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 11.24.2005
Mucho thanks to the terrific prayer warriors lifting me up. Surgery was supposed to be at 3 p.m., but for some reason I didn't get into the surgery suite until closer to 4.
I had minimal nausea coming out of anesthesia, but I felt like I could have slept for a week. The mean recovery room nurses (probably anxious to actually leave work the day before Thanksgiving, the buggers) seemed extraordinarily brutal in the way they sat me up in an attempt to get me mobile and out of their clinic.
I slept on the drive home and arrived wide awake a little after 8 p.m. I guess that's not so unusual since I had slept most of that day away under the influence of drugs.
You have not known real fear until you have an aching leg suspended before you, two crutches biting into your armpits, a sloping driveway under you, and a sudden realization you are tipping backward.
With a blood-curdling scream worthy of Halloween H2O, I alerted half the neighborhood of my imminent demise. However, my husband whipped out a hand and caught me before I flailed to the ground.
Our dog Snickers, so vicious at warning the postman that this house is her kingdom, retreated with her tail down at the sight of my clunking crutches. Useless guard dog. I want my money back.
The painkillers wore off today, so I took ibuprofen and Tylenol. The ibu is making my stomach ache a bit, but the combo is working fantastically to reduce the pain.
However, there's great news--Robin told me about something Colleen Coble told her: 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (plus honey to make it palatable) in one cup of warm water morning and evening. I just took a cup and my stomach feels wonderfully better! Thanks, Robin and Colleen!
Please pray the ibu doesn't make my stomach too upset. At this point, it's the strongest painkiller I can take.
There's no blistering so far! Yay! I've been doing massage and "pumping" my foot to increase circulation in my leg and hopefully move the fluid out of the joint so the blistering doesn't happen this time. Please continue to pray.
During the time I'm not sleeping like a lazy cat in the sun (I swear, I've never spent so many hours of the day comatose), I've gotten writing-related things done. I listened to several recorded writing workshops on MP3. Looooooove my iPod.
I am also doing research for my next book, which involves a massage therapist. It's interesting, although a little hippie-ish in their claims of spiritual communion between therapist and client. It's helping me to better understand my heroine's character, since she has her own backstory but also the right personality to be a massage therapist. I think she will be very intriguing and complex.
Well, that's my update. The real test will be tomorrow when the drugs from the surgery completely wear off and I'm on just the ibu and Tylenol.
Thanks for praying!
Mucho thanks to the terrific prayer warriors lifting me up. Surgery was supposed to be at 3 p.m., but for some reason I didn't get into the surgery suite until closer to 4.
I had minimal nausea coming out of anesthesia, but I felt like I could have slept for a week. The mean recovery room nurses (probably anxious to actually leave work the day before Thanksgiving, the buggers) seemed extraordinarily brutal in the way they sat me up in an attempt to get me mobile and out of their clinic.
I slept on the drive home and arrived wide awake a little after 8 p.m. I guess that's not so unusual since I had slept most of that day away under the influence of drugs.
You have not known real fear until you have an aching leg suspended before you, two crutches biting into your armpits, a sloping driveway under you, and a sudden realization you are tipping backward.
With a blood-curdling scream worthy of Halloween H2O, I alerted half the neighborhood of my imminent demise. However, my husband whipped out a hand and caught me before I flailed to the ground.
Our dog Snickers, so vicious at warning the postman that this house is her kingdom, retreated with her tail down at the sight of my clunking crutches. Useless guard dog. I want my money back.
The painkillers wore off today, so I took ibuprofen and Tylenol. The ibu is making my stomach ache a bit, but the combo is working fantastically to reduce the pain.
However, there's great news--Robin told me about something Colleen Coble told her: 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (plus honey to make it palatable) in one cup of warm water morning and evening. I just took a cup and my stomach feels wonderfully better! Thanks, Robin and Colleen!
Please pray the ibu doesn't make my stomach too upset. At this point, it's the strongest painkiller I can take.
There's no blistering so far! Yay! I've been doing massage and "pumping" my foot to increase circulation in my leg and hopefully move the fluid out of the joint so the blistering doesn't happen this time. Please continue to pray.
During the time I'm not sleeping like a lazy cat in the sun (I swear, I've never spent so many hours of the day comatose), I've gotten writing-related things done. I listened to several recorded writing workshops on MP3. Looooooove my iPod.
I am also doing research for my next book, which involves a massage therapist. It's interesting, although a little hippie-ish in their claims of spiritual communion between therapist and client. It's helping me to better understand my heroine's character, since she has her own backstory but also the right personality to be a massage therapist. I think she will be very intriguing and complex.
Well, that's my update. The real test will be tomorrow when the drugs from the surgery completely wear off and I'm on just the ibu and Tylenol.
Thanks for praying!
Comments
Glad you have a great hubby to care for you, and that Colleen had a tummy remedy. (Take those pain pills with non-spicy, non-greasy, mild food, okay?)
Rest a lot, listen to your great music, and God speed healing for you. :)
Mir
I'm glad things seem to be going well. I will continue to pray for you.
Don't feel bad about your dog. My dog barks most viciously at little squirrels scurrying around in the trees than she does at a true threat. :0)
I am quite sure I told you about the apple cider vinegar too, but after tasting Noni, you probably aren't too hip on any of my remedies, are ya? Teehee.
Hugs and love ya!