up. I still live in my parent’s house, in fact, even though I’m thirty. I’m the youngest of four kids, with a decade-long gap between me and the next one. My mother always calls me “the period at the end of the sentence,” and my dad always responds, “more like an exclamation point. Surprise!”
Thursday, March 3, 2016
My name is Jamie Dawes
Our guest today is from Barbara Ross's Maine Clambake Mysteries. Barb is giving away a signed copy of Fogged Inn to one commenter!
By Jamie Dawes
Hi. My name is Jamie Dawes. I live and work in Busman’s
Harbor, Maine, the place where I grew
up. I still live in my parent’s house, in fact, even though I’m thirty. I’m the youngest of four kids, with a decade-long gap between me and the next one. My mother always calls me “the period at the end of the sentence,” and my dad always responds, “more like an exclamation point. Surprise!”
The older kids grew up, went off to school, and then moved
to other states to make their livings and raise their families. I stayed to
care for my parents. Not that I mind one bit, let me tell you. I love Busman’s
Harbor, always have and always will. And, I was lucky enough to score a job as
an officer with the Busman’s Harbor Police Department. In the off-season, there
are only six sworn officers plus the chief, so they’re hard jobs to get.
What I didn’t anticipate, or really think through, was that
it might get lonely. Most of the women I went to school with have either left
town for opportunities elsewhere, or they’re coupled up, with little kids even.
I’m an okay-looking guy with a good job. I didn’t have any trouble finding
company during high school and college. Who knew it would be this hard?
Last spring, I thought all my problems in the companionship
area might be solved when Julia Snowden moved back to Busman’s Harbor to rescue
her family’s clambake business from bankruptcy. Julia grew up in the house next
door. She was my first and best friend. We waited for the school bus together
every day through elementary and middle school, and I worked summers in high
school on Morrow Island where her family holds their clambakes.
I hoped there might be something there. I’ve always been a
little in love with her. Her moving back was like a dream come true. But Julia
was heads-down trying to save her family’s business. I didn’t want to distract
her. I knew the stakes were high.
But then it became clear I’d missed my chance. Julia had
somehow gotten attached to Chris Durand. He’s a shady guy, in my opinion, older
than us, who skates along at the edge of the law. I didn’t like it one bit. One
night, last summer, Julia and I were in a bar, discussing a murder case. One of
her employees was a person of interest, but Julia was convinced he was
innocent. We talked all night, just like old times. When the bar closed I
walked her home and kissed her.
Giant mistake. Terrible mistake. It’s been awkward between
us ever since. And the worst part, I can’t stop thinking about it, is that in
my eagerness to find a relationship, I lost my friend. It makes me heartsick to
even think about it.
Now we’re involved in a new case together. Julia’s landlord
Gus found a dead guy in his walk-in refrigerator. The man had been in the
restaurant Julia runs with Chris the night before he died. I saw him there with
my own eyes. It was a foggy, icy night when I was dealing with my own problem,
an accident blocking the main intersection that shut down the road in and out
of town. No one knows who this guy is, why he died, or how he ended up in the
walk-in. The state police major crimes unit is here working on it. I’m helping
them with their inquiries and as a result I see Julia all the time.
I would give anything to take back that kiss, and to have my
oldest friend back in my life in the same easy way it was when we were kids. I
don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know if you can ever go back again.
To your childhood. To the night before we kissed. I just know I miss my friend.
Readers, what do you
think? Can friendship survive a failed attempt at romance? Can you go home
again? Barb is giving away a signed copy of FOGGED INN to one lucky commenter!
Barbara Ross is the author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries, Clammed Up,
Boiled Over, Musseled Out and
Fogged Inn. Clammed Up was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel and
was a finalist for the Maine Literary
Award for Crime Fiction. Barbara blogs with a wonderful group
of Maine mystery authors at Maine Crime
Writers and with a group of writers of New England-based cozy mysteries
at Wicked Cozy Authors.
She is always thrilled to hear from readers. You can find
her via her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com,
or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barbaraannross,
on Twitter @barbross, or on
Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/barbaraannross.
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Yes, I think you can. My suggestion is to talk to her and explain how you miss her as your friend, and would like to have the friendship again. Good Luck!
ReplyDeletemyrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you, Jen. This is an excellent suggestion. We'll see what happens.
DeleteI think you can survive if both parties are in the same thought mode.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
I think you can, but both parties have to agree. Dspinlexo@aol.com
ReplyDeleteJen Scott beat me to it. I quite agree. Open communication is what resolves most issues. No relationship can grow without it. As for going home again? You can. But it is a different time with new perimeters. Nothing stays static. So you have to be willing to adjust to those changes. Della at deepotter@peoplepc.com
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on those involved and how well they can communicate. It will be tough!
ReplyDeletekpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Yes, couples can remain friends and you can go home again. Thanks for the chance to win. Dmskrug3(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteOh, lovely, since going home again is another big theme of Fogged Inn! Thank you,
DeleteI think friendship can survive a failed relationship, it can be an easy fix. Linda May lindamay4852@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteYes to both questions. For friendship, it takes two. To go back home, it's up to you.
ReplyDeletejawdance@yahoo.com
Difficult questions. In this case, only the author knows the answer.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
Thank you everyone for your encouraging comments to Jamie. I am on the road, at a hotel with inexcuseably terrible internet, but I will check back in on my phone as I can. Good luck to everyone with the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteYou can go home again, but relationships are tough, I think they would have to discuss them situation and get that cleared up. Thanks for the chance to win! annelovell12@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteYou can go home again but it is necessary to adapt to the changes that have occurred in your life and in the other individuals as well. Becoming friends leads to a deep relationship eventually so have patience. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteTake it slowly and renew your friendship and then let it develop into something more. Going home is tough and requires strength and adjustment. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI think so. It just takes time and patience. lkleback@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteWelcome! We are so happy to have you here! I do think we can always go back home...the friendship thing is iffy. It depends...on A LOT!
ReplyDeleteI think friendship can survive after a failed relationship, but it would be very difficult. I personally could not do it. But I know other people who have.
ReplyDeleteFriendship can be tricky---sometimes it takes more work than it is worth, other times it's priceless.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I think you can go home again. It would be a shame to lose such a long friendship--Jamie and Julia definitely need to talk about it! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteWise words, Sue. Jamie is finding everyone's words encouraging. Good luck with the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteCan friendship survive a failed attempt at romance? Can you go home again? I believe friendship is more enduring than romantic love, so Jamie needs to be honest with Julia. He needs to say his friendship with her is the most important thing in his life. One day they may find the friendship can be romantic, but to preserve the friendship is paramount.
ReplyDeletekat8762@aol.com
Gosh, I hope so. Jamie seems so sweet and honest. Probably the type of person Julia needs in her life. Barbara, what a treat to learn of this new (to me) series. thanks for the offer but regardless I intend to learn more about Busman's Harbor. mlarkin at rmrgroup dot com.
ReplyDeleteWhile sometimes you can go home again, I'm not sure the awkwardness of the kiss will fade that quickly.
ReplyDeleteJHoldn955(at)gmail(dot)com
I feel you can be friends after an attempt at romance. After all you saw something you liked in them and you were most likely friends to begin with. Just because you are no longer together doesn't mean you don't care about the other person. As for going home again of course you can. It just might be different than it once was. utaker555@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYes, I think couples can still remain friends after a romance fails. It may take time but it is possible. Would like to read about Maine in your new book.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Yes, I think friendship can survive.
ReplyDeleteElaineE246 at msn dot com
Thanks everyone. And good luck with the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that you can return to being friends if it is mutual.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
well to be honest I have had that kind of romance, friendship so sure with a lot of communication that will work. As far as going back home, too many changed would be very hard to overcome. Thank you for the giveaway. Georgia
ReplyDeletequeenvictoria50@aol.com
I have had that Relationship too and no I didn't get to start over as Friends. The energy was too uncomfortable. However I think it could work with different people. Hope springs eternal.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Yes it can. Love this series. Thanks for the chance to win! doward1952@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteFriendship can be a destination, not a journey. A stop at romance doesn't mean it can't get back on track - but you have to express that's where you want it to go. cheers@Marjimmanor.com
ReplyDeleteLove a good mystery.
ReplyDeleteYes, a relationship can survive with a lot of communication and willingness to adapt. Same with
ReplyDeletegoing home again one needs to forget what had been and adapt to what is and the reason for the return.
Carol Smith. penelope223(at)yahoo(dot)com
I've not had that kind of romance, but Oh, you've torn at my heart. I hope Jamie can regain her friend. Clearly Jamie is someone special.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win your book and read more about Jamie!
Kath
I have the first book in the series. I like the cover with the cat.
ReplyDeletecatbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
good stuff about losing a friendship when attempting an ill-timed romance. I say ill-timed because, maybe, there's hope . . . for either the romance or a return to friendship. aemfisher at gmail dot com.
ReplyDeleteWow - I think that it isn't long-term healthy for a friendship, or the friendship may not be as close for a while. Would love to read this! And find out about the dead guy in the walk-in, and how the beautiful cat fits into the story...jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jen Scott and most everyone else. Talk it through. Tell her you miss your friendship. You can go back again...just takes time. lkish77123 at gmail dot com
ReplyDelete