Better Believe It
Fern Ronay
Publication date: December 3rd 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Jada Marlone’s life appears to be perfect on social media. She has a loving husband, a beautiful child, and a successful career. What she doesn’t post about is the disconnect she feels in her marriage, the difficulties of motherhood, and her strained relationship with her mother.
Resigned to never being truly happy, Jada runs into an ex-boyfriend. While trying to decide whether the coincidence is her second chance at happiness, Jada begins having dreams that feature her dead cousin Gina.
With Gina’s help, Jada starts to uncover the real reasons behind her life decisions. As Jada tries to figure out her future, uncontrollable events threaten her resolve. Will she be able to draw from all she learned from Gina, or will she risk making the same mistakes twice?
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play
—
EXCERPT:
I hate my husband.
Mark was a hard-working, successful intellectual-property attorney and a good father to our three-year-old son, Ethan. But every time he opened his mouth, I cringed.
I watched him push Ethan on the swing as I sat on a bench a few yards away. Every time he pulled the swing back, he would say in a high pitch, “Up, up, up.” And when he let go, he would say in a low baritone, “Down, down, downnntown.”
I surveyed my surroundings. All I had access to at the moment was a large, heavy stroller piled high with a bag of supplies, most of which were never used, like the first aid kit, emergency change of clothes, emergency change of underwear, and boxes of juice.
Can I stab myself in the neck with a juice straw? Will it kill me? Will it end this misery?
I assumed I felt that way because I was wasn’t grateful enough. I had only myself to blame. I had to get better at gratitude. My friend Veronica Buccino Blackman was always rattling off all the things she was grateful for, and I could only ever come up with “I’m grateful for chocolate.” Dark. At least 70 percent cacao. The higher, the better. And I was grateful for quiet people on the train. People who talked on their cell phones on the train—or worse, people who tried to make conversation on the train—were the worst people in the world. Quiet people were so underappreciated.
The sun was directly overhead, pulsing hot rays through my skull. I scanned the park for another bench in the shade, but the one to my left was occupied by the mom of twin girls around Ethan’s age and their schnauzer, Popcorn. Popcorn was a park regular. He was cute but a notorious toe licker. Disgusting. My sandaled toes curled in repulsion. The bench to my right was empty, but it didn’t provide all that much shade. Still, I reached for Ethan’s stroller, and as I struggled to move it, his Buddy the Bulldozer remote control fell. Ugh. We were already on our third replacement. Luckily, Ethan didn’t see that as he was going “downnnntown.” I recoiled.
As I pushed the stroller toward the other bench, still in sight line with Mark’s broad shoulders pulling back the swing, he called for me. “Hey, Jada. Jay. Jay!”
I shielded my eyes from the sun. “What?”
“Can you bring over a juice?”
I stepped down on the stroller brake, popped a straw in a juice box, and walked over to the swings.
Ethan took one sip and declared, “No. I want applesauce.”
I walked back to the stroller, retrieved an applesauce, twisted off the cap, and walked back over to the swings.
Ethan took one mouthful and declared, “No. I want to get pushed.”
So I went back to my bench, but not before I got them to smile for a picture. I posted it with the caption, “Another perfect day in the park with my boys!” and a heart emoji. I plopped down on the bench and wondered what wrong turn I’d taken in life to get to this point.
Is this it? Is this happiness? Sitting in a park on a Saturday in the summer, watching kids drip their snot all over the slides and monkey bars? Serving up juice and applesauce? Hating your husband?
“Popcorn!” The frantic scream came from behind me. Popcorn ran as fast as he could right toward me. I wondered what he was gunning so hard for all of a sudden. The nearly full juicebox? Then he ran right past me. The exit?
I stood, stretching my neck toward the wrought iron gates of the park so my eyes could follow Popcorn’s path. Run, Popcorn! Run! I found myself cheering inside. Go, Popcorn! Go! Freedom awaits!
Author Bio:
Fern Ronay has lived in NYC, Chicago, and now sunny Los Angeles with her husband, but she will always consider herself a Jersey girl. She is the author of two novels, Better in the Morning and Better Believe It, and is the host of the podcast Signs from the Other Side, as well as a host at the AfterBuzzTV network. Follow Fern on Instagram @FernRonay and check out her free ebook at FernRonay.com.
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by:
0 scribble backs:
Post a Comment