The Ghostwriter

Prologue

A gentle pull on my hand. I resist, turning away, and smile when I feel the tiny fingers pushing aside my bangs, the soft weight of a body against mine.

"Mommy." A huff of breath against my cheek. "Mommmmmy."

"Mommy's asleep," Simon whispers. "If we don't wake her up, we can eat all of the delicious chocolate chip pancakes ourselves."

I growl, and clamp a hand over his, which is sneaking under the edge of my sleepshirt. I open my eyes and look up into his face, those handsome features dusted by flour and a smear of chocolate. "Easy," I warn him, pulling on his wrist and dragging him onto the mattress, my movements quick as I wiggle out of the covers and atop his waist. "You know the monster is grouchy when she is awoken."

"Let me, let me!" Bethany scrambles before me, straddling his chest and gripping the front of his shirt, looking back at me with a smile.

"Ah..." I crow. "My monster keeper and I have got you captured, Mr. Pancake Man!" I shift atop him and he gives me a look, the sort of look that–years ago–led to naked events that create babies. I smile at him and wrap my arms around my child. "What should we make Mr. Pancake Man do, Princess Bethany?"

"He should feed the monster!" She announces, and raises both hands in the air to exclamation point the phrase.

"AND... do the dishes!" I raise my own hands in the air and Simon groans in protest. Bucking up his hips, he deposits us both onto the mattress, giving Bethany a quick tickle, and me a deep kiss.

"Come, Monster," he commands. "Come and let me fill that big belly."

I come, I eat, and afterward, while Bethany draws and I settle into the recliner to write, he does the dishes.

A perfect morning. A perfect husband. A perfect daughter. A perfect lie.

(this full novel is now available on Amazon)