It feels as if my head may explode, it dully throbs.
I must not go to the dark places, where my thoughts lead me.
I must be normal, nothing above or below.
You can't say his names our it will drown me.
You see me, and you see the normal everyday teenager.
But you don't know anything about me.
***
Will wilder the hottest guy in school, the smirk that drives girls close to insanity. Those mischevious dark eyes that follow my every move. He laughs freely, and he does what he feels. I feel the heat on my cheeks when he is around. He has a girlfriend who has been on an off thing for years, Skylar, who shoots daggers at me with her eyes every time she gets a chance too. His sister Alyssa, happens to me dating my best friend Cameron. It's confusing, and I try not to think about all of them too much, I just try to get through today.
Today is my battle.
A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head.
***
Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family.
The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner!
Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.