Love in 2020... by Christine Bush

 

Many people have asked me  “Are you ever going to write a romance with a covid theme? Set in 2020 covid times?

Ick. My automatic reaction has been a vehement “NO!” 

I’m looking forward to healing and resolution from this painful time, and didn’t imagine putting it into a book.

But..  Yesterday, I heard a sweet TRUE story, so I thought I’d share it here.

A youngish man, quiet, brilliant, computer nerdish,
has always worked at home in Brooklyn, NY.  Dominick was encouraged and prodded by family to join one of the popular internet dating sites at Christmas last year. So he did.  And went on a few “first dates” with various stories attached. No second dates. 

By March, he was ready to give up. But then he read the profile of a young lady who sounded like a match made in heaven. They communicated by email.  They had a conversation on the phone. Marla seemed great! They set a date, planning to meet at a local restaurant on Friday night. He was looking forward to it.

But Friday, he got a text, calling off the date with no explanation.  Dominick called her, not quite willing to give up on her.

She was crying. And sick.  She had woken up coughing the day before, and the doctor had given her a test for the awful new virus that was rampaging in NY.  She had Covid19. She was stuck in her apartment, isolating, and hoping she didn’t end up in the hospital.

She had neighbors who dropped off food at her door, and checked in on her.  She was pretty sick for a few weeks, but slowly improved, not having to be hospitalized.

And she had Dominick. He had instinctively felt a connection to Marla, and he wasn’t going to let it go.  They couldn’t see each other, of course.  But that doesn’t mean they weren’t together. As soon as she could, they had long, meaningful telephone conversations, getting to know each other. Hour after hour.  They shared about their hopes and dreams, their childhoods, their careers. Their like and their dislikes. They zoomed together and showed each other family pictures and mementos from special moments in life.  They watched the same movie on their tv’s, while seeing each other on zoom on their laptops. Not exactly like being on the same couch, but together in their own way.

Slowly, Marla got better.  She had one negative covid test.  Then another two weeks later. Then another. She wanted to be absolutely certain she was free from the virus.

Their first “in person” date was three months to the day they had first planned to meet. Can you imagine the romantic moment?  And they already knew each other deeply, honestly, and in a different way, probably, than they would have if they hadn’t been so physically separated for so long.

Yes, the happily ever after seems like it’s on the way.  They are happy, healthy, and taking their time.  So this is one covid story that came out well, and that brings me joy.

But I’m still not sold on writing fiction set in 2020.

How about you?  Are you interested in reading or writing stories set in the “Covid time?”

I’d love to hear.

Christine Bush is a USA Today Bestselling author of romance, romantic mystery, and suspense.  She can be found living in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania with her husband and 2 lazy cats, and spending time with her 14 grandchildren.   When she’s not writing, she’s teaching Psychology at a local college, and working with clients in her private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She loves to hear from readers and writers!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Bush-Author/213919128638762
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Bush/e/B001KHSLRG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1392688497&sr=1-2-ent

It’s nostalgia time!  Today I’m sharing a link for my very first book, “Patient Heart”, a sweet romantic mystery! Available in ebook and in print.

https://www.amazon.com/Patient-Heart-New-Beginnings-Book-ebook/dp/B005IG6C0S/