Read Last Fairytale, The for Free Online

kid.”
    “Hmm.” Gen draped an arm around Bree’s shoulder. “You look the same, but the Butler girl I knew was pretty assertive. And just as quick to laugh.”
    “So.” Bree changed the subject. “I know you live with your boyfriend, but is there an ex-husband in your past? Kids? Stepchildren?”
    “Nope. I like to think there will still be time for a family when I’m ready. You?”
    “No. Bad break-up about a year back. We’d set a date and were planning the wedding. Well, I was, anyway. But when I tried to get him to help choose the invitations, he bolted. Said he loved me, but he wasn’t in love with me.”
    “I’m sorry, Bree.” Gen’s voice was soft. “You must have felt terrible.”
    “I’m not sure I’m over it yet.”
    “No chance he just got cold feet?”
    Bree shook her head. “He married his high school sweetheart nine months ago. They just had their first baby.”
    “Rat bastard.”
    Bree laughed. “Yeah, anger helps. What about Anna, and your sister? I saw her soap opera a couple of times. And what happened to Madison?”
    “Maddy and Anna are in love with the two best men in the world, after my guy Ryan, that is. Madison married Cole last summer. She’s Madison Welles now, and hopefully by next winter baby will make three. They’re trying to get pregnant. We’re all excited to be aunts.”
    Gen paused. “God, I’m sorry, Bree. That was thoughtless.”
    “I’m not so messed up I can’t be happy for old friends. Tell me more.”
    They were approaching a small park. An empty bench on the side of the greenbelt beckoned, and they headed for it.
    “Madison is a successful real estate agent. She and her husband live in a marvelous stone cottage overlooking Lake Sonoma. She’s just finished her first novel, a story about the couple who built the house.”
    They sat down and dropped their bags onto the steel mesh seat.
    “Anna graduated from Sonoma State last June with her Master’s in psychology. She interned with a clinic last summer, and they offered her a job. Her boyfriend, Hodge, is an electrical contractor.
    “And Gabi has her own talk show now. She’s a hit on daytime in a whole different venue. And successfully single, by the way. Her daughter, my niece Emily, is talented, gorgeous, and brilliant.”
    Bree laughed.
    “Do you realize that’s the happiest sound that’s come out of you since we met yesterday at the elevator?” Gen raised her face toward the sun. “Vonnegon was right, Bree, this will pass. And you’ll fall in love again, and there’s still plenty of time to win a Pulitzer.”
    Gen watched the clouds scudding high across the sky. The wind off the water brought the smell of salt and sea. A group of white sails far out on the bay reminded her of pearls stripped from a necklace and cast upon the water. Life was darn good. She was happy with her choices.
    She hoped Ryan felt the same way.
    “Thanks for the pep talk,” Bree replied. “But I stopped thinking things were going to go my way a year ago.”
    “So you got sidetracked. Let it go. Wasn’t your goal to be another Bob Woodward?”
    “Yeah, that was my last fairytale. But it was a long time ago.”
    “Call me crazy, but didn’t you just get dropped in the middle of what could turn out to be a corporate espionage plot? Theft of quasi-government secrets? A possible homicide?”
    “Yeah. Lucky me.”
    “Think about it, Bree. You’re a writer who always wanted to become an investigative journalist. I’d call this an opportunity.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “You have access to the inside players in a compelling story about … well, I don’t know what it’s about yet. But that’s the point. Dust off your reporter instincts and find out.”
    “The police won’t let me get involved.”
    “Don’t ask permission. Lots of good stringers don’t have cops feeding them tips. They have to dig up their own.”
    “Some hack is probably already working it.”
    “I don’t think so. Did