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Chapters (56)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise for the novels of Mia Sheridan
  3. About the Author
  4. NOTE TO READERS
  5. Dedication
  6. prologue
  7. chapter one
  8. chapter two
  9. chapter three
  10. chapter four
  11. chapter five
  12. chapter six
  13. chapter seven
  14. chapter eight
  15. chapter nine
  16. chapter ten
  17. chapter eleven
  18. chapter twelve
  19. chapter thirteen
  20. chapter fourteen
  21. chapter fifteen
  22. chapter sixteen
  23. chapter seventeen
  24. chapter eighteen
  25. chapter nineteen
  26. chapter twenty
  27. chapter twenty-one
  28. chapter twenty-two
  29. chapter twenty-three
  30. chapter twenty-four
  31. chapter twenty-five
  32. chapter twenty-six
  33. chapter twenty-seven
  34. chapter twenty-eight
  35. chapter twenty-nine
  36. chapter thirty
  37. chapter thirty-one
  38. chapter thirty-two
  39. chapter thirty-three
  40. chapter thirty-four
  41. chapter thirty-five
  42. chapter thirty-six
  43. chapter thirty-seven
  44. chapter thirty-eight
  45. chapter thirty-nine
  46. chapter forty
  47. chapter forty-one
  48. chapter forty-two
  49. chapter forty-three
  50. chapter forty-four
  51. chapter forty-five
  52. chapter forty-six
  53. chapter forty-seven
  54. chapter forty-eight
  55. epilogue
  56. acknowledgments

I leafed through the pages, some sheets of music, others handwritten song lyrics. My heart constricted again at the sight of her neat printing, handwriting that I still recognized even after all these years. And as I began reading the lines, my breath hitched, and warmth infused my body. They were the lyrics to “Find You in the Dark,” the song that had enchanted the world, and later, comforted a group of weary travelers around a campfire.

But “Find You in the Dark” hadn’t been the original title. She’d first named it “To Tuck.”

I dropped the folder, the papers falling out and scattering, and then wiped my dusty palms on my jeans as regret burned through me.

She’d tried to reach me and blamed herself for not getting through. She’d fought for me in the only way she knew how, and I’d dismissed her entirely each time she tried. Oh, Em. Love blossomed, so powerful that I felt like it might knock me over. Love for the girl she’d been then, and love for the woman of now, the beautiful, tenacious person she’d grown to be. She’d done it again in that old laundromat, trying so hard to reach me, and I’d practically looked right through her, so involved in hating myself that I couldn’t hear a word she’d said. I’m so fucking sorry.

I looked out the old grimy window, picturing her where she was, hours away. And I knew with sudden surety what I had to do.

Wait for me, Emily. Don’t give up on me yet.

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chapter forty-four

Emily

Day Twenty-Five

It’d been five days since Layne and I had arrived in Cielo Hills. We’d been given a tour of every beautiful property, including the gardens and the chicken pens tucked away in tree-covered corners. The residents were lovely and welcoming, seeming to take comfort in each new face that arrived, another person to care for. Another extended family member to grieve the downfall of the world as we’d known and loved it. A team of sorts with which to link arms and face what was to come.

The owners of these homes were all retirees, mostly senior citizens who took us under their wings and doted on us in any way they were able. They’d also gathered a wonderful group of employees who were now so much more than that, many of their own families sharing space with the homeowners.