Page 1 of In Death, Love Survives
PROLOGUE
Nova, Age 18
There’sa chill in the air, but that’s typical for this time of year. It’s officially fall in Montana. Soon enough, snow will blanket the entire area, and the state will turn into a winter wonderland.
Checking my desk clock, I see it’s a little after nine at night. My boyfriend is late getting me for a party we’re meant to be going to.
A friend of his is throwing the first major barn party of our senior year, and practically everyone from our high school will be there.
I’m wearing my signature fall look—jeans, cowboy boots, and a cozy sweater. It’ll be enough to keep me warm yet look cute when I’m with my girlfriends.
I debate texting him not to bother showing up at this point. It’s late at night, and with the drop in temperature, this feels like the perfect conditions to just crawl into bed and scroll social media instead. I could be looking up the college I’ll be going to this time next year instead of pretending like I’d rather bedrinking a warm beer in a barn. I was only going because he and my friends expected me to anyway.
I applied for early admission to Montana State and found out I got accepted last week. I’ve been ecstatic ever since. Since I’m a planner, I’ve been researching everything from what classes I should take to how I find a roommate for the dorm.
My mom has already had to remind me that we have time to figure it all out, and she and my dad will be there to help every step of the way.
Glancing at my desk clock again, I’m becoming more inclined to stay in with every passing minute.
I could also go join my parents, who are downstairs about to watch a new movie that was just released on a streaming service. Even though I have time to figure out my college plans, I know they won’t mind if I bring my laptop down and talk about it while we watch the movie together.
I pick up my cell phone and try calling my boyfriend one more time.
It rings repeatedly but is another call going unanswered.
“Nova, your dad just made popcorn if you want some,” my mom shouts from downstairs.
Hearing my mother’s voice, I can’t help but smile. They both love when it’s the three of us hanging out, like it’s always been.
Decision made.
“I’ll be right down!”
I text my boyfriend that I’m staying in tonight but to still reach out when he gets this. Then I send him another one saying how worried I am that he hasn’t been answering.
It doesn’t matter how familiar someone is with the roads around here; they’re still dangerous, and conditions can change easily. That, coupled with the wildlife roaming nearby, makes for scary driving conditions late at night.
It’s a Friday, so I’m hoping he’s just working late at the Bramwood Diner and doesn’t have his phone on him. He’s a server there, along with his mom. She’s a sweet woman who is just starting to date after the loss of her husband.
Despite how much I’ve told my boyfriend I’m here for him, he doesn’t talk about anything surrounding his dad much.
Sometimes it’s easy for people to internalize stressful situations, and I just want to be there for the person I love. I know he would be there for me if roles were reversed.
“Should we wait to start the movie?” Mom shouts.
It breaks me out of the trance I had fallen under.
I smile again. They’ve been waiting to see if I was actually going out tonight or not. Always thinking of me.
“Yeah, just give me two minutes!”
“Hurry, sweetheart! Your dad isn’t getting any younger,” my mom teases.
“I’m still a stud!” he shouts back.
“Of course you are,” my mom replies in a normal tone.
I laugh as I pick up my cell phone and laptop. I’m lucky that I’ve been given such a great example of what it’s like to be in love. The two of them have shown me the blueprint of what I want to be as an adult, a loving partner, and parent.
