Julie Clark Books Novels & Stories

“Maybe.” Clara tilted her head. “You don’t ask much about me. Don’t you want to know what I like?” Julian glanced at her. “Okay. What do you like, Clara?” She grinned. “I love dancing. I used to take ballet classes as a kid. I like wine, dresses, and soft jazz music.” “Jazz, huh?” he asked, trying to keep the conversation going. “Mmhmm. And I love long walks by the beach.”

This was Julie’s fifth book release, but the first release Michael was aware of and present for. Julie wasn’t sure how he’d respond to all the craziness. Gathering and shipping everything. Julie spent weeks with Beckett and Stephen, ensuring everything was perfect and it stayed within a firm schedule. Not something Julie liked to do, but she at least had helped. What Michael didn’t realize when she set up her apartment that’s where she stored everything. He never saw the boxes and boxes of books and merchandise.

“Speaking of which, I really sympathize with you. Look, you've given him two children, but what about him? I'd turn hostile and marry another woman straight away. If I were you, I'd really feel wronged.” Clarice was still immersed in the enormous shock brought on by the news. After Julie had finished speaking, she did her best to hold back the tears and pretended to be strong. “Why are you telling me all this?” “Ma'am? Do you think she'll remember you? You're a curse in her eyes, and she doesn't care if you live or die. ” Julie scoffed and looked at her with pity in her eyes. “I'm too kind to see you desperately waiting like a fool. That's why I came to tell you about it.”

Her wedding ring was gone, replaced by a cheap silver band she’d bought at a gas station. "You’re staring at the wall again, Claire." Elena jumped, her hand instinctively flying to her stomach. Julian stood by the history stacks, looking entirely out of place in his tailored wool coat. "You shouldn't come here," Elena whispered, her voice trembling. "People talk in this town. A man like you—you look like trouble." Julian pulled a book from the shelf—The History of Maritime Disasters—and flipped through it without looking at her. "I am trouble. But I’m also the only reason you aren't a headline in the city. How is the head?"

As I make my way out the door, I stuff them all inside of my backpack. The library is pretty empty at this time of evening since everyone is either out of class or at work. I’m stepping out of Creighton’s office when I spot Jules. Stopping near a shelf, I observe as she slides her fingers over the spines of a couple of books. My eyes glide appraisingly across her body as I take in her cutoff shorts and tye-die crop sweater. Her silky multi-colored hair is strewn loosely around her shoulders, and she’s wearing combat boots.

"What are you doing?" "Erh. Claire. I..how are you? What are you doing so late?" She stuttered. "I should be asking you why you're coming in so late ma'am. You left us alone. We were worried about you" I said. "The Library was locked, I had to wait a bit" she responded. "I am sorry if I kept you waiting," she said. She looked into her bag and brought out two books: Beyond Pardon by Bertha Clay and The Day of The Jackal by Frederick Forsyth. "These books would make my week, I had to wait to get them" she curved a quick smile.

She bites her lip and looks at Annie before nodding and I have a pretty good idea of what they're going to do when they get home. I see movement from the corner of my eye and look over to see Julie pulling something from her bag. It glints in the light as she turns it towards us. It's a large picture of Pearl, smiling brightly. She stands up and walks towards the book shelf, putting the picture up so it's facing us. "I thought she'd like to be here." Julie says, sitting back down. "Well, she never missed a book club." Dawn says nodding. "I mean, I could bring her ashes next time." Annie offers.

“Of course. Someone had to curate the whole thing. Sophia’s only contributions are a checkbook and a contacts list. She knows nothing about the work.” “Exactly.” Julie’s voice was tinged with grievance. “Claire’s great at everything, but she’s so domineering. She’s like an emotionless work machine. Being with her must be suffocating, right?” I froze. Julie was an intern I had personally recruited out of law school, mentored for three years, and treated like my younger sister. I had entrusted her with authority and a salary far beyond her peers. James was the man I had loved for ten years. The man I had turned from an unknown painter into the moderately celebrated “art curator” as he was, wit

***Out now and completed: Book 2 - Rise of a Queen*** Please remember to leave me a review, I hope you enjoyed this book. For updates and chapter teasers, check my i*st*gr*m >>> authorjwgstout Or my F_B group for readers >>> Author Jwgstout Lamia's story continues in the second book, 2 years later. Carry on the adventure and see if Lamia finds her happily ever after. Thank you so much for reading my first ever book, I leave you with the first chapter from Rise of a Queen - book 2 for your enjoyment.