BFF and sister-in-law (the Holy Rollers and Ark Angels were her ideas, so blame her). Thanks to my mom for telling us the story of Mickey the Fire Engine so many times when we were small…the thrill has yet to fade! Huge thanks to my brother-in-law, Brian Keenan, Esq., for his inputon legal issues (any mistakes are mine, all mine). Claire Shanahan Bacon named Beauty, Parker’s dog, and the dog’s personality grew from there. Maura Fehon was my lovely and hardworking summer intern—thank you, honey!
I am very blessed to be able to claim so many writers as dear friends, but this time around, thanks especially to Robyn Carr, Susan Andersen, Jill Shalvis, Cindy Gerard, Joan Kayse and Elizabeth Hoyt. And thanks especially to Robyn for letting me steal a certain salty expression Lavinia uses. You’ll know it when you see it.
Thank you to my two wonderful kids who only grow more delightful, and to my sainted husband, who is the love of my life, even after all these years…especially after all these years.
And you, dear readers, for the letters and notes which bring me such joy…thank you from the bottom of my heart.
This book is dedicated to my daughter Flannery,
who is my treasure, my joy and my heart.
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
“AND WITH THAT, the six Holy Rollers—Golly, Polly and Molly, Ike, Mike and Spike—took off their magical roller skates for the last time. Their job on earth was done. They’d earned their beautiful, sparkly angel wings and could stay in heaven forever…and ever…and ever. The end.”
Parker Harrington Welles suppressed a dry heave, closed the book and tried not to envision smothering the fictional angels, no matter how much she would’ve enjoyed it.
Don’t kill us, Parker! squeaked the imaginary voices in her head, their voices helium-shrill.
I can’t kill you. You’re immortal. Unfortunately. One of the huge downsides of writing
