A Year at 32 September Way Read Online Free

knew she was a sweet girl inside, but the partying was getting to be too much. Whispers of an affair flitted around the studio, and Josh had also confirmed his suspicion that Nicolette was using drugs. He’d found cocaine in her purse while she was in the shower one day.
    “It’s not mine!” she’d vehemently denied. As she stood in their bedroom dripping wet and naked, it was clear she’d lost more weight, and Josh knew she was lying. A few months later, they moved to Napa Valley and he’d convinced Nicolette to enter the top substance-abuse treatment center in northern California. It was there she discovered meditation and yoga, and they became her new drugs.
    Now, as the plane bumped along the runway and came to a slow stop, Josh could tell the fear and panic was rising inside of her as she tightened her grip on his arm. Apparently, the meditation hadn’t worked. Josh hoped she could make the adjustment.
    “Why didn’t we go to Paris?” she whined, as if reading his mind. “I was so ready to move to Paris.” She pulled the mask down over her eyes, and Josh watched as she felt her way across the armrest to clutch his arm again. Gently, he took her hand and held it between his, knowing he would have to be strong for her. As much as she cried and screamed, he loved her and had to be strong when she couldn’t do it for herself. He simply had to be.
    ***
    Carlisle looked out the window and smiled. She’d been ready to come to Verona for the past six weeks and now, after a long overnight flight, she was almost there. The items she’d decided to take with had been boxed up and sent ahead weeks ago. She brought only two suitcases with her, and the lack of “stuff” made her feel as if she was leaving behind years of pain and sadness. She was pleasantly surprised by the way her lack of luggage seemed to allow her to let go of the emotional baggage, too.
    The flight attendant interrupted Carlisle’s thoughts as she announced that it was time to turn off all electronic devices. Carlisle saved her work and shut down the laptop; her new story was coming along beautifully. Carlisle had often smiled as she typed away, feeling that the timing and flow of the story idea were additional sign s that the move to Italy was a good choice. It was important to her to watch for and listen to the signs. She hadn’t always believed that, but she did now. Thanks to a painful lesson.
    For a moment, Carlisle thought back to that morning a long time ago. Just for fun, she’d always read her horoscope at the breakfast table. That morning it had said “Avoid long road trips.” And then there was the flat tire that had to be fixed. She’d ignored the signs that morning and had lived to regret it every single day for the past seven years. “Stop!” she screamed inside her head. “Stop it!”
    “Fear of flying?” the passenger next to her asked as he looked down toward Carlisle’s left hand. Carlisle quickly withdrew her hand, which had been gripping the older gentleman’s right arm. “I’m so sorry,” she stammered, struggling to gather her composure. The flight attendant slowly walked down the aisle and then stopped to pour one more glass of wine for the passenger in front of her. “I’ll have one, too, if it’s not too late,” Carlisle piped up.
    She took her first sip and peered out of the window to see the red clay roofs below. The sad memories receded again into the far corners of her mind as she began imagining life in Verona. Now, more than seven thousand miles lay between her and her old life. As soon as the plane touched down it would signal the beginning of a new life and the chance to say goodbye to the old one. “I’m ready,” murmured Carlisle, “I’m ready.”
    ***
    Charles wiped his sweaty palms on the cotton handkerchief he’d taken from the pocket of his trousers. Up until the moment he left for the airport, he’d continued to second-guess his decision to leave London for Verona. His father’s