Sweet Summer Days Read online

  Sweet Summer Days

  Sheryl Lister

  Copyright

  This ebook is licensed to you for your personal enjoyment only.

  This ebook may not be sold, shared, or given away.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the writer’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  Sweet Summer Days

  Copyright © 2018 by Sheryl Lister

  Ebook ISBN: 9781641970334

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  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  No part of this work may be used, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

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  NYLA Publishing

  121 W 27th St., Suite 1201, New York, NY 10001

  http://www.nyliterary.com

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Giving My All To You (The Grays of Los Angeles Book 3)

  Dear Reader,

  Acknowledgments

  Discover Sheryl Lister

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  My Heavenly Father, thank You for Your sufficient grace.

  To my husband, Lance: your love, support and encouragement is what keeps me going.

  Brandi, Maia, Riana, Otis, Sr., Otis Jr. and Jace, Mom (Grandma) loves you!

  Thank you to my friends and family for your consistent support.

  To my Club N.E.O. and Book Euphoria sisters, I love you ladies!

  A huge thank you to real-life heroine Celeste Williams for supporting me from day one and allowing me to name my character after you.

  To all of my readers: thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  Paulette Nunlee, your editorial guidance is priceless. Thank you.

  A very special thank you to my agent, Sarah E. Younger and Natanya Wheeler. I appreciate you more than I can say. You ladies are miracle workers!

  Dedication

  For Celeste Williams, a real life heroine

  Chapter 1

  “I brought an extra set of clothes with me tonight.”

  Celeste Williams nearly choked on her wine. Coughing, she set the glass down with a thud and tried to catch her breath. “Excuse me?”

  “For just in case things go a little later than planned.” He winked.

  She stared at her dining partner and tried to wrap her mind around his obvious suggestion. She’d gone out with Clifton Brown twice, once if she didn’t count the time at the coffee shop, where he had struck up a conversation while seated at the next table. “Clifton, I’m not in the habit of spending the night with a man I barely know.”

  “Baby, we’ll know each other real well in a few hours.”

  Baby? I am too old for this. “Again, the answer is no.”

  Clifton’s grin faded. “You’re serious? I thought we were getting along pretty well.”

  “Very serious. You’re a nice man, but maybe I’m not the woman you’re looking for.”

  “Maybe not.”

  They finished their meals in strained silence, and the twenty-minute ride home felt more like two hours. She focused her attention on the passing scenery as the breeze from the warm late May temperatures blew through the partially open window. Evidently, Clifton’s feelings were still hurt because once they arrived at her house, he didn’t offer to walk her to the door or bother to get out of the car. In fact, he roared off before she stuck her key in the lock.

  Inside, Celeste went straight to her bedroom, kicked off her shoes and sat on the side of the bed. She picked up the framed photo on her nightstand and ran her hand lovingly over the surface. Gary Williams had been gone for over four years, and she still missed him. She’d met the handsome naval officer when he had been assigned to the Defense Contract Management Agency where she worked as an industrial specialist in the production department. He’d swept her off her feet and they married nine months later. She loved everything about him, from his infectious smile to the way he could heat her up with just a look. Though Gary tended to be a little on the serious side, he never failed to keep a smile on her face. Celeste placed the photo back in its place. She’d had him for twenty-six years before cancer took him and stole their retirement dreams.

  She stood and unzipped her dress. The phone rang and she groaned, then smiled upon seeing Deborah, her younger sister’s name, on the display. “Hey, sis.”

  “Hey. Just calling to see if you’re still going to go with me to Pathways tomorrow. I’m a little nervous.” Pathways had opened two years ago and focused on comprehensive mental health services for veterans.

  “You know I’ll be there, Deb. Is TJ going?”

  Deborah released a deep sigh. “No. He’s convinced all they’re going do is write him another prescription and said he didn’t want to add addiction to his problems.” Deborah’s twenty-three-year-old son had been battling PTSD since his discharge eight months ago, but refused to seek treatment.

  “I thought this place did more than that.”

  “They do. The brochure mentions support groups, outings, activities and a host of other things. But he won’t budge.”

  Celeste felt for her nephew and couldn’t imagine the horrors he’d witnessed. “What’s Trent saying?”

  “He thinks the center might be worth looking into, but you know men, he’s not saying much else. I can tell TJ’s struggles are wearing on him and every time I ask about it, he just says he’s fine. The only thing he admitted to was feeling helpless because he couldn’t take this away from his son.”

  “Well, hopefully, after we’ve checked it out, TJ will reconsider. What time is the support group supposed to start again? I’ll be free all day.”

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Not everybody can retire at fifty-three.”

  She laughed. “Don’t hate. I gave the federal government thirty years and that was enough. These last six months have been glorious.” When her department had reorganized and downsized, she’d qualified for early retirement due to her service time and decided to take it. The payments she received from Gary’s military and private sector jobs had afforded her options that many people didn’t have.

  “The one for family members starts at two, but I plan to leave work around noon. How about I pick you up and we go have lunch first?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “Speaking of food, how did your date with Clifton go?”

  Celeste blew out a weary breath. “Girl, don’t ask.”

  Deborah chuckled. “That bad?”

  “Worse. Over dinner he told me that he’d packed an extra set of clothes in case things ran longer tonight.”

  She burst out laughing. “Are you serious?”

  “I was so outdone, I almost choked on my wine.”

  “You gotta give the brother credit. He’s a planner,” Deborah said.

  “Whatever. Is this what dating looks like now? Never mind. I don’t know why I’m asking you.” Deborah had been married to Trent, Sr. for twenty-five years and her brother-in-law loved his wife to distraction.

  “Sorry, sis. I don’t believe all men are like Clifton. Th
ere are some good ones available.”

  “Yeah, well, I think I should just forget this whole dating thing. Back when Gary and I dated, rarely would a man be so presumptuous after a second date to suggest spending the night.” Memories of the times she and Gary spent taking long walks in the park and talking for hours surfaced in her mind. Her heart clenched.

  “Maybe that’s the problem, Celeste. You’re looking for someone exactly like Gary. I agree that he might be a tough act to follow, but you can’t expect every man you meet to be Gary’s reincarnation.”

  “I know that, and maybe I am subconsciously doing as you said, but I want a man who treats me like he did.” Celeste wanted someone to open her doors, talk to her about nothing and everything and to snuggle with while they watched movies and stuffed their faces with popcorn and root beer floats.

  “There are men who do that. Honey, are you sure you’re ready to move on?”

  For a moment, she didn’t reply. Was she ready? Admittedly, loneliness reared its ugly head more often than not, and perhaps she’d been using the dating as a coping mechanism. In reality, that had been the only reason she’d gone out with Clifton. Prior to that, she hadn’t been on a date in eight months. Her twenty-nine-year-old son, Emery, made a point of calling or visiting at least twice a week. Celeste appreciated his efforts, but she wanted him to live his own life. “I honestly don’t know. It’s not like I’m sitting here pining away for Gary. He’s not coming back. I’ve been enjoying life, traveling and doing some of the things we always said we’d do, but I just wish… Oh, I don’t know.” She’d traveled to D.C. to visit the National Museum of African American History and gone on a cruise to the Caribbean.

  “You just wish you had someone there to love you and do all the things that come with being in a relationship.”

  “Sometimes. And other times I feel guilty.”

  “You have nothing to feel guilty about. As you said, Gary isn’t coming back. You two had a wonderful marriage, but you’re a beautiful woman with a lot of life left. If it’s meant to be, you’ll find someone who will do all those things with you. He’ll do them his way and you two can create some new and wonderful memories.”

  “You know, I’m the older sister. I should be the one giving out all this good advice,” Celeste said wryly.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Love you, Deb.”

  “I love you, too. Now, I need to go to bed because, unlike someone else who shall remain nameless, I have to go to work on a Tuesday morning.”

  She laughed softly. “You’ll get there. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Good night, big sis.”

  “Night.” Celeste sat holding the phone. She did have more life in her. However, rather than navigating the waters of dating again, she began to think she should just take her memories and be happy.

  “Look who’s back.” Thaddeus Whitcomb opened the door wider to let his best friends, Nolan Gray and his wife, DeAnna in. He patted Nolan on the shoulder. “You look ten years younger since retirement. Hey, Dee.” He kissed her cheek. “Come on back. You guys want something?” He and Nolan shared a friendship that spanned nearly forty years and began when the two eighteen-year-olds met in the Army.

  They followed him to the family room and sat on the sofa. Nolan said, “We’re fine.”

  Thad reclaimed his favorite recliner. “So how was Hawaii?”

  “Heavenly,” DeAnna said. “If I had known how much fun we’d be having, I would’ve told him to retire years ago.”

  Nolan shook his head. “Woman, you act like we never went anywhere before now.”

  “Rarely,” she teased. “You and Thad had to be pried out of those offices.”

  Thad laughed. “She does have a point.” After their discharge from the Army—he, for medical reasons and Nolan, after finishing his tour of duty— they had been disheartened by the difficulty in getting services and accommodations for the disabled. Nolan decided to design them himself and started Gray Home Safety. Thad joined the company as a partner soon after. He and Nolan had a long-standing agreement that the company would remain in their families, with a Gray as CEO and a Whitcomb as vice president. They’d retired two years ago and Nolan’s oldest son, Brandon, and Thad’s daughter, Faith, who’d married shortly afterwards, now held those roles.

  “Man, how’re you going to take her side?”

  “Nolan, you and I may go way back, but I’m not getting on Dee’s bad side.” He and Nolan laughed. “She’s sweet, but she’s also direct and doesn’t mince words.”

  DeAnna stared on with mock offense. “Really, you two?”

  Nolan leaned over and gave his wife a quick kiss. “You know I love you, baby.”

  “Mmm hmm.” She waved him off. “Anyway, Thad, you should take a trip to Hawaii soon.”

  “I may have to do that.” He had only taken two short trips in the last two years, one to San Diego and the other to San Francisco. Both alone.

  “I’m sure any number of women would love to take the trip with you. It’s so romantic.”

  “Uh oh,” Nolan said. “She’s on her matchmaking campaign again.”

  DeAnna playfully swatted Nolan on the arm. “Oh, hush. Don’t you think it’s about time for Thad to find someone?”

  He held up his hands. “I’m staying out of this. Thad, I love you like a brother, but you’re on your own.”

  Thad smiled. “Some friend you are.” He’d dated in the thirty years since his divorce, and though he had come close once, he hadn’t found that one special woman yet.

  DeAnna continued as if the two men hadn’t spoken. “Rose asked about you again.”

  His smile faded. He had met Rose at their youngest son, Malcolm’s wedding a few of months ago. She had made her interest clear and, although she seemed like a nice lady, he hadn’t felt any attraction toward her. “Come on, Dee. I already told you I’m not interested in Rose. I told her the same thing at the wedding reception, so I don’t understand why she’s still asking about me.”

  “Probably that dance,” she said with a chuckle. “She couldn’t stop talking about your nice smile, dark good looks and toned body. She asked me how you kept in such good shape at your age, but I figured you didn’t want me telling all your secrets, so I told her she should ask you.”

  He lifted a brow. “At my age? I’m only fifty-five. Exactly how old did you tell her I was?”

  Nolan doubled over laughing.

  DeAnna shrugged. “I just told her we were around the same age.”

  Thad shook his head. “Dee, she’d better not show up at the gym.” Thad had a membership at the gym owned by Nolan and Dee’s second oldest son, Khalil. “I know how you are,” he added with a laugh. She’d been trying to match him with one woman after another over the years.

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Baby, that innocent act won’t work. Thad has known you way too long. If he needs some help finding that perfect woman, he’ll ask.”

  Thad slanted Nolan an incredulous look. “No I won’t.” He’d had no problems in the dating area…when he chose to date. True, he sometimes missed the companionship that came with being in a relationship, but he had no plans to settle down with any woman who came along just because the loneliness started talking. He glanced down at his watch. “I need to head over to the center.” Thad volunteered at Pathways, a comprehensive mental health center founded by Omar Drummond, the LA Cobras football team’s star receiver and his friends’ son-in-law.

  “Are you leading a group today?” Nolan asked.

  “No. I told Phillip I’d sit in on his family support group.” He knew all too well the impact PTSD had on the family. Had it not been for his two friends and some good counseling, he didn’t know where he’d be.

  They stood and DeAnna said, “Tell Omar we’ll be by to see the new basketball court soon.”

  Thad walked them to the door. “I will. If I don’t talk to you before, I’ll see you two on Saturday.” Faith and Brandon were expec
ting their first child and, unlike typical baby showers, the Grays tended to make it a family event. They said their goodbyes, and Thad left for the center.

  When he arrived, he met Omar coming down the hall.

  “Hey, Unc,” Omar said, pulling Thad into a one-armed hug. Nolan’s children had adopted him as an uncle and when Omar married into the family, he’d taken to calling Thad the same.

  “Hey, Omar. How’s school?”

  “The semester is almost over, thank goodness.” He was enrolled in a psychology PhD program.

  “Morgan and the baby doing okay?” Morgan, along with her twin brother, Malcolm, were the youngest of the Gray clan.

  “They’re good, but since Little Omar started walking a couple of weeks ago, the boy is all over the place. I didn’t know a ten-month-old could get into so much stuff and so fast. Last night, he pushed something on my laptop and the screen went blank. I was typing my paper and almost had a heart attack.”

  Thad laughed. “Were you able to recover your information?”

  “After about thirty minutes of sweating and trying everything known to man, including calling a tech person. Thankfully, I’d just saved the file, so I didn’t lose anything.”

  A memory surfaced of Faith at that age and he smiled, then his heart clenched. He’d lost her a year later and spent the next twenty-eight years trying to find her.

  Someone called out to Omar and he turned. “Be right there.” To Thad he said, “I’ll see you later.”

  Thad threw up a wave to the counselor who’d flagged Omar, then continued down the hall and around the corner. His steps slowed when he spotted a woman slumped against the wall, arms wrapped around her middle, with tears streaming down her face. Concerned, he hurried to where she stood. “Is everything okay?”