Author: Ellen Meister

Publisher; Mira

ISBN:97807783098

 

Imagine creating a world where your every wish is filled. Imagine eliminating the one obstacle in your way. Life takes us on many journeys and places numerous obstacles in our paths.



How do you deal with the catering to someone’s every need exclusive to your own can create resentment? What if you could devise a plan to rid yourself of the one person who is draining your energy, wiping out your existence, and making you into nothing more than the person’s nurse or caregiver?

A simple phone call brings this very thought to light. Laurel Applebaum gets a call at work from a local hospital informing her that her unemployed husband Doug has been in a serious car accident.

What thoughts would go through anyone’s mind? What condition will she find him in? Laurel leaves work and begins hoping that Doug is dead, and her financial problems would be solved. A huge life insurance policy they are carrying in his name would give her the freedom to have a little cottage of her own, a dog, and money to see her son.

Charlie Webb is her best friend at work. He is incredibly supportive and is always there to listen to her concerns. He even expresses that her motives for wanting Doug out of her life are justified and he produces some ideas of his own. Added her mother appears fearful of going outside and she must shop for her groceries every week. Immersed in her doll collection and wanting more she goes online and meets Eleanor and her macaw Bob. Plus, she wanted to spend some quality time with her.

Every Sunday morning, she had the same ritual. She’d line up the prescription bottles and supplements dropping them into their daily compartments in the pillbox. Blood pressure pills and more while Doug hobbled around waiting for her to serve him his coffee and breakfast. As you get to know Doug you realize he’s only concerned about himself and does not hesitate to try and make Laurel feel guilty and at times insecure. Even worse she decided to take out doses of his blood pressure medicine and give him more helpings of foods he was to avoid. She even neglected to tell him about his doctor’s appointment. His sister Abby found out, took him and the scene was anything but pleasant. Taking Doug to his appointment and then giving Laurel a tough time, she gets endless grief. However, Charlie is always at her side trying to support her and agreeing that eliminating Doug was the only way she’d be free to live her life as she dreamed. What she fails to realize is his manipulations and carefully planned ways to get her to see him as more than a friend.

Hoping his visit to the doctor would go in her favor she could not believe the startling results. Doug is down 20 pounds, pressure better and he now wants to exercise, walk and play tennis. Not caring about their finances, he joins a tennis club and Laurel hits the roof. Can you blame her? For 3600 dollars got a membership that would drain their finances and not allow her to see her first grandchild born.

It gets more complicated as the author decides to spice it up with a romantic interest for Laurel. Luke enters Trader Joe’s every Tuesday with his grandson, and they develop a friendship that she hopes might go to the next level. Charlie in the meantime wants more of her time and Doug appears to be jealous the result is disastrous when she blurts out something.

Her best friend Monica is there for her trying to help her understand that she counts, her feelings matter and it’s time to break out for herself. Hair, makeup, a new wardrobe, and a better look do catch the attention of not only Luke but Charlie too. Thanksgiving was supposed to be an intimate affair but just imagine Charlie, her mother, her new friend and her pal macaw Bob, her sister-in-law and husband plus Monica and her brother and his wife, the scene has a touch of humor as Bob talks and adds the levity. A heartfelt novel that will remind everyone the importance of communication, understanding, love and what happens when someone you trust turns out to be anything but.

Things at work get tense and even her supervisor does not believe everything she says. Trying to win back her husband’s affections does not work. He alienates her and claims she wants Charlie. Finding herself dressing for Luke’s visit to Trader Joe’s adds to the suspense as to where her relationship with Doug will wind up.