THE ART OF FALLING GRACEFULLY by SARAH BETH LEE (novel24 TXT) 📖

security in routine. She hated change because change was always followed by pain and she had endured her fair share of pain already.

The ringing phone interrupted her reading. She glanced at the clock 6:30, it had to be the café someone had probably called in sick. She grabbed the phone, “Hello.”

“Hey Syd what’s in the paper this morning?”

Sydney dropped the newspaper and started screaming in the phone, “Marley is that you?”

“Well actually I’m an alien clone who has taken over Marley’s identity, but don’t tell anyone or I’ll have to Kill you.” Marley paused for half a second as Sydney laughed, “Of course it’s me.”

“Where and how are you?”

Marley laughed at the excitement in Sydney’s voice over the phone line,” I’m home; believe it or not I’m back.”

Sydney almost dropped the phone as Marley’s words hit her full force. Marley was home and so was Trent. She pushed the nagging thought out of her head. “Are you serious? What happened did the city life get boring?”

“Yes I am serious and no but a great job came open here. You’re talking to the new resident at County Hospital.”

Sydney was happy for her friend but a little sad at what this might mean for her friendship with Trent.
She tried to focus on having Marley home, “That’s great and I am so happy for you Marley.”

“Oh Syd believe it or not I am happy to be home. I have missed you like crazy. I swear when I first got to school I cried myself to sleep every night.”

“I understand I was the same way. I couldn’t believe that it was just me by myself facing the big bad world. I mean really how was I supposed to get along without you and Alana? Then again I always was the one left behind.”

Marley didn’t like the direction this conversation had taken, “What are you talking about?”
“Well you and Alana started cheerleading and hanging out with the elite of Cole County High and I was never into that. Then of course you guys started dating and having the time of your lives and was at home curled up with a Stephen King novel. Of course I was never interested in any of the guys at C.C.H.S except…Anyway you guys took a hundred steps forward and I was still at the starting line.”

Marley could hear the sadness in Sydney’s voice and she could see her sitting with her hands fisted in her hair, “Syd the only reason you didn’t make cheerleader was because you didn’t try out. As far as dating goes you could’ve went out with any guy in school. Of course you always turned down every guy who asked you out. Finally the guys just quit trying and I hate to say it but some of the guys called you the ice queen.”

“What?” Sydney wondered if Trent had been one of those guys and if he had called her that too.

“Well you never dated except for Logan and let’s just say if anyone else asked you weren’t very friendly. So they just started referring to you as the ice queen.”

“Wow I wasn’t aware of that and how come you never told me this before?”

Sydney could hear Marley’s sharp intake of breath, “Syd you were and are my best friend and I knew what they said wasn’t true and they did too. Hell they all wanted to date you and it was just bruised egos talking. You were always nice but you let them know straight up that you weren’t interested.”

Sydney felt mortified to know what they had thought of her back then, “Why are we talking about this anyway? That was a very long time ago. I hope that we’ve all grown up since then.”

Marley sighed heavily, “You were the one who brought it up but your right we’re all grown up now.”

Sydney knew she was right, “Ok subject change, where are you staying?”

“I don’t know yet. I just got into town and I haven’t had time to look for a place yet. I know I could stay with Mom or Dad but since the divorce things have been kind of awkward. If I stay with Mom then Dad gets mad, if I stay with Dad then Mom gets mad so what exactly am I supposed to do?”

“That’s easy you stay with me.”

Marley knew Sydney was being sincere but she hated to intrude, “I couldn’t do that, it would be such an inconvenience for you.”

Sydney held the phone in her hand and waited for Marley to stop protesting, “Don’t be silly. I have more than enough room. There are two extra bedrooms upstairs, this place is huge. Besides since the divorce this place has seemed way to big and lonely.”

Marley hesitated for a minute before giving in, “Well if your sure, I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Trust me you could never be a bother. Listen just come by the Café this afternoon and get the keys. We can have lunch and catch up.”

“That sounds great oh and have you heard from Alana?”

Sydney smiled into the phone, “I got an E-mail yesterday and she’s good.”

“That’s good I haven’t talked to her in ages, just the occasional text.”

“She’s actually coming down this weekend.”

Sydney waited for the sequels to erupt over the phone “Seriously?”

“Yeah she got a couple of week’s vacation before she starts her new job.”

“I can’t believe it!!” Sydney could hear the excitement bubbling over the line, “You do realize what that means?”

“The three of us together again since the horrible wedding debacle.”

Marley could the fall of Sydney’s voice and the hurt she was trying to hide, “Well I wasn’t going to mention that. I was going to say this is the first time the three of us have been together since your wedding. Wow the three of us in the same house after six years.”

Sydney tried to shake off the chill that had crept up her back at the thought of Rick, “I know Marley we are going to have so much fun.”

“Yes we are. Listen I gotta run so I’ll see you later.”

“See you then and Marley I’m glad you’re home.”

Sydney laid the phone on the table and tried to forget about the last time she had seen Alana... It had been her wedding day and she wished she had taken Alana’s advice that day. She knew this was pointless so she thought of her best friends. She couldn’t believe it, all of them here together again. She hadn’t seen Alana in six years, where had all that time gone? Marley on the other hand was always making unannounced visits home but this was different now she was coming home to stay. As she thought of Marley she briefly saw Trent’s face flash through her head but she didn’t want to think about the complications the two of them in the same town again might imply.


Trent had a restless night and even in his sleep he couldn’t find rest or peace. Sydney’s face entered his dreams to torment him. She was like an angel on a cloud so beautiful and perfect but no matter how he tried to reach her he couldn’t get close enough to touch her. She was always just out of reach. He had awaked in a cold sweat and he wondered what the hell was going on with him. He had been having this crazy dream for weeks but the angel had never had a face until now. What was that supposed to mean? He worried that maybe it was a sign that he and Sydney weren’t mean to be together. Maybe he should move on and try to forget she ever existed. However Trent knew in his heart that he might move on but he most definitely would never be able to forget Sydney. He was very much afraid her name and face would forever be stuck in his head. How could forget someone who had touched his soul with just a smile?

He glanced at the clock it was already seven, he had better hurry. He had to get Kelsey up and dressed, as well as himself. If he were even a minute late his mother would be worried sick. Carolyn Isaac was always sitting on the porch swing waiting for her granddaughter to arrive. He knew he was lucky to have his parents their love, support and encouragement but he could do without the over protectiveness.

Trent showered and got dressed in mere minutes. He would have to take Kelsey in her PJ’s, he knew his mother wouldn’t mind bathing and dressing her when she woke. He berated himself for spending far too much time daydreaming about Sydney and he wondered if ever crossed her mind at all.

Trent hurried to the truck and placed a sleeping Kelsey in her booster seat. He then tossed her backpack on the seat. He then placed their black cocker spaniel Candy in the garage and locked the front door. He told himself he wouldn’t think about Sydney anymore today. In fact he would go to work and concentrate on business and not Sydney. He wouldn’t even be tempted to have lunch at the Café; if the guys chose to have lunch then they would go without him.

Trent made the short trip to his parent’s house and waved at his mother as he pulled in the drive. She was sitting on the porch swing waiting as he knew she would be. He climbed out of the truck and walked to the passenger’s side to retrieve a still sleeping Kelsey. He carried into the house and placed her on the sofa before returning to grab her bag.

He joined his mother on the porch, “Hey mom I was running a little late this morning, and you don’t mind getting Kelsey dressed do you?”

Carolyn smiled at her son, “I don’t mind at all, you just go on to work and let me take care of Kelsey.”

“Thanks mom you’re the best.”

She smiled at her son, “I love you both so no worries.”

Trent returned her smile, “I know mom, what would I ever do without you and Dad??”

“I am sure you would manage but let’s not rush to find out.” She stopped to look at her son he looked so tired and worn out. She could see that something was weighing heavily on his mind but she knew he would want to burden her with it. “Son is something wrong?”

‘No of course not, everything is fine. I just haven’t felt well this morning. Maybe I’m coming down with a bug or something.”

Carolyn continued to watch his face not believing him for a minute but