I think living with Sarah Booth Delaney has rubbed off in me in ways I can’t even count. I’ve become hard-headed as a knot of cedar. Determined to bend life to my will. And I also have a sense that the past is never far behind me.
Ever since I was in high school, I’ve known that acting was the only thing I wanted to do. My love affair with the boards began in the first school play I was cast in, when I played Robin Hood. Despite the humiliation of being sixteen and having to wear tights, I loved everything about the show. From painting the sets to rehearsing six nights a week.
When I met Sarah Booth in New York City, she was the most beautiful, spunkiest young woman I’d ever met. I fell in love on the spot. And for a year, I had everything a man could want. My reputation as an actor had begun to take root and I found myself getting cast in small roles that got bigger and meatier and closer and closer to Broadway. And I had Sarah Booth who championed my career even as hers floundered.
The news that Dahlia House would be sold for taxes hit Sarah Booth hard. On top of that, I failed her. My chance to star in The Four Seasons came at the very moment Sarah Booth needed me. Though she understood when I chose my career, I doubted she could ever forgive me.
And yet she did. After suspecting me of some pretty dire things.
Now it’s my turn to forgive her. Or at least she believes I must. During her last case, I was kidnapped and shot in the leg. There’s some question if the leg will heal properly. The movie I was cast to star in, a western, has been pushed back until after Thanksgiving so that I can rehab. Sarah Booth is determined to make this her fault, and even though I tell her she had no control over the person who shot me, she refuses to listen. So here we are, with the mid-October heat rippling over the fields of cotton, the bolls just ready to split.
The heat keeps me prisoner almost as much as my leg, which is healing. Slowly, for sure, but healing. I’ve overheard Sarah Booth talking with Tinkie about a rehab vacation for me. She’s very clever, and more than a little devious in her attempts to sneak around me with this big Dauphin Island vacation surprise. Walks in the sand on the beach, a cottage with three flights of stairs to exercise my leg—a huge conspiracy to get me up and moving so that the leg will heal properly.
I adore her for the effort, and I’ll never let her know that I’ve caught on to her manipulations.
She has another surprise lined up, too. I’m not sure what, but it involves a ceremony on the beach. Could be she’s going to sacrifice me to the tidal gods. Or maybe she’s created some new exercise torment. Or…it could be that she’s finally ready to say yes. The very idea makes me want to rush to her and pull her into my arms. By the end of October, I hope I can do that.
The Black and Orange Ball is coming up October 31st in New Orleans. Sarah Booth and Tinkie and Cece and the rest of her friends have been comparing dresses for weeks. My tux is cleaned and I want to dance with my fiancé at the ball. Even better, I’d love to dance with my wife.
I wonder, if we could see the future, if it would be better or worse. Anticipation is such a wonderful thing. But sometimes knowing—and not wondering—might be better.
For now, I hear the physical therapist coming in the front door of Dahlia House. It’s time to work toward the goal I hold dear: Sarah Booth dancing in my arms on a beautiful Halloween night in the City that Care Forgot.
You can read more about Graf in Booty Bones, the 14th book in the “Sarah Booth Delaney” mystery series, published by Minotaur. The first book in the series is Them Bones. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY
Have you ever planned a vacation for someone without them knowing it, only to find that the person knew?
Comment on this post by 6 p.m. EST on May 22, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of BOOTY BONES. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Carolyn Haines is the author of the Sarah Booth Delaney Mississippi Delta Mystery series. BOOTY BONES, set on 
Dauphin Island, Alabama, is the 14th book in the series and goes on sale May 21. Haines also writes gothic chillers as R.B. Chesterton. THE SEEKER, set at Walden Pond, is her latest “dark” book. She is also active in animal rescue and runs Good Fortune Farm Refuge, a 501c3 aimed at rescuing, re-homing, and rehabilitating cats, dogs, and horses.
Follow dru’s book musing on Facebook for book giveaways, contests, posting about discounted books and some of my reading musings.
I’ve never planned a vacation but I did try to plan a 40th anniversary for my parents. I was so proud of having kept it from my mother. I found out after that she knew- she was visiting a friend when the invitation arrived.
No I’ve never planned a vacation without the other person knowing. I like to plan them together.
The only time I planned a vacation without some knowing they found out about it lol. Never tried again , but would love to again for my bestfriend she needs one.
No, never have. That would take some doing.
Other then my partner of almost 43 years, there is no one I be planning a surprise of any sort for. It’s not worth it after seeing the results of one such surprise birthday party for my older brother. He warned his wife when they married that he hated surprises.
She didn’t listen and one year she ended up wearing his “surprise” birthday cake.
I love the Delaney books and would love to own this one. Toss my hat in the ring please Dru.
I have never had that happen to me.
never a vacation but we did plan a surprise 50th anniversary party for our parents…it was a surprise till we decided to tell them the day ahead as we didn’t think dad would handle the surprise well…and he didn’t! good thing we told them ahead of time.
My granddaughter and I managed a complete surprise birthday party for my daughter’s fiftieth birthday.
Some of you are much smarter than I am. As I learned, there are people who don’t handle surprises well. You know, Sarah Booth has to learn everything the hard way (just like me!). Keep the answers coming in. I am loving reading all of them.
I did one surprise party for my husband and was successful in totally surprising him. He asked, however, that I never do that to him again! So, I haven’t.
You’ve been more successful than I have, Libby. And yes, #14. These characters are virtually my “kin” because I spend so much time with them.
Looks like a Great read! Wow book 14!
This series always makes me laugh out loud. Never have planned a surprise vacation but I have planned a last minute getaway.
I’ve never tried to plan a big secret, because I’m not good at keeping secrets.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Very cool vacation, Cynthia. I wish someone would do that for me–then I think, fibber, you are such a control freak it would make you nuts. I’ve gotten so used to living on the schedule of all the animals I care for that I have lost that spontaneous thing that I really love. Three weeks in Florida–in the winter–sounds like a dream vacation. Melody,you are smarter than I am! I tried it once and it wasn’t exactly what I had anticipated.
I love Sarah Booth Delaney and I have a couple to catch up on. This is wonderful!
Have never planned a big vacation and tried to keep it secret from someone…..I would not want to plan a trip that someone despised for whatever reason. And —-I am not that good at secret keeping.
I’ve never planned a surprise vacation but a couple of friends of mine did and it worked perfectly. They sent two people on a scavenger hunt all over the city that ended at the airport departure gate for a flight to San Francisco. All four of them went and had a great time.
Wow! What a terrific idea. And it worked. I want to be more like that,more able to go with the flow and just do it. I was when I was younger.
I love this series even though I am a little behind in reading it. We planned a trip to Disneyland for our son once as a surprise but that’s the only time. He did not realize we were going until we were at the airport. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks, Mary B. I’ll bet your son was thrilled to pieces.
I’ve definitely not planned a vacation for someone other then children! But I would love to be able to send a deserving family to the Awahnee Hotel in Yosemite! We loved going there years ago and eating in their huge dining room.
I’ve been to Yosemite, but I didn’t see the Awahnee Hotel. Now I want to go.
No have never planned a vacation without someone knowing. Have planned surprise parties.
heck, you planned a surprise move across the country for your horses! They live in vacationland.
No I’ve never planned a surprise vacation, my husband did try to surprise me with where we were going on our honeymoon, he was able to keep it a secret until a couple of weeks before when it slipped out.
I have never planned a surprise vacation for anyone. I am looking forward to reading this book. It looks good.
Nice to hear that there is another book coming out this week in the Mississippi Delta series. I have read a few in the Sarah Booth Delaney series and would enjoy reading the rest of them.
I have never planned a trip or a vacation for anyone other than telling my husband I would plan the entire trip but he knew about the trip just not the itinerary. We drove down to Florida and back over a three week time period, and each day I had made specific plans as to stops, things to visit, people to see along the way, etc. for the entire trip and he was great about my daily plans and the route we took down and back, but he knew he was going, just not exactly where.
No, I have never tried to plan a vacation, or even a lunch, without someone already knowing about it! Fun post, look forward to catching up with Sarah Booth Delaney et al!
Hi Dru I have done something like this both of us were planning the same vacation spot to try and surprise the other! Love your blog and would love love love to win this book!
Dru does a GREAT blog. So many fun people.
Sounds like a Great book.
Thanks Carolyn!
My friend from PA sent me book one of this series today! Would love to win a copy of this boom!
I hope you enjoy Them Bones, Dina. These characters have been with me a while. And good luck with the contest.
I’d love to read this! Thank you for the giveaway!
I love the name of the book and the cute cover. It sounds like a really fun read.
Good luck to all! And I think the colors on this cover are beautiful. The books are humorous (at least I HOPE they are). I love writing humor but I also write dark under the pen name R.B. Chesterton. I have two gothic chillers out, THE SEEKER and THE DARKLING. Not gory, but mysterious and a little creepy.
I’ve read some of Haines’ books and I’m bon(e)kers about them. Count me in.
Very clever, Judy!
I’m not that nice to plan a vacation for someone without their knowledge……….
thank you for the giveaway!!
I have such a bad reputation for practical jokes, if I did plan vacation for someone,they would be afraid to take it! They would think I was up to mischief.
Thanks Carolyn for interacting with my readers.
Thank you for inviting me, Dru. And we’ll have our winner soon!
Contest is closed.