Rowen-ited

Who is ready for some more Rowen?????? I know I am. Rowen is one of my favorite characters so far, very dear to my heart. And I know that they will steal yours too.

Without further ado,

here is some more Rowen from my upcoming novel:

“Clink, clink, clink, the pennies into the cash register. “One, two, three, four,” Rowen whispered as the counting went on and that lip kept being bit as they focused. R had their back to the counter and was facing the back wall. “Hayden’s Jewelers” now in red neon letters, man, how the difference five years can make. Rowen had on a classic black blazer, a name tag that read “Rowen Waht,” because they’re formal. If was up to R, it would’ve been Rowen Quin. Same short black hair, same emerald eyes, and same black eyelashes. But a little more road traveled, a little more heartbreak, as we all have. The road that Rowen walked was always the road less traveled, as Lauren Alaina says. That is one of the things that made Rowen so beautiful to not only me, but to a lot of people. Rowen always stuck around until it was clear to leave, always loved the same person.

Little did I know, that person would be Annie Blair Campbell.

A yellow gold emerald ring now hugs their middle finger instead of the plain silver band years ago that did not have a meaning. I wonder what the meaning of the ring is not now. “Hey, Rowen, can I go on break?”, said one of Rowen’s now workers since R is now the General Manager. Rowen responded, “Yes mam.”

A few minutes prior hearing that angelic voice of theirs, confirming it was Rowen and that I did not see a beautiful ghost, I was there to get my rings inspected. I studied that tall 5’9” frame and I knew it was them. But I did not know to what capacity, yet.

I was so excited when I realized, but I held it back and decided to be snarky and the “manipulative” Annie.

“I knew that I know that voice,” I said. Rowen turned their head and said, “What’s tha- Ann Blair!,” as they walked over to me. Rowen swung that gate opened and it hit the wooden display case as they embraced me and kissed me on the cheeks. “How the hell are you, babe!????,” Rowen said to me as they always did. I said, “I’m good. How the hell are you, babe!????” Rowen said back, “I’m good, babe. Hug me again, I haven’t seen you since, ya know, everything.” Rowen embraced me and genuinely hugged me, smelled my scent. R said, “I hate that I didn’t get to ever meet Ely, I will one day when I make up there, but, still. You will have to tell me about him.” I said, “That means the world to me, R, thank you. I would love for you to meet Ely through me; it is a huge honor that I get to carry his legacy through this way, as his wife. I am very thankful for the time I did have and that I did spend his forever with him.” Rowen said, “That is truly beautiful. Amen. What a blessing. So what are you doing here in the good ole Mt. Mountaine???? Aren’t you living in the western part of Tennessee now? Are you free for dinner, like tonight?” (Rowen didn’t ever waste any time or moments). Laughingly I replied, “I am free for dinner tonight, only for you.” Rowen said, “That’s right. You still a big fan of Olive Garden?” I responded, “You know it. And me, so well.” We looked at each other and said, “And don’t you forget it,” in sync. And then we laughed. And we laughed as the night went on. It was one of those nights where we just stayed up talking.

This was the beginning of lots of laughs and lots of talks with Rowen. Oh, how sweet those times were. I just had no idea of the beginning and reality I was really facing. There is nothing like a true soul connection and there was nothing like Rowen. Little did Rowen know, that they were so similar, to me, to my Ely.”

“Ya know, the one person on this earth that did not deserve that is you,” R said. I sighed and looked down and said, “No one deserves this. I am glad that I have to go through it and that someone else didn’t have to. But thank you for the compliment.” Rowen said, “I am sorry, Annie.” I just smiled back and said thank you.

To be continued…

Hope you enjoyed; I know I did.

Thanks for reading, babes.

-Anna