"Last Goodbye"
Synopsis:
In his final moments before succumbing to brain cancer, Jonathan Higgins confides in his best friend about a beautiful girl who should have been his one true love.
Hundreds of miles away, on the same spring evening, Abigail Price suddenly suffers from a seizure that leaves her with an overwhelming sense of love and loss that she cannot explain.
Starting college the following fall, Abigail meets two men who will forever change her life. Both love and care for her, but one harbors a secret that will split her world into two. Relationships will be tested while Abigail tries to understand what is and what might have been.
It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, but can you love and lose someone you’ve never met?
Excerpt:
FEBRUARY 15, 1996
Abigail was barely able to open her eyes, but she knew it was light out. She cracked one eyelid and saw a bottle of water and three ibuprofens sitting on a chair next to her bed. It would be the first time in her life that Abigail skipped school. Ever. Period. Her head pounded with a fierce and ferocious beat.
“Nathan called four times last night,” Laura said as she pulled a sweatshirt over her head.
Abigail could barely open her eyes. The bright sunshine streaming through the window made her head pound even more. She rolled over and turned her back to it.
Laura added, “I’ll be honest…he did not sound happy.”
Abigail let out a soft groan.
“Okay, well, I’m off to class. I’ll see you later, okay?” she said, with a slight hint of sympathy in her voice.
“Okay,” Abigail moaned. She heard the door close, and she let out a slight sigh of relief. She just wanted to be alone. She felt terrible—in more ways than one.
“Never again,” she cursed.
As soon as she could muster the energy, she thought she would call Nathan. Yesterday had really gotten away from her, and her intention was to call him, but she never got the chance.
But, in the meantime, she shut her eyes tight, knowing she was not ready to face the day.
She heard the doorknob jiggle, so she quickly turned her body to face the wall. She heard the door close loudly. She lay still. She was hoping maybe Laura had just forgotten something and would leave as quickly as she’d entered. She held her breath.
“Wake up,” Nathan said. His voice was almost unrecognizable.
Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest. She moved back to her other side. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and leaned against the cold concrete wall. Her eyes remained shut for a moment, and then she opened them.
He was pacing the room. Finally, he stopped in the middle with his hands on his hips and a disapproving look in his eyes. For once, Nathan looked like crap, total and utter crap. Still, she was sure she was worse. He waited for her to speak.
Her mouth was so dry, and her voice was so strained, but she finally pushed out the words, “I can explain.”
“I’m listening.” His hands were still digging into his hips.
She felt weak as she grabbed her head. The pounding increased with every second that passed. She peered up at him with only her eyes.
“Jesus, Abby. Are you all right?” He asked after getting a good glimpse of her.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine,” he said abruptly.
“Thanks,” she quipped, sarcastically.
He was able to get a good view of her face. His eyes got wide, and he swallowed hard. She quickly looked back down.
“What’s going on, Abby? Where were you all night?” he asked with a slight edge. When she didn’t answer, he said, “Where were you, Abby?” His voice seemed sad. “I’ve been worried sick.”
“I was out and…” She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes.
“Just that? You were out?” he said as he moved a little closer to her.
She peered up, as if to say, Back off.
He stopped dead in his tracks.
There was silence.
“Who were you out with?”
She grumbled. He waited. Nothing.
“Well, if you can’t tell me, then I guess maybe that says something about whom you were out with.”
Surprised at what he was insinuating, she said, “It’s not like that.”
“Then, why can’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know. Fine, I was out with Tank,” she finally grumbled.
Her head pounded. The pain was unbearable. Can’t I just be alone for a little while, gather my thoughts, get rid of this awful headache, upset stomach, and aching body?
This was her first hangover, and she knew at first bite that she never wanted another one ever again. What was worse was, she never in her wildest dreams would have thought that she wouldn’t want Nathan Ryan around, but right now, she didn’t want anyone around.
Nathan crossed his arms over his chest. She had never seen him look this way before. He almost, for the first time since she had known him, appeared utterly disappointed. “Of course, it was Tank.”
“It’s not like that, Nathan. I just need a little more time. I mean, I’m just…God, my head is killing me, and I tried calling you, but…can we please just stop this for now?”
“Stop what? This conversation?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “A conversation about why the two of you are always together?”
“It’s not like that,” she repeated through gritted teeth. She was a mere fraction of herself. Her tone was almost unnatural. She was angry, and she hardly knew why anymore.
Frustrated, he quipped, “I know you keep telling me that, but why do I feel like you’re not telling me something?”
“Nathan, please. It’s…just, I don’t know. He’s my friend.”
“Friend? Since when?” he said flatly. “That guy doesn’t know how to be anyone’s friend.”
About the Author:
Laurel (Kupillas) Ostiguy was born in Queensbury, New York—a town sandwiched between Lake George and Saratoga
Springs—where she still visits with friends and family. She currently lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She commutes into Boston for a job she loves at a financial firm.
She attended Plymouth State University and graduated in 1997. She is now married to her college sweetheart, Jeff, and they have two sons. She also received her master’s degree from Northeastern University in 2003. When she is not working in Boston, she loves to spend time with her family and friends as well as skiing, skating, swimming, writing, or just enjoying the beautiful New England seasons.
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