Memories in December by Gina Ardito
Memories in December
Calendar Girls Book 4
by Gina Ardito
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: November 7, 2019
Siobhan Bendlow is struggling with her recovery from an eating disorder and the financial downturn of her photography business. The last thing she needs is to become the sole caretaker of her wacky grandmother. Especially since the man of her teenaged dreams, Jimmy Vais, has moved back to town, newly single and available. So has his pesky younger brother, Justin. One Vais is fun, but juggling two is a problem.
Althea Bendlow may be in her seventies now, but she still craves all the things she wanted in youth: joy, comfort, laughter, and happiness for her loved ones. If gaining the latter means performing some matchmaking magic for her only granddaughter, she’s up to the task. As long as her own past doesn’t keep distracting her, in the form of Captain Lou Rugerman, a man who meant the world to her for one night only.
Welcome back to Snug Harbor, where the memories of a lifetime can become the dreams of tomorrow…
**easily read as a standalone!!**
The sudden opening of the driver’s door ushered in another gust of icy wind and had me sucking in a sharp gasp.
“Sorry,” Jimmy said as he climbed inside. “Didn’t mean to startle you. Here.” He handed me a plain white paper bag.
I took it with hesitation. “What’s this?” A dead rat? Dog poop?
“Peace offering.”
I unfurled the top and peeked inside with trepidation, half-expecting something to blow up in my face. A chocolate chip cookie the size of a dessert plate looked back at me alluringly. Okay, maybe not. But it sure seemed that way.
“I remember you had an affinity for sweets.”
Was that a dig? I wasn’t sure. I rolled the top down again to seal the temptation from my eyes. The holidays were tough enough for former bulimics like me without the intention of well-meaning saboteurs. “You’ve been gone a long time,” I replied airily. “I don’t have that same sweet tooth anymore.”
“Oh? Good for you.”
That was definitely a dig. I wanted to hit him, I swear.
He sipped whatever he’d bought himself, settled the cup into the center console holder, buckled up, then started the car. “Next stop?”
I looked at him, my brain still imagining his naked and oiled body slowly turning on a rotisserie spit—but not in a sexy way. “Yeah?”
“I’m asking. Where do you want to look for your grandmother?”
My brain got sucked into a black hole. I had no idea. My confusion must have shown because he pressed the issue.
“Any friends she’d visit? Favorite places she likes to go? Maybe out for breakfast?”
I shook my head. “I honestly don’t know.”
He sighed. “Wow. You really thought this through, didn’t you?”
“I’m sorry,” I snapped. “It’s not like I hang out with the lady all the time.”
“Well, when you did hang out with her,” he said with equal animosity, “where would she take you?”
I scratched my temple to wake up my memories and keep my growing temper in check. I should have made him buy me one of his expensive fancy coffees. “I don’t know. I was a kid at the time. I guess she’d take us to the usual places a grandma would take her grandkids: the movies, the library, the petting zoo.”
“None of which are open at this time of morning. Anywhere else?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea.” I placed a palm against my forehead where a dull ache throbbed. “Just drive wherever you need to go. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
“Lucky.” Jimmy snorted. “That’d be a first.”
Something was definitely wrong with this guy. I surreptitiously checked the back seat for a rifle or an axe. When I came up empty, I convinced myself to relax, but in the recesses of my mind, I prayed for a lot of luck. The faster I got away from Jimmy Vais, the better.
“Sorry,” Jimmy said as he climbed inside. “Didn’t mean to startle you. Here.” He handed me a plain white paper bag.
I took it with hesitation. “What’s this?” A dead rat? Dog poop?
“Peace offering.”
I unfurled the top and peeked inside with trepidation, half-expecting something to blow up in my face. A chocolate chip cookie the size of a dessert plate looked back at me alluringly. Okay, maybe not. But it sure seemed that way.
“I remember you had an affinity for sweets.”
Was that a dig? I wasn’t sure. I rolled the top down again to seal the temptation from my eyes. The holidays were tough enough for former bulimics like me without the intention of well-meaning saboteurs. “You’ve been gone a long time,” I replied airily. “I don’t have that same sweet tooth anymore.”
“Oh? Good for you.”
That was definitely a dig. I wanted to hit him, I swear.
He sipped whatever he’d bought himself, settled the cup into the center console holder, buckled up, then started the car. “Next stop?”
I looked at him, my brain still imagining his naked and oiled body slowly turning on a rotisserie spit—but not in a sexy way. “Yeah?”
“I’m asking. Where do you want to look for your grandmother?”
My brain got sucked into a black hole. I had no idea. My confusion must have shown because he pressed the issue.
“Any friends she’d visit? Favorite places she likes to go? Maybe out for breakfast?”
I shook my head. “I honestly don’t know.”
He sighed. “Wow. You really thought this through, didn’t you?”
“I’m sorry,” I snapped. “It’s not like I hang out with the lady all the time.”
“Well, when you did hang out with her,” he said with equal animosity, “where would she take you?”
I scratched my temple to wake up my memories and keep my growing temper in check. I should have made him buy me one of his expensive fancy coffees. “I don’t know. I was a kid at the time. I guess she’d take us to the usual places a grandma would take her grandkids: the movies, the library, the petting zoo.”
“None of which are open at this time of morning. Anywhere else?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea.” I placed a palm against my forehead where a dull ache throbbed. “Just drive wherever you need to go. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
“Lucky.” Jimmy snorted. “That’d be a first.”
Something was definitely wrong with this guy. I surreptitiously checked the back seat for a rifle or an axe. When I came up empty, I convinced myself to relax, but in the recesses of my mind, I prayed for a lot of luck. The faster I got away from Jimmy Vais, the better.
I kill houseplants. There. Now you know one of my greatest shames. I'm not boasting. I just figure that if you're reading this, you're looking for more than how wonderful life is as a writer. You get enough of that elsewhere. Ditto for political rants, how to lose thirty pounds in a week, and creating gorgeous crafts with nothing more than twine and soup cans. My goal is to connect with you, dear reader, even if you're not a writer, not a New Yorker, not a mother, not a female. We're human (unless one of us is a spambot), and what we have in common is flaws. So here are a few more of mine:
I sing all the time. I sing songs most people don't know--jingles from television, crazy stuff I used to listen to on Dr. Demento, Broadway and movie soundtracks, and I can even bum-bum-bum through instrumental music. I sing in the car. In the shower. While I'm grocery shopping. And I headbop while I sing. When I'm not singing, I talk to myself. Just ignore me and move on. You get used to it after a while.
I don't eat my vegetables. Seriously. I only started eating salad about ten years ago, but I'd still rather have a cookie.
Given the option, I would live in a mall where I would never have to worry about freezing temperatures or too much sun. I'm extremely fair-skinned and could burn under a 60-watt light bulb.
I can't sleep without background noise so the television's on all night. If it's too dark and too quiet, all I have are my thoughts. And even *I* don't want to be alone with my thoughts.
Don't ask me to Zumba, line dance, or march in the parade. I have absolutely no rhythm.
I color outside the lines. Not because I'm a rebel, but because I suck as an artist. My artistic ability is limited to being able to draw Snoopy sleeping on his doghouse. And I don't even draw that well.
Regrets. I have more than a few.
My favorite activity is sleep, and I'm pretty good at it. I don't clock a lot of hours, but I can powernap like a Persian cat and rejuvenate within ten minutes.
I consider shopping and dining out excellent therapy for anything wrong in my life.
My feet are always cold. Always. My husband of more than a quarter century claims it's because I'm an alien sent to Earth to destroy him. (He might be right about that.)
Coming to my house for a visit? Unless you've given me plenty of advance notice, be prepared. My floor will not be vacuumed, there will be dishes in my sink, and I only make my bed when I change the sheets once a week (I'm climbing back into it ASAP. Why make it?) Housecleaning is not high on my priority list. Okay, to be totally honest, it's not on the list at all.
I can resist anything...except ice cream.
Since this is our first date, I figure I've revealed enough secrets for now. But if you've read this bio and think I might be the author for you, pick up one of my books or stalk my website: www.ginaardito.com.
Two $15 Amazon gift cards
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This looks like a fabulous book. Both romantic and real. You got to appreciate that.
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