Twice In A Lifetime by Clare Lydon
Hear the first chapter of the audiobook for Twice In A Lifetime by Clare Lydon @ClareLydon narrated by TJ Richards on this episode of Book Clips, the mini podcast that gives listeners a taste of a book.
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Synopsis
Once bitten, twice shy?
When her first love walks back into her life, Harriet Locke is thrown – because Sally McCall still looks as gorgeous as ever.
The trouble is, Sally doesn’t trust Harriet, and with good reason: she hasn’t forgotten the past.
Sally loved her once, but 17 years later, is that still the case? And if it is, there’s just the small matter of living in different states, as well as convincing Sally she’s worth taking a chance on again.
Will Harriet and Sally be lucky enough to find love twice in a lifetime?
From the best-selling author of London Calling and Nothing To Lose comes a witty & wondrous story of second-chance romance!
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Transcript for Today’s Show
Please note this transcript has not been edited and is automatically generated meaning certain words will be incorrect.
you were listening to book clips a mini podcast in which authors and erasers do readings from novels check out the show notes for the synopsis and by links for this book twice in a lifetime written by Claire Lydon read by TJ Richards chapter one Sally McCall had a fear of water and that was mainly her aunt Paula’s fault scratch that it was solely her fault Sally was a scant five years old when her aunt then 20 picked her up and threw her into the hotel swimming pool unfortunately before checking if the young Sally could swim she still remembered the shiny blue tiles of the swimming pool wall as she was rudely plunged under water the muffled shouts from above along with the fizzing panic as her tiny limbs worked overtime to save her when Sally’s dad Rick dragged her to the surface his strong arms clamped firmly around her waist and Sally flapping like a sardine she recalled her mom just sticky lating wildly at Paula her pistachio green swimsuit clinging to her slender frame after coughing up her excess water Sally sat wrapped in a soft towel on her mom’s lap the sky bright blue as if it were illuminated the thud of her mom’s heartbeat in her ear Sally’s mom had smelled like cigarettes and sunshine one of the other memorable times Sally met her aunt was 10 years later when sally was sitting with her dad’s family in a fancy restaurant to celebrate his birthday at the awkward age of 15 Sally was shy and dealing with her only third ever period still not believing this was due to happen to her every month for the next 40 years surely some cruel mistake that day aunt Paula had barreled in late and given her a crushing hug before asking and a voice that could have carried right across Lake Michigan weather not she’d had sex yet Sally died on the spot so now sitting opposite her dad in her favorite New York City steakhouse nearly 20 years later Sally was understandably hesitant about his news all around her servers rushed by balancing eye level silver tray stacked with New York strip loin and skirt steaks the air seared with the smell of roasted meat and silky gravy she wants to meet me for lunch the woman who tried to drown me before my life had even begun Sally was still scared of water to this day which had affected her life and her relationships to the Hawaiian vacation with KC Mexico with her best friend Taylor even the lake house all those years ago with Harriet she blew out a long breath tasting Harriet’s sunscreen on her lips before shaking her head bringing herself back to the moment with Harriet the memories were so vivid the feelings called up as if on speed dial you know Paula she’s excitable her dad replied swishing his red wine around his tall glass he took a sip and nodded his head in approval she’s an excitable menace try being her brother you got off easy Sally smiled at that her dad was laid back to the point of being horizontal and she couldn’t imagine what he’d gone through having a sister like her even though he was 12 years older Paula had been born a crazy whirlwind kicking up a storm that had never died down why does she want to see me she’s been living abroad for so long now as soon as Paula was old enough she’d flown her home to work on cruise ships returning on a very irregular basis Sally had heard muttered tales of her investing in property but nothing more from what she’s told me she’s got a business proposition for you so it might be worth taking this meeting honey it sounds like she’s money burning a hole in her pocket she’s coming back to the US for good and wants to settle in Chicago and get to know her family that includes you her beloved niece beloved niece Sally was pretty sure she’d never been that to Paula because Paula had never really stuck around long enough to get to know her where her friends had aunts that were present Paula had always been a mystery to Sally that sounds ominous plus I live in New York in case you hadn’t noticed as if emphasizing the point a yellow cab slammed on its brakes to the right of the leather booth they were seated at the driver honking his horn and gesturing out the window you didn’t get that in Chicago her dad smiled rubbing his hand over his gray stubble they both shared the same strawberry blonde hair the subject of much teasing when she was in school but now a color she’d embraced her dad’s hairline was receding but he still had a good covering approaching his 61st year I’m not sure anybody’s ever told Paula no but you could give it a try he gave her a grin I’m picking her up from O’Hare when she flies in next month I did offer to come along to break your fall but she was insistent she wants to get to know you without me being there so I have to respect that their steaks arrived garnished with Bernays and fries their waiter topping up their wine before leaving them to it with a smile Sally stomach growled as she picked up her knife and made the first incision it was perfectly pink just the way she liked it you think she’s going to try and drown me again Sally asked make a reservation somewhere pool free that cuts your odds her dad replied what have you got to lose she’s offering to help you out and you’ve always turned down offers of help from me and your mom but if Paula gives you some money look at it as payback for all that childhood trauma she put you through he paused speaking of which maybe she should reimburse me for all the trauma she put me through Sally laughed chewing her steak before replying I’ll get her to write two checks she put down her knife and fork next month that’s what she said can I give her your email address then it’s in your hands I’ll leave you both to sort it all out just don’t shoot the messenger okay her dad licked his lips catching some stray meat juice I’ll try not to Sally said you know mom’s going to go crazy though right only if you tell her her dad replied Sally chuckled thinking of all the times her mom had berated her dad he hated confrontation so he’d always backed down of course it wasn’t an issue anymore now they were divorced so I’ll tell Paula it’s a yes Sally nodded resisting her need to be independent maybe her dad was right Paula owed her and God knows she could use the money the stake was the first decent meal she’d had all week and she was enjoying it twice as much knowing she wasn’t paying tell her it’s a yes just name the time and place and preferably in New York some of us have work to do chapter two so it went well her business partner Joanna asked her voice faint at the other end of the line it went really well Harriet replied shuffling forward in the queue her feet still swollen even from the short flight the fluorescent light screamed overhead the AC turned up to chiller cabinet efficiency someone nearby was eating beef flavored chips and the smell was making her stomach churn the woman who owns the company was really cool and we both think we’re a good fit Harriet stifled a yawn it been an early start this morning with her breakfast meeting at 7:00 a.m. we talked financials and distribution she loves our roster of clients and wants to be a part of it their designs are amazing too you should see the executive toys and gadgets I’ve come back with along with some gorgeous stationery apparently we could be the Gateway for them to go into orbit her words not mine perfect I love orbit and I love my beach house have I mentioned that once or twice Joanna continued we need to get big clients so that I can fulfill my dreams of retiring by 40 to my beach house in the Sun remember our promise Harriet laughed softly this being a speech she’d heard before this deal could take us one step forward to your beach house she paused moving forward a little more stooping to wheel her black carry-on suitcase she shouldn’t have to stoop but the plastic pop-up handle wasn’t obeying orders just as it hadn’t ever since she’d bought it she should have returned it right away but life had taken over and she’d forgotten a woman dressed in a black official looking immigration uniform leaned over the barrier waving a dry hand in front of Harriet’s face excuse me ma’am no cell phones allowed in here Harriet gave her an odd listen I gotta go she told Joanna no cell phones and immigration I’ll see you later I’ve got to drop off my stuff at home and swing by my parents house but then I’ll be in okay okay see you then pause and remember beach house baby Joanna signed off as was now customary Harriet pocketed her phone in her green pants and kicked the bag forward with her foot watching as it slid to the left the cue for immigration at Chicago’s smaller Midway Airport wasn’t too bad she’d had a lot worse during her many days of travel to and from New York especially when she flew into O’Hare fifteen minutes later she was at baggage claim the overhead lights reflecting on her screen as she checked her phone waiting for her larger suitcase she rolled her shoulders and yond as she waited her breath tasting sour her stomach rumbling she’d skipped lunch and just had a coffee on the plane so she should remember to pick up some food on the way to visit her dad who was still recovering after his episode as her mom was calling it her mom was having trouble coming to terms with her dad not being the robust man he’d always been burying her head under the hood of her beloved Mustang not wanting to face the real world she glanced up to the baggage screen double-checking she had the right carousel she did but there was still no baggage in sight on the other side of the carousel she spotted a woman in a Cubs cap and a white t-shirt with denim cutoffs when the woman glanced up at the screen there was something familiar about the shape of her mouth her hair the color of roasted golden sunsets she looked like Harriet’s heart began to race the protruding vein on her right hand pulsing like crazy the woman looked a bit like Sally could it be Sally Harriet bent her head and squinted but before she could assess the woman the carousel jerked to life Harriet straightened up a suitcases began spilling out onto the scuffed gray slatted belt she saw her suitcase with its distinctive orange ribbon right away she grabbed it before looking back over toward the woman but she was nowhere to be seen Harriet wheeled her suitcases a few feet away from the belt looking around but the woman was gone her heartbeat slowed to almost normal and she ground her teeth together breathing deeply it probably wasn’t Sally and what would she say to her if it was she sent a text to her brother Daniel who was already at her parents house to see if they’d eaten he replied almost instantly telling her to pick up Chinese food for lunch dad’s favorite she had her instructions Harriet glanced around the baggage hole one last time before gripping both suitcases and heading to the airport parking lot and her waiting silver Prius twice in a lifetime written by Claire Lydon read by TJ Richards you have been listening to book clips check out the show notes for the synopsis and by links for this book if you are interested in showcasing your novel then check out the show notes for more information [Music]
