Page 29 of Forever Endeavor

Billie side-eyed Sonny.See? I really am a big deal in certain circles.

“Go on, tell her.” Sonny motioned with his hand. “I can see you’re dying to gloat.”

Moments like this didn’t come along every day and it would be a thrill to see a true fan’s reaction. “Actually,” Billie said, “IamAmethyst Jayde.”

Bernice’s jaw dropped. “Pardon me, sweetheart?”

“It’s true. My real name is Billie Mustard, but I write under the name Amethyst Jayde. I’m the author of the Moonlight Chronicles.”

Bernice pulled a book off the shelf. She opened the cover and examined the photo on the dust jacket, looked up at Billie, then back down at the image. “My word!” she declared. “It is you. Good gracious, I love your books, just love them. I-I can’t believe that you…that Amethyst Jayde is sitting in my house.”

“I’d be happy to sign your books while I’m here,” Billie told her. Bernice immediately retrieved a pen and pulled each of the titles off the shelf, presenting them in a neat stack.

Uncle Stan returned to the living room, smoothing down his slick-combed hair. “What’s all the commotion about?”

“Do you know who this is?” Bernice pointed to the sofa as if she’d discovered gold under a cushion. “This is Amethyst Jayde, the famous romance novelist.”

Stan looked perplexed. “I thought her name was Billie.”

“So it’s true? You’re writing a new book right now?” Bernice asked hopefully.

“I am. As a matter of fact, I’m doing research while I’m in town.”

“Really? How exciting...a book about Janus Lake!”

“Not exactly.” Billie backpedalled. “It’s not set here, but it is inspired by one of its residents. Actually, it’s someone you know quite well.”

Bernice looked over at Sonny, tilting her head as if trying to gauge what could possibly be inspirational about him.

“No, no, it’s not Sonny,” Billie said, laughing. “Calvin Hayes.”

Sonny was startled. “You’re writing a book about Cal? What is it about, fishing?”

“It’s not about him, exactly, but it’s inspired by a story he told me. And that’s why I need that old photo.”

Bernice clapped a hand to her cheek. “Oh! I plum forgot to get the albums out because I was so focused on dinner. Forgive me. But I’ve got them, I’ve got them,” she called out in a sing-song voice as she scurried down the hall.

Uncle Stan, sitting in a corner armchair, leaned forward. “So, what’s your book going to be about if it’s not ‘exactly’ about my brother?”

Billie wondered how much to reveal, given that Cal’s family surely had no idea about his fabled mystery woman nor how close he had come to blowing his brains out that fateful night. “It’s about a young, brave Chicago police officer. I thought having a picture of Cal in his old uniform would inspire me.”

Stan glanced Sonny’s way, a look of concern on his face. “That was a long time ago. And I’m not sure it’s the kind of story your readers would be interested in.”

“I promise, I wouldn’t do anything to betray Cal or bring embarrassment to your family, if that’s what you’re worried about. Like I said, it’s merely inspired by that time.”

Bernice returned to the living room with three thick, leather-bound albums. “I’m certain you’ll find Calvin’s photo in here. You kids go on and have a peek while I check on dinner. Stanley, would you give me a hand please?”

Billie picked up an album from the top of the pile and settled back into the sofa. She lifted the cover to begin her investigation, crackling the translucent plastic preserving the photos as she turned from one page to the next. She gently nudged Sonny with her elbow and pointed out a sandy-haired boy in a boat holding up a prized catch. “Hey, is this you?”

“No, that’s my cousin Tack,” Sonny said, leaning in. He slid his finger across the page to a cute chunky monkey in a baseball uniform. “This good-looking kid is me.”

She smiled. Yes, of course it was unmistakably him. “And who’s the lady standing behind you?”

He nodded. “That’s my mom. She was our third-base coach.”

“Really? That’s pretty rare. She must be a very cool lady.”

“She had an arm on her like you wouldn’t believe. Heck of a batter too,” he said, staring at the photo. “She was really an awesome mom.”

---