I want to be you when I grow up.

Resources

If you are a victim of domestic violence or know someone who could use assistance in leaving a dangerous situation, please visit: www.thehotline.org.

For a list of resources for homeless individuals, please visit: www.homelessresourcenetwork.org.

Acknowledgments

There may only be one name listed as the author of this book, but I couldn’t have written it without the following people:

My sisters. I would love you both just as much if you weren’t my sisters. Sharing a parent with you is just an added bonus.

My children. You are my biggest accomplishment in life. Please never make me regret saying that.

To Weblich, CoHorts, TL Discussion Group, Book Swap, and all the other groups I can turn to online when I need some positive energy. You guys are a huge part of the reason I can do this for a living, so thank you.

The entire team at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.

Everyone at Atria Books. Thank you for making my release days memorable and some of the best days of my life.

Johanna Castillo, my editor. Thank you for supporting this book. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for being the biggest supporter of my dream job.

To Ellen DeGeneres, one of only four people I hope I never meet. You are light where there is darkness. Lily and Atlas are grateful for your shine.

My beta-readers and early supporters of each and every book. Your feedback, support, and constant friendship are more than I deserve. I love you all.

To my niece. I will get to meet you any day now, and I’ve never been so excited. I’m going to be your favorite aunt.

To Lindy. Thank you for the life lessons and the examples of what it is to be a selfless human. And thank you for one of the most profound quotes that will stick with me forever. “There is no such thing as bad people. We are all just people who do bad things.” I’m grateful my baby sister has you for a mother.

To Vance. Thank you for being the husband my mother deserved and the father you didn’t have to be.

My husband, Heath. You are good, all the way to your soul. I couldn’t have chosen a better person to father my children and spend the rest of my life with. We are all so lucky to have you.

To my mother. You are everything to everyone. That can sometimes be a burden, but you somehow see burdens as blessings. Our entire family thanks you.

And last but not least, to my damned ol’ daddy, Eddie. You aren’t here to see this book come to life, but I know you would have been its biggest supporter. You taught me many things in life—the greatest being that we don’t have to end up the same person we once were. I promise not to remember you based on your worst days. I will remember you based on the best, and there were many. I will remember you as a person who was able to overcome what many cannot. Thank you for becoming one of my closest friends. And thank you for supporting me on my wedding day in a way that many fathers would not have. I love you. I miss you.