Living Secrets by M.K. Stoddart

Elsie Davis had the life women dream about, a promising career in interior design, married only a month to her long-time boyfriend Alex. Everything was going as planned when it was all changed in a blink of an eye. In a devastating car accident, Elsie not only loses her husband, but memories from that day. Four years have passed when we find Elsie in Nanaimo BC, still shattered by an impossible love. Struggling day to day, visited in dreams by her dead husband, Elsie is unable to move on. She leads a new life, where she doesn’t have to be a grieving widow. In what seems to be a chance meeting with a handsome stranger in a park, new meaning is brought to Elsie’s life. Recent personnel changes at Elsie’s work bring in a new handsome designer, Elsie immediately recognizes him as the stranger from the park. His name is Landon Hayes and the two of them will be partnering up on a new project. With a budding relationship, Elsie will have to overcome her pain and admit to her past as well as dealing with the fear of falling in love again with a man she knows nothing about. Landon is everything that was missing from her life, but is she ready to let go of her husband? When Elsie comes across a picture from her past, questions arise about who Landon is. Her friends and even a dream from her dead husband warn Elsie to make sure she knows what she’s getting into. As Landon and Elsie get closer, Elsie’s rival and jealous co-worker, Laurel will try and drive a wedge between Landon and Elsie. Laurel will orchestrate the illusion of an affair between herself and Landon. Unbeknownst to Elsie, she walks right into what she believes is the morning after of this illicit affair. With all of Elsie’s insecurities and fear of being hurt she runs from the hotel room in which she finds herself. Landon chases after her trying to explain what she saw. In her haste Elsie flees from the hotel and into traffic where she is hit by a car and taken to a hospital. Landon has a secret of his own, but he knows if he shares it with Elsie he will surely lose her. Landon will have to admit he was there the day of the accident that took Alex’s life and how he had a key role in her survival. When she wakes in the hospital Elsie’s memories of the accident have returned and she now knows that Landon has known who she is this entire time, but is Elsie prepared to forgive him? The doctor delivers the shocking news that Elsie is pregnant. Before Elsie can decide on her future and if it will include Landon, the two of them have been given a promotion that if accepted will take them back to Vancouver. Elsie agrees to start over with Landon, but holds back telling him he is a father.