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Back A Flicker of Light
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Half Title Page
  3. Books by Katie Powner
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Dedication
  7. ONE
  8. TWO
  9. THREE
  10. FOUR
  11. FIVE
  12. SIX
  13. SEVEN
  14. EIGHT
  15. NINE
  16. TEN
  17. ELEVEN
  18. TWELVE
  19. THIRTEEN
  20. FOURTEEN
  21. FIFTEEN
  22. SIXTEEN
  23. SEVENTEEN
  24. EIGHTEEN
  25. NINETEEN
  26. TWENTY
  27. TWENTY-ONE
  28. TWENTY-TWO
  29. TWENTY-THREE
  30. TWENTY-FOUR
  31. TWENTY-FIVE
  32. TWENTY-SIX
  33. TWENTY-SEVEN
  34. TWENTY-EIGHT
  35. TWENTY-NINE
  36. THIRTY
  37. THIRTY-ONE
  38. THIRTY-TWO
  39. THIRTY-THREE
  40. THIRTY-FOUR
  41. THIRTY-FIVE
  42. THIRTY-SIX
  43. THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. THIRTY-NINE
  46. FORTY
  47. FORTY-ONE
  48. FORTY-TWO
  49. FORTY-THREE
  50. FORTY-FOUR
  51. FORTY-FIVE
  52. FORTY-SIX
  53. FORTY-SEVEN
  54. FORTY-EIGHT
  55. FORTY-NINE
  56. FIFTY
  57. FIFTY-ONE
  58. FIFTY-TWO
  59. Acknowledgments
  60. About the Author
  61. Back Ads
  62. Back Cover

Bea and Jeremy came bounding down the stairs, chattering happily together. Mitch’s heart wrenched. He loved seeing Bea happy. Loved hearing her laugh and watching her smile, even if it was at Jeremy. But it made him miss Caroline. And he wanted to be the one to make Bea smile. To be what she needed. He’d spent her first eighteen years being everything for her. His only child. And now she looked at Jeremy like that.

He eyed the windbreaker in Jeremy’s hand. “You got a coat?”

Jeremy looked down at the jacket. “Uh . . .”

Bea raised her eyebrows at him. “Dad.”

“Okay.” Let him freeze to death if that’s what he wanted. “Let’s go.”

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Although there was some comfort in the sameness of everything—the home stands, the cheers, even the hot dogs—Bea fidgeted in her seat, wedged between Jeremy and her father. Everywhere she turned, there was someone in the sea of blue-and-gold team apparel wanting to ask invasive questions. When did you get back? What are you going to do now? And the worst one: Georgia State didn’t work out, huh?

Georgia State. Sigh. It was tempting to believe going there had been a mistake. She’d spent the first six months in an aimless daze, changing her mind weekly about what degree to pursue and keeping the other girls in her dorm at arm’s length. She couldn’t remember a single thing she’d learned. But if it weren’t for Georgia State, she’d never have met Jeremy.

She scooted a little closer to her husband and looked around, finding her eyes drawn to the land surrounding the football field. Cows grazed in the acreage to the west. The mountain loomed to the east, its face golden pink as it reflected the sunset. She caught her breath as she realized what time it must be. Miner McGee should be switching on his headlamp right about . . .

“There.” She nudged Jeremy’s shoulder and pointed. “Look.”

His head swiveled. A flicker of light appeared, shining from one of the mountain’s many folds.

“Miner McGee?” Jeremy asked.

She nodded. “There’s an old forest service cabin up there. When the sun is low in the sky, it reflects off the window. Just for a minute.”

They peered at it until the sun moved too far and it blinked out. Bea could remember being young enough to believe Miner McGee was really up there. She would shout with delight whenever the light appeared. Would her own child do the same one day?