Balancing Act, page 31
“I know. Isn’t it great? See that helicopter over there? It’s Gage’s. It’s going to fly us to the airport.”
“The hell it is!”
Genevieve bent and picked up a large red duffel bag waiting in the basket. She handed it to Helen, then picked up the green duffel. “Would you help with this? When Mark gives the word, we’re dropping them. Each package has a little parachute. It should open on its own. Right, Mark?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Wait a minute. Wait just one minute. What is this?”
“Birthday presents. Everybody gets a present. My kids each get special ones. They’re labeled.”
“Who do you think you are? Oprah?”
Genevieve laughed. “Actually, that’s almost true.” She fished her phone from her pocket and navigated to the photos. She handed her phone to her sister, saying, “Everybody gets a car!”
Gaping, Helen looked from her sister to the phone. Seeing the first photo, she gasped. “Oh, honey.” She scrolled to the second photo and then to the third. “Who did these? Did you do these?”
“I did. They’re a birthday love letter to my family.” Genevieve’s voice rang with pride. “Those drawing classes were worth the money.”
“David and his classic Mustang. You captured him perfectly. And his car! The kids will be over the moon.” She looked up in horror. “You’re throwing these out of a balloon?”
“They’re packaged for it.” She paused a moment, then asked, “You will go to Iceland with me, won’t you?”
“Oh, Genevieve. I want to go, but how can I? Last year, I’d have gone in a heartbeat. But now I’m the mayor! I can’t just up and take a vacation out of the blue. I made a commitment. What will people say?”
“They’ll say that you’ve done more in three months than that last bozo did in three years. They’ll say that your city manager has Lake in the Clouds running smoothly. They’ll say that your sister anticipated your objections and dealt with them so that you could leave town with a clear conscience.”
Helen narrowed her eyes. “What did you do?”
Genevieve offered her sister a self-satisfied smile. “In addition to filling Nicole Vandersall in on the plan and enlisting her help to free up your calendar, I arranged for a celebrity mayor pro tempore to cover for you until we return.”
“A celebrity mayor! Who…?”
“Celeste Blessing from Eternity Springs.”
“Oh,” Helen said reverently. Everyone in Colorado knew Celeste Blessing from Eternity Springs. Nobody could do the job better. “But I don’t have my passport. I’d need to pack a bag.”
Genevieve proudly lifted her chin. “I have that covered. Remember yesterday when I ran to the store for more butter?”
“I do. It took you forever.”
“Well, I didn’t go to the store. I went to your place, used my key, and packed everything you’ll need.”
A note of admiration in her tone, Helen said, “Sneaky.”
Genevieve recognized her due with a nod, then grasped her sister’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Come with me, Helen. Let’s go find the northern lights. Let’s live this life hard.”
The balloon drifted lower. Gathered in front of Raindrop Lodge, Genevieve’s children began to laugh and wave upon identifying the occupants of the hot-air balloon’s basket. Helen snorted a laugh. “You’re really going to ditch your own sixtieth birthday party?”
“Surprise!” Genevieve replied. “I’m getting away. That’s what I do.”
Helen’s gaze was warm as she met her sister’s and said, “In that case, I guess I’ll have to tag along.”
“Excellent. I knew I could count on you.”
Helen smirked as her gaze drifted over the friends and family gathered below. “You know, Genevieve, after all of this, I can’t wait to see what you do for your seventieth.”
“I understand it’s the new fifty. Is it time to toss our gifts now, Mark?”
“Give it about ten more seconds.”
They counted down like schoolgirls, and then the packages began to rain. Below, her family’s reactions included surprise, delight, and joy, which shifted to confusion as the balloon started to rise.
Jake, her eldest, called, “Mom? Where are you going?”
“Iceland!”
Simultaneously, her four children shouted, “Iceland!”
Lucas added, “You can’t go to Iceland!”
“Sure I can,” Genevieve called back. “It’s my birthday, and I’ll fly if I want to.”
Helen shook her head. “You’re so lame, sister.”
But as they approached their landing zone and spied Gage Throckmorton casually leaning against his helicopter with his arms crossed, waiting for Genevieve, Helen said, “Never mind. I take it back.”
Acknowledgments
Every time I finish a book, I marvel at how lucky I am to make a living telling stories. It’s the best job in the world, and I am so grateful to the team of people who make it possible.
First, my thanks to my family. My husband is my rock. He’s supported me in this endeavor for more years than I care to count. He is and always has been my hero. To my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren, I love you all. Thank you for your love, your support, the happy pill photos you send when work keeps me home instead of out on Play Days, and learning to roll with my deadline craziness. I know it’s not easy. Bless you all!
I must also thank my sister. She is truly the Best Sister in the World. She holds my hand, helps me plot, always answers my calls, and never fails to provide a room at the inn when I’m in need. And she gave me a wonderful niece who is all-in on Lake in the Clouds and my source for all things firefighting. Thank you, sweets! You were such a help to me with this book!
I also need to thank my dearest friend, Mary Dickerson. From those early days a million years ago at NRH Library till now, you have always been there to help whenever I need it. I truly could not write my books without you.
I also want to thank my publishing team. To my agents, Christina Hogrebe and Meg Ruley with Jane Rotrosen Agency, thank you for your help with everything Emily March. To Amy Pierpont, editor-in-chief of Forever/Forever Yours, Grand Central Publishing, thanks for your fabulous editorial insight and for your support of all things Lake in the Clouds. Thank you once again to Junessa Viloria for helping make my work the best it can be. Also, a huge thanks for the hard work and effort from everyone at Grand Central, including assistant editor Sam Brody, publicity and marketing director Estelle Hallick, publicist Allie Rosenthal, production editor Luria Rittenberg, and copyeditor Kristin Nappier. It’s a pleasure to work with you all.
Finally, a great big shout-out to my readers. I am so very blessed to have you in my corner. Thank you for taking this journey with me. What a ride it continues to be. Here’s to keeping our balance!
Discover Your Next Great Read
Get sneak peeks, book recommendations, and news about your favorite authors.
Tap here to learn more.
Reading Group Guide
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. In Balancing Act, Genevieve struggles with the fact that her sixtieth birthday was coming up. Have you ever experienced a milestone that intimidated you? What was it?
2. Noah and Willow both carry wounds from losses in their pasts. What do their experiences have in common?
3. Which character did you relate to most strongly? Why?
4. When Noah’s workshop caught fire, he realized that he could overcome his fears and decided not to return to his firefighting job in Denver. If he had returned to Denver, do you think his relationship with Willow would have had the same outcome? How do you think their relationship would be different?
5. After the fire, Drew is happy because he believes bad things come in threes, and the fire would be the last event in a series of three bad circumstances. Do you believe that good and bad things come in threes? Why or why not?
6. Helen and Genevieve had a trip to the South Pacific planned before Tess and Jake’s wedding. Genevieve decided to skip the trip to help her kids but is jealous when Helen returns with fabulous stories from her trip. Do you think that Genevieve should have stuck to their original plan or do you think she made the right choice to stay home?
7. Willow is faced with a difficult situation when Andy’s parents are no longer able to take care of Andy’s son AJ. What are your thoughts on Willow being asked to take in and care for the child that her husband fathered with another woman?
8. Part of Genevieve’s journey in Balancing Act includes finding a new passion. Have you ever made a big change in your life or discovered a new talent or passion?
9. Throughout Balancing Act, Noah is healing from emotional injuries as well as the injury to his leg. How do you think grief can change a person and how they handle situations?
10. As a firefighter by trade, Noah educates Drew on fire safety in his home. Do you have a fire safety plan and know two ways out of the rooms in your home?
About the Author
Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a “master of delightful banter,” and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly and Library Journal.
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports, and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.
You can learn more at:
EmilyMarch.com
Twitter EmilyMarchBooks
Facebook.com/EmilyMarchBooks
Instagram @EmilyMarchBooks
Pinterest.com/EmilyMarch
Also by Emily March
The Getaway
Praise for Emily March
“Feel-good fiction at its finest.”
—Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author
“A brilliant writer you’ll love.”
—Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author
“Emily March’s stories are heart-wrenching and soul-satisfying.”
—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
THE GETAWAY
“Readers looking for feel-good fiction about a big, loving family will enjoy this… March creates believable characters, and the Prentice family is an easy one to spend time with.”
—Booklist
“An intellectually engaging and psychologically probing novel about a family returning from a dark place to a better one.”
—New York Journal of Books
“The power of love and family shine through this heartwarming and relatable story of old wounds and new beginnings.”
—Debbie Mason, USA Today bestselling author
“Heartfelt and satisfying.”
—Annie Rains, USA Today bestselling author
Emily March, Balancing Act
