“Nick,” she said. “Shut up.”
Then she kissed me, and it was perfect and lovely just like her.
When we broke apart, I asked, “Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” she said on another sob.
That did it. It was all too much, my heart was pounding, my hands were tingling, and my breath was tight. I landed on my ass on the floor, but it didn’t matter because Annabelle went down with me. She wrapped me in her arms and kissed me, and I realized in a flash of clarity that everything that had gone wrong in my life had given me everything that was right, namely her, Annabelle. I was in the arms of my reckless, impulsive goddess, and every bit of pain and hardship that had brought me to this place with her was worth it.
Acknowledgments
It takes a village to write a book, and I am fortunate to have a village of amazingly bighearted, smart, creative people, who give me so much support from the initial idea through the finished product. To that end, I’d like to thank my editor, Kate Seaver, and my agent, Christina Hogrebe. I am ever grateful to have your wisdom and talent with me every step of the way. You’re both amazing. Thank you to Mary Geren for finessing all the details.
This book was gifted with so many talented editors who really made it sparkle and shine. Thank you Joan Matthews, Christine Legon, and Jennifer Myers for helping me get the details right. I’d also like to thank the cover artist, Vikki Chu, and the book designer, Alison Cnockaert, for making such a spectacular package for this story. For helping me release this book out into the wild, I could ask for no better crew than Jessica Mangicaro, Natalie Sellers, Brittanie Black, and Dache Rogers. I feel so fortunate to work with all of you. You’re simply brilliant!
And here’s a giant high five to my author assistant, Christie Conlee. For your positivity, enthusiasm, sassy GIFs, and cupcake baking skills, you are just a bright shining light, and I’m thrilled to have you in my life.
An author is nothing without readers, and I truly have some of the best. Thank you McKinlay’s Mavens and Fans of Jenn McKinlay for your kindness, support, enthusiasm, and refreshingly delightful presence on social media. I adore you all. And for every reader who demanded Annabelle’s story after meeting her in Paris Is Always a Good Idea, this one’s for you!
On a personal note, I had to lean on several truly amazing people in my life to help me get the details right. For architectural information, particularly about net-zero building, thank you architect extraordinaire and cuz-in-law, Nancy Clayton. For graphic design information, I am ever grateful to my creative genius cuz, Brad Collins, and my extremely talented friend Bob Diercksmeier. I took all of the information you three gave me and twisted it to suit my own purposes. I take full responsibility if I messed anything up—it’s been known to happen—but, hey, it’s fiction!
Because this book was written just as the world was entering lockdown and I suddenly had two Hooligans and a Hub also online at home all day long (chaos!), I want to thank Leslie and Dale Thomas for the use of their beautiful home as my office. Truly, the book never would have gotten written without this area of temporary refuge.
One of my greatest challenges as a writer is to craft characters who travel difficult paths. I struggle with torturing them! I want to thank three people who have shared their personal journeys with me and by doing so have given me greater insight into the inner lives of my characters. Sheila Levine, Natalia Fontes, and Chris Hansen Orf. You are three of the strongest people I know, and I love you dearly.
On a lighter note, but equally important, much thanks to my nephew Austin McKinlay for showing me how to view the world through an artist’s eyes with your brilliant photographs. Annabelle’s artistic temperament definitely came from you.
I suppose I need to thank my Hooligans, Beckett and Wyatt, for getting me to the gym and working out with a trainer. For the record, I still hate it, but I love you very much.
Authors will tell you that everything is material. It’s true. Thank you to my nephew Phoenix McKinlay and his number one, Bailey Boutiette, for introducing me to their adorable tuxedo kitten, Giuseppe Socks. I’d never met a tuxedo before! Thanks to my nephew Chase Johnson, who nicknamed Otto—my salt and pepper schnauzer—“Sir” while dog-sitting him. It just happened to be the perfect name for the cat (a tuxedo!) who appears in Wait For It. Yes, this is how an author’s brain works.
This book wouldn’t exist without the time (i.e., happy hours) I spent with my dear friend and neighbor, Howard Adams. You taught me so much about life and resilience and compassion. Being a wheelchair user never slowed you down, in fact, you learned how to gain speed. I’ll always remember our X-Files marathons, where you hid under your hat, and I’ll forever be your Ave Maria.
Lastly, I want to thank my brother, Jon McKinlay, for never letting me quit, but also for giving me the nuts and bolts of the city he helped build—his beloved Boston. All that I am I owe to you, Bro. Love you forever.
READERS GUIDE
Wait
For It
Jenn McKinlay
Questions for Discussion
Annabelle is a fixer. She feels her role is to take care of those she loves. Why does she feel this way? Are you a fixer? Do you know someone who is?
Nick is afraid to show any weakness. Why? How does he change? Why does he change?
Nick and his sister, Lexi, have a complicated relationship, but the sibling bond is too strong to be denied. Do you have siblings? What is your relationship like? How would it be affected by a twenty-year estrangement?
Annabelle chooses to run away from her current situation in Boston. Have you ever wanted to run away and start over?
Nick feels trapped. Fear has him living as a shut-in. Have you ever wanted to shut the door on life?
Who are you more like? Annabelle who runs away or Nick who hides?
When Nick and Annabelle are watching the meteor shower—the shooting stars—they have very different reactions to the vastness of the universe. Nick feels panicked and powerless, but Annabelle feels relieved to be part of something bigger. What do you feel when you contemplate the stars?
Both Nick and Annabelle are forced to step out of their comfort zones and take risks. What is the biggest risk that each of them takes?
Having a stroke in his mid-thirties, Nick has suffered a terrifying setback in life. Does he handle it well? How would you have handled it?