Page 3 of A Midlife Vanishing Trick

Quick as lightning, he started dragging Stanley toward the edge of the pit.

“Good riddance,” the man said.

Johan shoved him hard, but Stanley was quicker. He grabbed the man’s arm, holding on to it for all he was worth. Johan’s eyes widened, and he cried out as the momentum of his push sent them both tipping over the edge.

“No!” he yelled.

“If I’m dying,” Stanley said, “I’m not dying alone—you’re coming with me.”

And together, screaming, both men tumbled into the void.

Chapter One

The Man in the Road

“Come on, you can do it, Allison.”

Allison Reyes shook her head as if her best friend could see her through the phone. “It’s not that easy, Celine. What am I supposed to do, walk up to some random guy and say, ‘Hey, I think you’re really cute. Want to come back to my ranch with me tonight?’”

“That’s not quite how I’d do it,” Celine said, “but pretty much.”

Allison groaned. She glanced around, taking in the bar. The Blue Cicada was quite large for a small town like Torpe. From her seat in the corner booth, she could see everything, from the other customers at other tables, eating fries and talking with one another over beers, to just past the entrance door and a neon pink sign where half a dozen men stood around a pool table arguing. She smelled cigarette smoke and scowled at the continuous squeaking of the overhead fans.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been here, and she wouldn’t be here tonight if Celine hadn’t convinced her to get out of the ranch house and grab a drink or two. If she’d known the real reason her friend had urged her to come here, she’d probably be in bed by now, preparing for just another slow, boring morning on Reyes Ranch.

Allison tightened her grip on her glass, and her cocktail sloshed around a bit. “I’m not even dressed like I belong in a bar,” she said. “I’m wearing a summer dress, Celine.”

At forty-three, Allison never imagined she would find herself sitting by herself in a corner booth in some small-town bar, but life had a funny way of messing with you, dealing you cards you never expected. At her age, she should be at home on the ranch with her husband. But the world was unfair. Sometimes, all you could do was be grateful that things were as good as they were.

“I’m not sure I can do this,” Allison said.

“Sure, you can,” Celine assured her. “And I’m here to make sure of that.”

“Here? You’re not even in Torpe, Celine. You’re all the way in New Hampshire.”

There was a momentary pause. “Touché.”

Allison could barely resist smirking. She and Celine Carter had been friends for the past three decades. They’d both grown up in Torpe and had met in high school. Since then, they’d been pretty much inseparable, even when they went to college. It wasn’t until after they’d both graduated that they went their separate ways. Celine had stayed in Chicago, where they’d both studied and Allison, preferring peacefulness and familiarity, had returned to Torpe.

Despite being so close, she and Celine had always been different. Celine was the more outgoing, adventurous type, always seeking greener pastures and newer thrills. Right now, she has a corporate job in the city. Allison, on the other hand, was more attuned to rural life, which Torpe provided.

“Allison,” Celine said, “you need to move on. You’re a beautiful elfish woman—”

“I’m only half-elf,” Allison corrected. “More like a quarter elf if I’m being honest. There haven’t been elves in my family since my grandmother.”

“That’s not my point,” Celine told her. “You can’t keep waiting for a husband who left you to magically return.”

Allison winced. She knew her friend didn’t mean to be hurtful with that comment, but it stung anyway.

She’d met Stanley Reyes in college in Chicago. They’d met at a party that Celine had practically dragged her to. As it turned out, Stanley wasn’t having fun either.

Over the next few weeks, they got to know each other better. Allison was surprised to learn that Stanley had also grown up in Torpe, although their paths had never crossed.

It wasn’t long before they started dating. Their mutual attraction was intense and impossible to ignore. Stanley was kind, funny, and intelligent, not to mention easy on the eye.

They got married after they graduated college. Like Allison, Stanley had every intention of moving back to Torpe in hopes of carrying on his family’s ranch business. For the next thirteen years or so, they’d lived together on that ranch in bliss.

But then suddenly, everything had turned upside down.

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