Josh.
Book 17 introduced the return of the first villain I ever introduced. In book 1, Josh served as a way for me to introduce Jack and Stephanie and at the time, that was his main role. I was always a sucker for rescue stories and I needed a way for Jack to help Stephanie, but realize he needed rescuing, too. Their love story began because Josh tried to destroy Stephanie. It was also a way for me to introduce Tommy and establish the friendship between him and Jack.
Through the rest of the series, I always felt like Josh’s story had more to it. He had such an intense hatred for Stephanie, Nikki and Brittany, and I struggled with why. It wasn’t that I really wanted to understand why he did what he did, because just like his mother Janet, there is no justification. What I needed to do was find a way to bring his story to a conclusion.
Fleshing out the story I began in “Nothing Matters” was key to bringing Josh back. It was time to bring Uncle Brent back into the series and he was my connection to Josh. He had been working in the baby trade business undercover for years and Josh was a part of that from back in book 1. It made sense to me, that Brent was so deep into his cover, that he couldn’t find a way out.
The worst part of bringing Brent back, for me, was having him involved in what happened to Stephanie and Tessa. I knew that would be something he couldn’t come back from, no matter what the reason. Having him killed by Josh was a necessary part of his redemption and I believe that Jack and Stephanie can finally begin to forgive him and make peace with what he did and why.
Back to Josh.
Sometimes, a lot of jealousy combined with an evil upbringing is all that’s needed to create a horrific villain. Josh went after what he knew would destroy Stephanie and Brittany. He went after Jack and he used Brittany’s HIV as a weapon.
That was hard to write.
I needed Brittany to face something that nobody could help her with. The fear of transmission is always there, but her diligence to her health and to educating those around her in medicine is something I’m so proud to write. What Josh did was take away the control she had. He knew she would help Jack, there was no choice. What she now has to do is live with the possible contamination. It won’t matter that Jack begged her to help him. It won’t matter that none of them are angry and in fact, are grateful. None of it matters.
Her husband already said he had enough.
Her daughter is desperately ill.
Now it’s time for Brittany to face what she has always tried to suppress.
Just because she changed her name and her life, doesn’t mean that person is gone. That young woman who was so brutally violated is suddenly resurfacing and the fear and panic she awoke with all those years ago has come back and is suffocating her.
She doesn’t know how to live with it. She doesn’t know how to let Barbara and Brittany merge.
She doesn’t know if she wants to.
Book 18 is a lot of things.
It’s a wrap up of the Josh/Janet/Chris reign of terror.
It’s a desperate race to save a tiny champion.
It’s time for Mike and Jade to deal with what Rebecca has done and how it affects them.
It’s time for Julie to figure out what she is doing with her life.
It’s time for Jack to realize he can’t make things better for Tommy.
It’s time for Bill to face losing the sister he just found.
It’s a time for Tommy to make a choice.
But the biggest unknown is what will happen to Brittany.
Is book 18 her end?
Can the series continue without her?
I can’t wait to introduce all of you to “Red”.
Thoughts??
My first thought is why does it have to end. You must have much more stories too tell. How will this “family” deal with these upcoming issues. Loss of a major member? Maybe. Loss of a child? Maybe. Head on collision with the past? Maybe. I could go on and on. I’m going to pray I keep getting answers.