It is Celia Marlowe's belief that people blossom with loving support and emotional resources. During the course of her life, she has gathered close to her those in need of her special kind of love. Forward to nine years later, and Celia's Puppies are evaluating their lives.
The second instalment of Denver Cereal, Celia's Puppies is exciting, heart-warming and total fun. The book, Denver Cereal is serial fiction based in Denver, Colorado. Sweet, crunchy and absorbingly addictive, you deserve to pur a little Denver Cereal in your bowl of life.
Excerpt:
Sitting on her meditation bolster, Delphie let out a breath and bowed forward. A half hour of prayer would have to do this morning. Not for the first time, Delphie longed for the days when she had the entire Castle to herself. But then, Sam wouldn't be asleep in her bed and the kids wouldn't be home. Things were better now.
She just needed more time to herself.
With care, she put out the candles but left her incense burning for Quan Yin. Smoothing her wild bottle-red hair in the mirror, she realized she was lying to herself.
She didn't need more time to herself. She missed Celia.
Celia would love how things turned out. She would have teased Mike about his confusion over Valerie. Celia would spoil Katy to no end. Delphie could just see Celia in a corner of the dining room laughing with Jill and Sandy. Celia would revel in Jacob stepping into himself.
And Aden! Who would believe that drunken criminal Aden Norsen would turn into gentleman Aden?
Of course, Celia always believed in Aden, Blane, Jill and the others too. Delphie called them Celia's puppies. The people Celia collected like lost puppies. The ones whose lives really changed with loving support.
Delphie never had that kind of faith in people. Celia was special. She could see into people's souls and see what they could be. Not that she was always right. After all, Tiffanie's oldest daughter gave only misery in return for the resources and love she was given.
Moving toward the bed, Delphie sighed. She'd give up Sam to have Celia back. It would be hard because she cared deeply for Sam. But she'd do almost anything to have Celia back.
Delphie sat down on the bed next to Sam. He opened his eyes and touched her hair. "It's a little after four," Delphie said. "You should work on getting up."
"I'm sorry our chaos has interrupted your meditation," Sam said. "You have clients today, don't you?" Delphie gave a slight nod.
"Sad?" he asked. He sat up to hold her. "Missing Celia."
Sam and Delphie held each other and cried. In each other's arms, neither was afraid or ashamed to express the depth of their loss.
"We need to get moving," Delphie said after a moment. "The kids are here and..." She moved off the bed but Sam caught her hand.
"Everyone can take care of themselves, Delphie," Sam said. "I know it's exciting. It's exciting for me. But we are all we have now, Delphinium."
Delphie sniffed then sat back down. Sam wrapped himself around her. For a moment, she allowed herself to rest in his strength.
"Why don't you continue meditating?" Sam whispered. "I can make the coffee." "But..."
"Your coffee is much better. You're right," Sam said. "Your clients take so much from you. I take so much from you. I'd like it if you took care of yourself. For me."
He touched her chin and she looked up at him.
"We've made it to the other side of nine years of garbage. I'd like to spend some years enjoying the peace and you."
"Me too," Delphie said. "And the kids."
"And their kids," Sam said. "Our grandkids and great grandkids." "Your kids. Your grandkids. Your great grandkids."
"They've always been our kids. Yours, mine and Celia's kids." Sam kissed her cheek. "You must really miss her today."
Delphie gave another slight nod. She stood so he could get out of bed. He was halfway across the room before he turned.
"I'm deeply grateful for you, Delphinium. Thank you for the gift of this second life, and your love." Her eyes welled.
"Go on," she said. "Delaying the inevitable..."
"Only creates another mess," they said one of Celia's sayings together. Laughing, Sam went into the bathroom.
Delphie returned to her bay window meditation nook. Relighting the candles, she noticed the paparazzi arriving for another day of stalking Valerie. A picture of Valerie's husband was worth at least couple hundred thousand dollars to these scavengers. Not that they were going to get one.
Delphie smiled.
It was going to be a good day.