Georgia On My Mind Read online

  “Oh,” Georgie said softly as her eyes filled.

  Nathan squeezed her hand.

  “Nancy saw a need and did something about it. Every one of us, and many who came before us, has benefited from her devotion and her commitment. Her death was a tremendous blow to those of us who loved her and called her our friend. As we mourned Nancy, we also feared the loss of a program we had come to rely upon as a vital part of our daily lives. But thanks to Nancy’s daughter Georgie, the program not only survived, it thrived. Georgie sacrificed her own career in Atlanta to give us a few critical months until Barbara arrived to rescue her. Georgie, we know we drove you to drink at times, but we’re eternally grateful for everything you did for us.”

  Georgie was stunned and embarrassed when the entire crowd stood up to cheer.

  After everyone returned to their seats, Bill called Walter and Bad Gus to the stage.

  “By unanimous approval of the City Council, which declared today Nancy Bryant Quinn Day in the City of Newport, it is my honor and privilege to dedicate the Nancy Bryant Quinn Senior Center. Boys?”

  Walter and Gus tugged the cloth off a new sign, which included a gold-leaf portrait of Nancy.

  Staggered, Georgie stared at her mother’s likeness.

  Nathan slid his arm around her shoulders.

  “Georgie, honey,” Bill said, “I know we’re putting you on the spot, but if there’s anything you’d like to say. . .”

  She glanced at Nathan.

  He nodded with encouragement.

  From behind her, Ali squeezed her shoulder.

  Georgie stood and made her way to the stage. Each of her friends from the center hugged her as she went by.

  On the stage, Bill greeted her with a hug and turned the microphone over to her.

  As Georgie took a moment to compose herself, she looked out at the crowd, smiled at Ali, Tess, and Cat, and then glanced over at the Dumpster, remembering that first encounter with Nathan. A new, green recycling Dumpster sat next to it. Her eyes met his, and his smile told her he knew exactly what she was thinking.

  “Well,” she finally said, “hasn’t this been quite a day?”

  The crowd laughed and applauded in agreement.

  She took a deep breath. “I want to thank everyone who had anything to do with this,” she said, gesturing to the sign. “It’s a wonderful and fitting tribute to my mother, and my sister and I are deeply grateful. I talked to my mom every day of my life, but I didn’t know her, really know her, until I worked here. For that priceless gift, I’m also grateful.”

  After a pause to collect her thoughts, she continued. “I agreed to fill in until a new director was hired and made no secret of the fact that I was less than thrilled to be here. But like Bill, I, too, found a family here, and I love each and every one of you. I should also note that my roommates and I found our future husbands here—none of them seniors.”

  As laughter rippled through the audience, Georgie concluded by saying, “I’m reminded of something Nathan once said about what he learned from a loss in his life. He said it so eloquently, and I hope I’m remembering it correctly. It was something like this: Life is short, love is sweet, regrets either make you or break you, and nothing lasts forever. Thanks to the time I spent here, I’m able to move forward with no regrets. My mother’s life was far too short, but today you’ve ensured that her legacy will live on forever. Thank you so much for that.”

  The audience once again surged to their feet in applause.

  Georgie started down the stairs.

  Nathan met her at the bottom and lifted her into a hug.

  Finally, she had found her way home.

  Other Contemporary Romances by Marie Force

  The McCarthys of Gansett Island

  Book 1: Maid for Love

  Book 2: Fool for Love

  Book 3: Ready for Love

  True North

  The Fall

  Line of Scrimmage

  Love at First Flight

  Everyone Loves a Hero

  Romantic Suspense Novels by Marie Force

  The Fatal Series

  Book 1: Fatal Affair

  Book 2: Fatal Justice

  Book 3: Fatal Consequences

  Book 3.5: Fatal Destiny, The Fatal Wedding Novella

  Book 4: Fatal Flaw (coming February 2012)

  The Wreck

  About the Author

  Marie Force is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Fatal Series from Harlequin’s Carina Press. The series includes FATAL AFFAIR, FATAL JUSTICE, FATAL CONSEQUENCES and FATAL DESTINY. “This novel is ‘The O.C. does D.C.,’ and you just can’t get enough.” (RT Book Reviews, 4.5 stars for FATAL AFFAIR). In its July 2010 issue, RT Book Reviews named Marie a “Future Star of Romantic Suspense.” FATAL FLAW is coming in February 2012.

  Earlier this year, Marie published her popular, bestselling McCarthys of Gansett Island Series: MAID FOR LOVE, FOOL FOR LOVE and READY FOR LOVE with more books coming soon in the series. She is also the author of the following contemporary romances: EVERYONE LOVES A HERO, LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT, TRUE NORTH, THE FALL and THE WRECK.

  Since 1996, Marie has been the communications director for a national organization similar to RWA. She is a member of RWA’s New England and Published Author Special Interest Chapters.

  While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and she is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two teenagers and a feisty dog named Brandy.

  Find her at www.mariesullivanforce.com, on her blog at http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com, where she runs the weekly Romance & Oreos Book Club, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Force/248130827909, and on Twitter @marieforce. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at [email protected].