Today was moving day. Jack bought a condo on the beach for Clare about a mile from home. It was awful to watch them take her from the house she loved so much and to wonder if she’ll ever return. I thought Jack was sad before, but this is worse. He’s locked himself in his room, and I can’t think of anything I can do for him.

June 3

Jack has finally given up his daily vigil at Clare’s bedside and is refocused on the girls. Poor Maggie had so many questions for him. He did his best to help her understand that her mother isn’t going to get better, but it was agonizing for him—and for her. He’s making a real effort to reconnect with the girls, but it’s going to take some time. This weekend he’s taking them out to the island. They don’t really want to go, but he desperately needs to spend some time with them. I’ll be hoping it goes well for all of them.

June 17

Jack and the girls seem better since their weekend in Block Island. I’m not sure what happened when they were there, but they’ve been nicer to him and more accepting of his new role as their only parent. I’m glad for him—for all of them.

July 9

Jack finally went back to work today. Thank God.

Clare closed the book and held it to her chest. There’d been so much pain and heartache. It was like the man who attacked her had set off a tsunami in the lives of everyone she loved. Now that the water had finally receded, she felt as if she’d landed alone on an island with absolutely no idea what she was supposed to do next.

Chapter 5

Two weeks after she got home, Anna drove Clare to an appointment with her psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Baker. He’d been working with her since she remembered being raped and had been instrumental in helping her to cope with all the changes in her life since her recovery.

He arrived five minutes late, seeming frazzled.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Clare.” He tossed his briefcase on the desk and shrugged out of his tweed sports coat. “I got called into a consult at the hospital.”

“That’s more important.”

He sat across from her with a pad of paper balanced on his knee. “I’m sorry we were unable to meet before you went home.”

She smiled. “I heard you were in Greece.”

“My wife surprised me with the trip for our thirtieth anniversary. I didn’t realize it would coincide with your release from the hospital. How’s everything going?”

She shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”

“Just okay?”

“It’s very strange being home. Everything’s the same—but so different, too.”

He made a note on his pad. “Let’s talk about what’s different.”