She was engaged. But no harm, no foul. She was only looking, and he was certainly more entertaining than what she’d intended to do during her lunch: plan which item she’d cross off that day on Judy’s Route 66 Bucket List. She also liked the way the man’s shoulders rippled under the thin material of his shirt. She liked the color of his hair, a brown so dark it almost looked black, even under the blazing summer sun. But then he ran his hands through the thick mass and she caught some golden highlights. He wore his hair too long to be called short, where the ends curled up off his neck. He had a nice wave that he finger-combed off his forehead. Indie rocker style, Joy thought. He reminded her of a young Chris Cornell, the way his hair flopped back and he gave his head a shake to move it off his face. She wondered what color his eyes were and almost pouted that she’d never get to find out when he slammed the hood closed, sank into the driver’s seat, and started the car. After a couple of chokes and coughs, the engine finally turned over.
He eased the car forward, pulling more fully into the parking spot he’d aimed for when the car had died the first time. He drove two feet and the engine sputtered and died again. Tall-drink-of-water guy sat there for a good five seconds when he suddenly snapped. He smacked the steering wheel three times. He then got out of the car, slammed the door, kicked the door, then kicked the front tire.
Joy struggled to keep a straight face. Giving up, she grinned and shifted her attention to the list on the table in front of her, musing that he was about to “go ape,” as Judy would have said. Apeshit was more like it. Honestly, she felt sorry for the guy. She’d hate to be stuck out here with a broken-down car. For the first time since she’d decided to take this trip, she silently thanked her dad for insisting on the 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle rather than the 1955 Plymouth Belvedere she’d been researching to purchase for her cross-country trip. But her parents bought her the convertible Bug as a college graduation gift. It was reliable and safer, her father had said, upset she’d consider driving an old car in the first place, especially after what had happened to Judy.
A twinge of guilt rode up her back like a tailgater on the highway. It always did.
Joy munched on a cold fry to rid herself of the sour taste in her mouth and returned her attention to the man outside.
Flustered, he shook his fists at the sky; then, to Joy’s amusement, he flipped off the blazing sun.
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