Back to Life Read online

  Back To Life

  By Mellie George

  Text copyright ©2013 Mellie George

  All Rights Reserved

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Support your favorite authors by saying no to piracy! It is not a victimless crime. Do your part to end the theft of many author’s hard work!

  For Casey…forever missing you and your crazy laugh, gallons of milk in the fridge, Mountain Dew, Pizza King subs, Chicken noodle Sundays, dragonflies, and either making me laugh or making fun of Tracey crying at every single salon meeting, *wink*. You are irreplaceable, angel.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  Prologue

  “Come on, don’t go,” I whined loudly, straining to be heard over the music. “It’s New York City. Surely she can take a cab.”

  He squeezed my hand and gave me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, sweetie. She’s my boss, I have to. She’s completely trashed. I can’t just leave her there, and in her state she’d never be able to hail a cab. She’d just fall over into the street.”

  “And right into the path of oncoming traffic. Maybe then she’d stop calling you to come pick her up from bars and clubs at two in the morning. Babe, it’s our anniversary! Can’t you just climb off the white horse for one night? For me?” I asked angrily. I could see the confliction in his eyes as he was trying to decide what to do. My heart thudded painfully in my chest, reminding me that once again, he was leaving me to run to her and be her little slave, and on our one year anniversary, no less. I knew that this woman was constantly hitting on him, and I wasn’t worried that he’d ever betray me, but this was getting really ridiculous. After a few long seconds, instead of waiting for him to answer, I waved my hand angrily in the air. “Whatever, just go. I’ll just head home and hang out with Marissa. She’s probably still up.”

  “Baby, I’m so, so sorry. I will make it up to you, I promise.”

  “Doubtful,” I pouted.

  He smiled warily, and leaned in and kissed me. “I will, you’ll see. I am just going to drop her off at her apartment, so I shouldn’t be long,” he said, sliding on his coat. “See you back at your place?”

  “Yeah, fine. Bye,” I said, rolling my eyes. This was supposed to be the most amazing night of my life. Mason had proposed earlier in the evening, and we had been out celebrating and I hadn’t gotten to give him his gift yet. I had been planning on surprising him when we went back to my place…looks like that wasn’t going to happen now.

  He looked back at me, a warm smile spreading across his handsome face. He walked back to me and pulled me in to his chest and kissed me deeply. After several heated moments, he pulled away and looked lovingly into my eyes. “I love you so much, Rory Shaw.” He lifted my left hand to his lips, and kissed the huge sparkling diamond he had placed on my left ring finger earlier in the evening.

  Despite my anger, I found myself smiling too. “I love you too, Mason Callahan. And your apology better be big.”

  Backing away from me, he said with a suggestive wink, “You know me, baby. I always go big,” and he placed his hand over his heart and then pointed up to the sky.

  “I know, from your heart and past the stars,” I said, and even though I was disappointed, I still smiled at his silly gesture. With a wave, he flashed a dazzling smile at me and turned and walked out.

  As I stood out in the middle of the dance floor, suddenly everyone around me started to disappear, and I was alone with the music loud and lights flashing. Where had everyone gone? Just as suddenly, the music stopped and a huge spotlight from above turned on, and I was blinded. Then, just as quick as the light came on, it shut back off and everything went black. “Hello?” I screamed, and I was answered by a loud popping sound, people screaming, and sirens in the distance. As I ran toward the sounds, I tripped and started falling down, but the ground was nowhere near to break my fall….I felt like I would never stop falling…

  Chapter 1

  Rory

  The alarm clock started beeping loudly, jolting me awake. I sat up in bed with a start, my heart racing and I was covered in a cold sweat. It took me a minute to remember where I was and as soon as I did, I realized the alarm clock was still beeping. I reached my hand over to the night stand and turned it off. I sighed as my heart rate began to return to normal. Running a hand through my long, dark auburn hair, I pulled up my knees up and rested my elbows on them. There is only one reason I would wake up with my heart pounding out of my chest and covered in perspiration. I must have had the dream again. I’m glad I didn’t remember it this time though. I was already trying every day to forget about it, and having it fresh in my mind the first thing in the morning would be difficult to face. After taking a few deep breaths, I decided to throw myself into the day in order to distract my mind from wandering and I flew out of bed. Thankfully, I had laid out my clothes for the day the night before, so that didn’t require any thought. I grabbed the neatly folded pile from the wicker chair next to my dresser along with a clean bra and panties from my dresser drawer, and headed to the shower. After turning the water on, I slid out of my pajamas and tossed them into the hamper. I stepped into the shower, and immediately cursed out loud. It was borderline ice cold. Damn it, Marissa must have beaten me to the shower this morning. From the other room, I heard soft shouting, “Sorry, Rory! I didn’t think you’d be up so soon, just give it a minute!”

  “Whatever, you better have fucking coffee ready for me when I get out!” I shouted back, and I heard her mumble in agreement. As I waited for the water to get somewhat warm, I stared at myself in the mirror. I wasn’t a shallow person by any means, but I had to admit I had a halfway decent body. My ivory skin, which was well decorated with tattoos and a few piercings, complimented my long dark red hair, which I got comments on often. Being a hair stylist, getting complimented on my hair was both expected and rewarding. It fell in long cascading waves around my face and rested just at my breasts. My eyes traveled up from my heavily tattooed naked body to my face, which didn’t seem to match the rest of me. My reflection wasn’t one I recognized anymore. Where there once used to be bright, lively chestnut eyes now were tired, sallow eyes that looked older than they were. Maybe it was because they had seen more than someone my age should see. Hell, I was only twenty-five, but to me I felt like I was ten years older. The past four years had aged me in more ways than one, that was certain. If I had learned one thing in all that time, I definitely wasn’t the old Rory Shaw anymore.

  Four years before, I had just gotten engaged to the love of my life, Mason Callahan. He was a lawyer and worked for Mitchell, Sterling, Jacobs, and Darling in New York City, and was on the fast track to a partnership. We were each other’s polar opposites, and that’s why we worked so well. He was all business with his suits, ties, and briefcases, where I was all creativity with my vibrant colored hair, tattoos, and piercings. We were an odd pair, but I loved him more than any man in the world, apart from my older brother, Brody. W
e’d only been together for a year when everything happened…

  My reflection started to get cloudy, and I wondered for a moment if I was losing my mind. But, then, I realized that it was just the fog from the heat of the shower, and that meant that the water was finally warm enough. I turned my face from the mirror and stepped inside the hot shower, and tossed my head back, letting the warm water pour over me.

  I walked out through the living room and toward to the kitchen, toweling my hair dry as I walked. Marissa looked up and met my gaze, and her eyes were apologetic. “Rory, I am so sorry. I didn’t know you were getting up so early today.”

  “Well, I’m opening the shop this morning and I have a regular client coming in first thing when the door opens, so yeah. I was getting up early this morning,” I snapped, sitting down at the table. I pulled the black hair tie wrapped around my wrist and tied my damp hair into a messy knot on top of my head. It would have to do for the day.

  Marissa put a mug of hot coffee in front of me. “I must have forgotten. I didn’t realize I had been in there that long.” She took a long drink from her coffee mug and cautiously sat down across from me. “Rory, are you all right? You seem a little cranky this morning, even more than usual.”

  I took a long drink of my hot coffee. Marissa always made great coffee…the stronger the better for me. After I swallowed, I looked at her apprehensive face and sighed. “I’m sorry. I guess I just didn’t sleep well last night.”

  Placing a warm friendly hand over mine, she said, “You had the dream again, didn’t you?”

  I shrugged. “I must have, thank God I don’t remember if I did,” I said, a shiver running down my spine.

  “I figured. You are usually are like this when you do. Are you going to be okay?” Marissa asked, a hint of nervousness still in her voice.

  I saw fear and worry in her expression, and I immediately softened. “Of course I will. Thanks, Marissa.”

  She smiled at me, saying, “For what?”

  For what? For being my best friend, for being here for me when no one else was (including most of my family), for letting me cry and break down and being there to catch me when I fell hard... “For the coffee, of course,” I said, winking at her.

  I had known Marissa O’Neal since we were in ninth grade. My family had just moved to the small town of Selma, Indiana from Chicago. I was new in town, and coming from a big city, I stuck out like a sore thumb in such a tiny town. My older brother, Brody, fit right in. He was lean, muscular, and athletic, and had every girl drooling. I was the girl with the crazy colors in her hair, dark black eyeliner around her eyes, rock band tees, and a bad attitude. Being taken from my hometown where I was comfortable and blended in to a tiny little farming town about an hour and half from Indianapolis was like being dragged into my own personal hell. I was a frequent visitor at the principal’s office during my time there.

  On my fifth day of high school during lunch period, I was sitting with Brody at a table and was eating a salad when all of a sudden I heard high pitched laughing. Cackling was more like it. There was a group of blonde, snotty looking girls standing in the lunch line, laughing and sneering, and standing in front of them was a tiny girl with long, light brown wavy hair, holding her tray in her hands. As she walked to the cashier and fished a twenty out her pocket, one of the girls behind her said, “Wonder how she got that?”, and another girl said, “She probably traded food stamps for it,” which sent the group into hysterical laughter. As I looked at the girls’ face, a single hot tear shot down her cheek. Brody must have heard the comments as well, and his eyes followed mine to this girl being laughed at. After seeing the livid expression on my face, he winked at me and stood up and walked to her. Surprising everyone, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. As if everyone wasn’t already shocked that this beautiful boy was taking an interest in a seemingly mousy girl, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “There you are, finally. You want to sit with me and my sister today?” he asked. His other arm was extended toward where I was sitting. I gave a cheery wave, and batted my eyelashes at the group behind her, giving them a sarcastic look. If I was sure I could get away with it and no one would see I would have flipped them off.

  Her face turned a deep scarlet red, and her big blue eyes widened to the size of quarters. I eyed the snobs that were standing behind her, and their eyes moved from Brody and the tiny girl to me, and they took turns looking at each other. I saw one of them mouth, “That freak is his sister?” He glared at them, and they seemed to cower in response. Brody turned back to the girl and smiled at her. “S-s-sure,” she stammered, and with his arm still around her, he led her to our table, pulled out the chair next to me, and took a seat next to her. He smiled warmly at her, and said, “I’m Brody Shaw, by the way. It’s nice to meet you. This is my sister Aurora.”

  “Call me Rory,” I interjected, and I narrowed my eyes and shot Brody a playful look. He knew I hated being called Aurora. I loathed that name.

  She smiled timidly and said, “I’m Marissa O’Neal,” and pausing for a moment, she looked to both of us and said quietly, “and thank you so much.” Ever since then, Marissa and I were best friends, and I loved Brody even more for what he did for her that day. Marissa’s family was actually very wealthy, but they never flaunted their wealth like most people would. They also never allowed her to look, dress, or act as if she were any better than anyone else, so naturally everyone assumed she was lower class. After graduation, we couldn’t get out of Selma fast enough. We moved to New York City together and never looked back.

  She smiled and stood up from the table to continue making breakfast. “So, can I make you something?”

  “Whatever you’re having will be good, thanks,” I said, taking another long drink of coffee. “So, what’s up with you today?”

  “Well, it’s Friday, and I have that photo shoot in Central Park this morning. I just hope the day goes by fast. I have been nervous about today all week,” she said, cracking an egg and dropping it into the burning hot skillet. I knew why she was nervous; my brother was arriving today. Brody had become a doctor and had just finished his residency at a hospital in Maine. He decided to move to New York City to permanently live after accepting a position in the emergency department at New York Presbyterian. He was going to stay with Marissa and me until he found an apartment of his own. I was so proud of everything he’d accomplished, and he just couldn’t get here fast enough. I’d missed him so much.

  “Aw, come on, don’t be nervous. It’s just Brody,” I said. “I know it’s been a while since we’ve seen him, but I’m sure he isn’t any different.” Marissa had been in love with Brody since that first day we all had lunch together in high school, but she was very good about keeping it to herself. As my best friend however, I always knew it from that first day we all had lunch together. I was hoping, for both their sakes, that when he sees her again he will open his eyes and see her for the amazing, beautiful girl she has always been.

  “I know what you are saying Rory, but I can’t help it. It’s been over a year, and I just hope I don’t do anything stupid.”

  “You won’t. I won’t let you,” I said, and she set a small plate of scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, and wheat toast in front of me. It smelled incredible, and tasted even better. As I was taking my next to last bite, I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was eight thirty seven, and I had to be at the salon by nine. Jumping up, I said loudly, “Shit, I’m running late, I have to go!” I ran and grabbed my purse, my cell phone, and my keys from the nail by the door.

  As I was sliding on my jacket, Marissa called out, “Do you want to take my car? I can just take a cab today.” Marissa drove a super bad-ass silver BMW, and as tempting as that was, I would never make it to work on time with the traffic.

  “Nah, I’ll take a cab. Thanks though. See you later!” I said. I gave her a hurried wave, called out my goodbyes, and took off down the stairs.

  Luckily, I was able to catch a cab, and pulled up outside E
clipse Salon, my home away from home, with three minutes to spare. I ran inside, and was greeted by Samantha, the receptionist. She was petite in size and stature. She couldn’t have been more than five foot two, and had long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was cute as a button and kept our office running smoothly. “Running late again, Rory?”

  “How could you guess?” I asked, sarcastically, and hung my leather jacket by the door.

  “Okay, well, your first client is not here yet, so you have time to catch your breath.”

  “Mrs. Tanner is running late? Wow, that’s a first. Well, I’m going to go hang my bag in the break room and start getting her color ready. Let me know when she gets here, okay?” I asked as I walked through the shimmery beaded curtain that lead into the main salon floor. She nodded her head in agreement, and at that moment the phone rang. She reached to answer it, and as soon as I was on the floor I was immediately greeted by a bevy of loud hellos. I said my greetings back to Nicole, Emily, Fiona, and Brian, the four other stylists that work there with me. “Hi, everyone, sorry I’m cutting it close this morning.”

  Brian, a slender, tan, well-groomed, and obviously incredibly gay man, said, “No worries, sweetie, you’re right on time. How was your night last night?”

  “Oh you know me. I did something wild and crazy. I ordered Chinese food and watched ‘Family Guy’ reruns in my pajamas,” I said.

  He shook his head at me and sighed. “Oh good God, honey, you need to go out more. I mean, go anywhere. A night club, a bar, or hell, a sweaty cage fight in an abandoned warehouse, I don’t care. Anything is better than sitting at home all the time. It should be a crime to have a smokin’ little body like yours and not show it off.”