キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain’s Log, Stardate 12.22.2006
I’m participating in the “One Thousand Gifts” list from Christian Women Online. Click on the picture to find out more about it.
826. Blogger is now out of beta! Yay! Soon there will be cooler stuff. I think—from what I read on the website—there won’t be word verification anymore, but I’m not positive about that.
827. I’m done with Sharon’s manuscript and it was GREAT!!!
828. I sent off my article for Christian Women Online
829. I had a great talk with my Marketing Director about my cover.
830. I had a great talk with my friend Stephanie Quilao (Back in Skinny Jeans) about the covers, and her perspective. I really trust her advice because she’s a marketing guru and Asian American, so she knows not only progressive Asian American culture, but also marketing trends.
831. I got my Les Miserables the complete symphonic recording CDs! I’m uploading it to my iTunes.
832. I am totally enjoying getting back into Musicals. I used to love them in college and got out of them, but lately I’ve been enjoying them again.
833. I exercised yesterday!
834. I’m on day 31 of my Bible in 90 Days. It’s heartening to see how the people embraced the Lord’s laws again, although so many turned away from God as soon as Nehemiah left to go back to Babylon and he had to come back and scold them. I also started Esther. How brave, for such a young woman to be willing to die.
835. I turned up the heat and now the house is a little more comfortably warm.
836. My eucalyptus candle aromatherapy actually warms my office a bit.
837. Captain Caffeine and I watched more episodes of CSI Miami! It’s kind of confusing seeing them out of order but it’s interesting, anyway.
838. I got more done on my new scarf
839. I got my packages ready to mail tomorrow and printed a Priority Mail postage label
840. Today is my last installment of my Christmas gifts for writers
841. The ending of Les Miserables still makes me cry. Or actually, maybe it makes me cry even more nowadays. Might be age and hormones.
842. I’m working more on the third book in my series, and it’s exciting to work on a new story.
843. It’s fun singing to my musicals and exercising my voice. I haven’t sung like this in years.
844. I’ve taken down all my brainstorming Post-Its from book 2 so I can put up Post-Its for book 3
845. We got a gift certificate for a place my husband can go for lunch near his workplace.
846. I had a good laugh with Captain Caffeine tonight about him falling asleep in the recliner
847. I already picked the music for the Sunday I lead worship, December 31st.
848. I figured out how to get to the mochi shop tomorrow to pick up my order for my relatives.
849. I have plenty of bubble pack mailers for my book giveaways
850. I’ll get a lot done today on my errands, and then I’m done for Christmas
I’m participating in the “One Thousand Gifts” list from Christian Women Online. Click on the picture to find out more about it.
826. Blogger is now out of beta! Yay! Soon there will be cooler stuff. I think—from what I read on the website—there won’t be word verification anymore, but I’m not positive about that.
827. I’m done with Sharon’s manuscript and it was GREAT!!!
828. I sent off my article for Christian Women Online
829. I had a great talk with my Marketing Director about my cover.
830. I had a great talk with my friend Stephanie Quilao (Back in Skinny Jeans) about the covers, and her perspective. I really trust her advice because she’s a marketing guru and Asian American, so she knows not only progressive Asian American culture, but also marketing trends.
831. I got my Les Miserables the complete symphonic recording CDs! I’m uploading it to my iTunes.
832. I am totally enjoying getting back into Musicals. I used to love them in college and got out of them, but lately I’ve been enjoying them again.
833. I exercised yesterday!
834. I’m on day 31 of my Bible in 90 Days. It’s heartening to see how the people embraced the Lord’s laws again, although so many turned away from God as soon as Nehemiah left to go back to Babylon and he had to come back and scold them. I also started Esther. How brave, for such a young woman to be willing to die.
835. I turned up the heat and now the house is a little more comfortably warm.
836. My eucalyptus candle aromatherapy actually warms my office a bit.
837. Captain Caffeine and I watched more episodes of CSI Miami! It’s kind of confusing seeing them out of order but it’s interesting, anyway.
838. I got more done on my new scarf
839. I got my packages ready to mail tomorrow and printed a Priority Mail postage label
840. Today is my last installment of my Christmas gifts for writers
841. The ending of Les Miserables still makes me cry. Or actually, maybe it makes me cry even more nowadays. Might be age and hormones.
842. I’m working more on the third book in my series, and it’s exciting to work on a new story.
843. It’s fun singing to my musicals and exercising my voice. I haven’t sung like this in years.
844. I’ve taken down all my brainstorming Post-Its from book 2 so I can put up Post-Its for book 3
845. We got a gift certificate for a place my husband can go for lunch near his workplace.
846. I had a good laugh with Captain Caffeine tonight about him falling asleep in the recliner
847. I already picked the music for the Sunday I lead worship, December 31st.
848. I figured out how to get to the mochi shop tomorrow to pick up my order for my relatives.
849. I have plenty of bubble pack mailers for my book giveaways
850. I’ll get a lot done today on my errands, and then I’m done for Christmas
Comments
I'm thrilled you enjoyed the manuscript, and it's such a HUGE relief to have it turned in before Christmas.
Merry merry Christmas! Blessings!
Sharon