Read to the end for the giveaway!
One thing I love about the series is the ability to tell the story of Tommy and Jack and Julie through flashbacks. It allows everyone to get a glimpse into the way the family formed and the reason their bond is so strong.
I intended the flashbacks to be humorous at first. The funny side of two barely legal boys trying to deal with a barely teen girl. The jokes, embarrassing moments, confusing situations, etc, would make for some funny scenes.
I soon realized that I could use the flashbacks to show the heart as well.
I wanted to show more of the connections Jack and Tommy had from shared losses, and growing pains. One of my favorite moments was when Tommy and Jack first met with social services when they wanted to keep Julie with them.
I also loved the moments right after the accident when Tommy had to figure out what to do. How to plan a funeral. Where the bills were kept. How was life going to move forward.
There are a few flashbacks which were taken from my life, obviously manipulated to fit into the story.
When Bill came to dinner for the first time and Jack (or was it Tommy) handed him mashed potatoes with his hands, that was a story from my family.
When Brittany and Stephanie met, and shared their butterfly cupcake, that was how I met my best friend; In kindergarten, when I shared my butterfly cake with her. We are still friends 40 years later.
One of the most important parts of the series also came from my life, and although it has permeated the series, I never explained it.
Until now.
The jelly donuts.
Julie loves jelly donuts. Not donuts, but jelly donuts.
When I was little, my grandpa would bring a jelly donut to brunch and he would tell us the story about how he had to go to a dozen different stores to find the jelly donuts. It was always the same story, and each time he told it, I was enthralled.
The jelly donuts were special because he made them special. He got them for the grandkids. He took the time to look for them and I loved him for it.
As I grew up, I knew it wasn’t hard to find a jelly donut, but as a kid, I believed him. My grandpa died when I was 7. That story has been with me forever.
Julie is named for my best friend. Her love for Jelly donuts is a tribute to my Grandpa Ervin.
Here is the flashback which appears in Her Legacy.
******
They were all quiet and Julie grinned.
“So I guess the jelly is my story to tell?”
“I don’t think I knew there was a story,” Stephanie smiled. “Until Jack told me.”
Julie nodded and Bill watched her, knowing the reason.
“When I was little, we would have brunch every Sunday. My dad would go out and get bagels and cream cheese and pastries, but he always brought me a jelly donut. He would tell me he had to go to twelve different stores because jelly donuts were rare and only reserved for the most special people.”
Tommy smiled and rolled his eyes.
“My brother was always jealous, because he never got a jelly donut,” she added. “But anytime we had any kind of celebration, my dad always brought one jelly donut for me. It was something special between us and it made me feel like I was always the most important person to him. Anyone could go get donuts, but he had to go to a dozen stores to find the right one for me.”
They were all smiling and Julie shrugged.
“I knew it wasn’t true,” she said. “After a few trips to the store as I got older, it was pretty evident that jelly donuts weren’t that unique. But then my parents died and something pretty extraordinary happened.”
“What’s that?” Brittany asked as she looked at her husband.
“On my birthday, each year, a jelly donut was delivered to our house. The card said it was from my dad and that he always wanted me to know how special I was. That I was always worth a jelly donut.”
“He planned that?” Liz asked. “That’s so sweet.”
Julie looked at Jack and Tommy.
“I thought so, but no. It didn’t really make sense, because my dad had no reason to think he wouldn’t be here to give me the donut himself. When I was a bit older and could drive, I went to the bakery they came from and asked.”
“What did they say?” Jade asked.
“That my dad planned it and sent them.”
“Seriously?” Mike asked.
“Yes, but when I asked them how my dad Tom paid for it, she said no, his name was Jack.”
“We had all of our bases covered,” Tommy frowned. “We didn’t think she would pry so deeply.”
“Did you not know me?” Julie grinned. “Anyway, it was the sweetest, most thoughtful thing.”
She looked at Tommy and Jack.
“You both gave up everything for me, and in the middle of everything, you paid attention to the details. Jelly donuts were a sign of love and hope for me. I mean, I love eating them don’t get me wrong, but they represent something much more. It’s also why, on our first date, when Bill brought me a jelly donut, it was meant to be.”
Bill blushed.
“It’s all they had left. It was late.”
They all laughed and she playfully smacked him.
******
I would love to hear what your favorite flashbacks were over the course of the books. Please leave me a comment here or via email. I will pick randomly from the responses and send you a signed copy of ANY of the books. 1-30. If you would prefer ebooks, that’s fine, too.
Thank you and don’t forget to preorder your copy today! Click the picture to purchase on Amazon.
