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 05.23.2006
Blog book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway is ONCE UPON A CHOCOLATE KISS by Cheryl Wolverton.
My Monday book giveaway is A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND by Kristin Billerbeck.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for ONCE UPON A CHOCOLATE KISS and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned.
Unequally yoked: I have a lot of Christian friends married to non-believers, or who used to be non-believers. I can’t even fathom the kinds of issues they have to deal with on a daily basis.
This new blog Spiritually Unequal Marriage is for encouragement and practical advice. It’s a totally awesome ministry. Even if you’re not in a spiritually unequal marriage, please go show your support and say a prayer.
TMI:
Writing: Several friends insisted I need to reward myself for finishing my manuscript, so I went to Safeway and bought four pounds of bing cherries. These were not cheap, mind you. I love cherries. This is one of the best parts of living in California.
The cherries are in a Japanese bowl I got as part of a set for my wedding.
Diet: Not doing too badly considering I’ve been busy. No over-2000-calorie days, anyway, but I’m also not exercising, which is bad. I have to get back into the rhythm of that once my workload eases up.
Blog book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway is ONCE UPON A CHOCOLATE KISS by Cheryl Wolverton.
My Monday book giveaway is A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND by Kristin Billerbeck.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for ONCE UPON A CHOCOLATE KISS and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned.
Unequally yoked: I have a lot of Christian friends married to non-believers, or who used to be non-believers. I can’t even fathom the kinds of issues they have to deal with on a daily basis.
This new blog Spiritually Unequal Marriage is for encouragement and practical advice. It’s a totally awesome ministry. Even if you’re not in a spiritually unequal marriage, please go show your support and say a prayer.
TMI:
Writing: Several friends insisted I need to reward myself for finishing my manuscript, so I went to Safeway and bought four pounds of bing cherries. These were not cheap, mind you. I love cherries. This is one of the best parts of living in California.
The cherries are in a Japanese bowl I got as part of a set for my wedding.
Diet: Not doing too badly considering I’ve been busy. No over-2000-calorie days, anyway, but I’m also not exercising, which is bad. I have to get back into the rhythm of that once my workload eases up.
Comments
They're really expensive in Japan -- like $5 for 4 oz or something. >.<
I also love that boowl. Reminds me of my almost-see-through china tea set. I love that color of blue with white and the yummy red cherries. Even a feast for the eyes.
I couldn't image marrying a non-Christian. In some ways it would probably be almost more difficult to become a Christian while you're already married. The conflicts could be staggering. I'm having a hard time coping on my own so I can see why you're always praying for your friends who are in situations like that.
I grew up in a Christian family and it's still amazing to me sometimes how other people live who don't know Jesus as Saviour. I didn't realize how sheltered I've actually been from a lot of life's realities. Even when I lived alone in Europe, that lifestyle stayed with me: no bar-hopping, going dancing or things like that. I've never minded going into restaurants on my own and except for a few incidents, I've rarely even come close to trouble. He's really been watching over me and that is such a freeing feeling--as long as you don't do anything that people might misinterpret.
I finally figured out how to get back to your blog...like duh! I just want to thank you for your encouragine words on my blog too! ... those cherries are not in season are they??? they make my mouth water! Did you get or desire the cherry element I made earlier? let me know and I can always email to to you! Barb
On my blog, I show a green-tea mug served to me in Tokyo. I think I prefer cherries to matcha. : )