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Chapters (58)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise for Abbi Waxman and her novels
  3. Berkley Titles by Abbi Waxman
  4. Dedication
  5. Epigraph
  6. Summer
  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. Fall
  45. THIRTY-EIGHT
  46. THIRTY-NINE
  47. FORTY
  48. FORTY-ONE
  49. FORTY-TWO
  50. FORTY-THREE
  51. FORTY-FOUR
  52. FORTY-FIVE
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  55. Readers Guide
  56. Questions for Discussion
  57. About the Author
  58. What’s next onyour reading list?

Maggie shot her a sidelong glance. “And why was Bob asking if you were feeling better? Were you not feeling well?”

Laura shook her head again without realizing it. “No, I was fine. He was giving me a ride home and someone hit his truck and took off the mirror. It was very loud.” She shrugged. “I’m fine.”

Maggie said, “Accidents are by their nature shocking.”

Laura nodded.

“And it wouldn’t be surprising if you found any kind of car accident a little harder to take, because of your own experience.”

“No, it’s fine,” said Laura.

“So you keep saying,” said Maggie gently.

Laura switched on a smile she kept for occasions such as these, when her words failed her and she wanted to declare a subject closed. From Maggie’s point of view, she might as well have written an essay.

They reached the house and Maggie unclipped Herbert and let him race up the slope to the front door.

The two women looked at each other, and Maggie smiled.

“Try and be gentle with yourself,” she said, following the dog at a much more reasonable pace. “You’ve been through a lot. Rest. Pet the cat. Walk the dogs. Run and get strong.”

Laura smiled at her. “You’re all being very nice to me.”

“You’re likable,” said Maggie simply. “Besides, being able to competently make your way in the world is an incredible achievement in and of itself, especially after trauma. If your story had happened to an elven princess, it would be a legend.” She turned and walked away. “I’m going to lie down before dinner. I suggest you do the same. Even the legendary need to nap.”

TWELVE

Laura took Maggie’s advice and lay down, intending to give it five minutes. Two hours later she woke up sweaty and anxious, with a vaguely nauseated, spacey feeling. She’d been dreaming of the accident, she could tell, though she couldn’t remember the details. She got up and stretched, her back clicking in a satisfying manner and the stiffness in her neck easing. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to loosen her jaw. She opened her drawer, and her entire wardrobe slid to the front. She needed to either do some laundry or go back to Target. For a moment the smell of metal and gasoline and fear pushed into her mind, but she frowned and shooed it away. No, she told herself firmly, we’re not doing that anymore.