A Million Pieces

Copyright © 2023 Author Evan Grace All rights reserved. First Edition: March 31, 2023 Evan Grace Moline, IL. 61265 www.authorevangrace.com Cover Design: Mignon Mickel @Oh So Novel Editing by Ellie McLove @My Brother’s Editor Formatting: Brenda Wright, Formatting Done Wright No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental. Author’s Note: This story deals with child loss. Please pass on the story if this is a trigger. Much love, Evan Table of Contents Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Epilogue I Epilogue II Stay Connected with Me About the Author Acknowledgments Chapter One Brooke “Okay, everyone, let’s line up by the door,” I tell my first graders as they throw their too-big-for their body, backpacks on and then hustle on their little legs to stand in a single-file line by the door. “I want you to all have the best weekend, and I’ll see you on Monday.” They all yell in unison, “Goodbye, Miss Burns.” The bell rings as I step into the hall, giving them all high fives as they pass by. Once they disappear down the hall toward the exit, I step back into my classroom. I wipe the desks down with cleansing wipes before straightening up the rest of the room. When the clock strikes four, I gather up my things and shut down my computer. My phone pings, and I glance down at the screen—it’s my boyfriend Austin. Austin: Are you going to have dinner ready at five? I roll my eyes. We’ve been together for six months, he’s very bossy, and not in that hot romance novel way. Heck, I’ve even seen him sometimes throw tantrums, like a child. Lately, he’s not been very nice to me and seems to be in a perpetual bad mood. I quickly type out a response. Brooke: Everything is in the fridge, ready to go. I’m leaving school now. His response is immediate. Austin: Good. That’s it? I shake my head. “Dickweed,” I whisper and then give my phone the middle finger. A minute later and I’m stepping outside. The humid air is thick and by the time I reach my car, I feel like I’m in desperate need of a shower because I have a light sheen of sweat covering my body. I start my car as my phone pings. It’s Austin. Austin: I love you baby. My stomach twists into a knot because I wish I loved him. I’ve tried, I’ve tried so hard, but those feelings are just not there. It can’t be forced, and I don’t want to hurt him. He’s the first person I’ve dated in a very long time, and maybe I just wasn’t ready. But I also shouldn’t stay with him if I can’t reciprocate his feelings. I know he’s irritated that I haven’t said it, but I just don’t feel that way about him. I toss my phone in the cup holder with a sigh. I thought Austin was my chance at a do-over, but I’m quickly realizing he’s not—I’ve just been fooling myself. Hoping that I could feel for him the way I used to feel for…well, that’s not important. Once I reach my place, I let myself inside and hang my bag on the hook by the front door. I kick off my black ballet flats and head into the kitchen. I preheat the oven and pull out the marinating chicken breasts and flip them in the bowl they’re marinating in. The tangy scent of the teriyaki is making my mouth water. I pull out the baking dish, spray it with non-stick cooking spray, and then set it aside. In my bedroom, I change into a pair of black knit shorts and a faded red Harley T-shirt. In the bathroom, I brush out my honey-blonde hair and toss it up in a high ponytail. I lean forward. “Ugh…I look tired.” I grab some under eye patches and slap them on. The front door opens. “Brooke?” He’s early. I step out of the bathroom, smiling when I see him and the large bouquet in his hand. Gerbera daisies have always been my favorite. Austin wraps his free arm around me. “Sorry I was being a dick earlier.” I wrap my arms around his neck, smiling up at him. “You’re forgiven.” He kisses me deeply. His tongue brushes mine and I moan into his mouth. The oven beeps and I pull back, smiling at him. “I better go throw dinner in the oven.” In the kitchen, I put the chicken in the dish and then stick it in the oven. I put the flowers in a vase of water, leaning forward to adjust them in their vase. Back in the living room to snuggle with my man on the sofa. I’m just not quite ready to end this yet. Maybe he’ll snap out of his funk, and maybe I’ll fall in love with him—I guess only time will tell. *** I wait in line at Fuel to order my iced coffee that’ll get me through parent/teacher conferences today. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids, and most of the parents are great. It’s just a long couple of days. Luckily this is the last day, and then a four-day weekend. Lord knows I need the break. I’ve always loved children and love teaching them, but