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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

I focus on the doctor’s face. Dr. Watson? Wilson? What was it? He doesn’t look like a quack. Maybe I should listen to what he is saying. But his mouth is moving so fast. I hear phrases like early onset and rapid decline, but I’m not sure what they mean. Are they still talking about me? Then he says, “Hereditary.”

My heart stops beating. Or maybe I stop breathing. Or maybe I’m dead. I reach to stick my hand in my pocket—to search for my penny so I’ll know I’m alive and this is real—but it isn’t there. Did I lose it? It was in the grass, but I went back for it.

I’m wearing a thin green gown. There is no pocket. A bitter chill washes over my body. I almost ran into the parking lot with no clothes on.

“Perhaps you’d like to go into the bathroom to change now,” the doctor says, as if reading my mind.

I have a weak recollection that he mentioned this before he began talking to Mitch and Rand. I have a stronger recollection of vehemently refusing.

“Unless you have any questions?”

Ha. Do I have any questions? Everything is a question. I shake my head and stand unsteadily to my feet. Mitch hurries to my side to help me. I look at his face.

When did he get so old? He was just a baby. I had him in my arms, wrapped in a blanket, as Rand drove the truck over to Wilsall to visit his parents. He’s a baby in my mind. Forever a baby.

My baby.

As I reach the bathroom and Mitch holds open the door, the doctor is telling Rand about some kind of test Rand must schedule, and I know I will have to come back here. I know as sure as the mountain stands that this isn’t over.

The door clicks shut.

FOURTEEN

ch-fig

Is that a mullet?”

Bea jabbed Jeremy with her elbow and giggled. “Don’t stare.”

“Sorry.” He lowered his voice. “I’ve just never seen one in person before.”

They reached the top row of the gym bleachers, and he helped her take off her coat. She tucked her purse down by her feet and sat behind a kid wearing a gray T-shirt that read, Education is important, but welding is importanter.

She’d forgotten how uncomfortable the bleachers were. “The whole varsity football team is doing the mullet thing, I guess. For good luck.”

“Where’d you hear about that?”

“At the store.”

“Right. Of course.” Jeremy sat down with a groan. “Oof. It hurts.”

“What does?”

“Everything.”