Second Stanza

<p>      <em> The noise was raucous lively and upbeat so Jackie saw the blood spurting from the man next to Danny before she registered the sounds that didn't fit. But those sounds continued—not musical not conversational—but a rapid pk pk pk interspersed with screams and chaos.</em></p><p><em>She would later remember the look of horror on Nadine's face and the jolt to the back of her own head against an arm and most oddly a wristwatch as she was thrown to the ground a man's body on top of her.</em></p><p><em>      Jackie. My God Jackie are you all right?</em></p><p><em>      She stared into the brown eyes of the man crying out to her. Who was he? Why did his voice sound familiar? Pain burned through her left arm pinned to her side between the floor and this stranger's chest.</em></p><p><em>     Jackie please. You've got to be all right.</em></p><p><em>      Her eyes had closed but they opened again confused. What was happening? How could it be Leo's voice speaking to her from this unknown man? She tried to focus. There was so much noise and he was bleeding or she was bleeding or everyone was bleeding. The eyes gazing so ferociously into her own were brown but they shouldn't be. Leo's eyes were blue.</em></p><p><em>      More pain: sudden blindingly fierce exploding in her head. She couldn't open her eyes felt nothing but pain but knew joy nonetheless. She had seen Leo's crinkled skin surrounding her unknown savior's brown eyes. He had come for her. Her Leo had come back for her.</em></p><p>      Nine years have passed since Jackie was helped off the stage after speaking at Leo's memorial. He had died in a senseless tragedy and a huge part of her died with him. She now lives thousands of miles away working by day reading novels at night and fending off invitations from well-meaning friends. But Jackie ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time this time a victim herself. She survives thanks to the intervention of a stranger who dies protecting her. Yet somehow Jackie believes her savior was not a stranger but her long dead love. And if he didn't really die nine years ago then maybe just maybe he hasn't died again. </p><p>    <strong> Second Stanza</strong> is a breathless tale of love found love lost and then love searched for through mazes of intrigue and secrets. Will Jackie's search end in more pain or can the ballad of her broken heart end in a Second Stanza of joy?</p>