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Chapters (49)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Chapter 1 - New York City 2008
  5. Chapter 2 - New York City 2008
  6. Chapter 3 - New York City 2008
  7. Chapter 4 - New York City 2008
  8. Chapter 5 - New York City 2008
  9. Chapter 6 - Connecticut 2008
  10. Chapter 7 - New Haven Connecticut 1936
  11. Chapter 8 - New Haven 2008
  12. Chapter 9 - New Haven 1943
  13. Chapter 10 - New Haven 1943
  14. Chapter 11 - New Haven 1943
  15. Chapter 12 - New Haven 2008
  16. Chapter 13 - New Haven 1943
  17. Chapter 14 - New Haven 2008
  18. Chapter 15 - New York 2008
  19. Chapter 16 - New York 1957
  20. Chapter 17 - New York 2008
  21. Chapter 18 - New York 1962
  22. Chapter 19 - New York 1962
  23. Chapter 20 - New York City 1962
  24. Chapter 21 - New York 2008
  25. Chapter 22 - New York 1962
  26. Chapter 23 - New York 1962
  27. Chapter 24 - New York 1962
  28. Chapter 25 - New York 2008
  29. Chapter 26 - New York 1962
  30. Chapter 27 - New York 2008
  31. Chapter 28 - New York 2008
  32. Chapter 29 - New York 1974
  33. Chapter 30 - New York 2008
  34. Chapter 31 - New York 1974
  35. Chapter 32 - New York 2008
  36. Chapter 33 - New York 1974
  37. Chapter 34 - New York 2008
  38. Chapter 35 - New York City 1974
  39. Chapter 36 - New York 2008
  40. Chapter 37 - New York 2009
  41. Epilogue
  42. Dedication
  43. Acknowledgments
  44. Reading Group Guide
  47. ALSO BY LOUISE SHAFFER
  48. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  49. What’s next onyour reading list?

“You never loved me.” She said it softly, trying to make the words stick in her brain.

“Oh, Rose.” His voice was soft now too, and it was sad. Not for himself, for her. Well, he'd said he didn't want to hurt her all those years ago. He didn't want to hurt her, but he didn't want to be inconvenienced either. “You haven't been happy with me for years,” he said. “Maybe not from the very beginning. We were always wrong for each other—you have to admit that.”

But she didn't have to. She shook her head.

“You're still young,” he went on, kindly. So very kindly. “You're lovely. You can find someone.”

“The way you have.” And then the age-old pathetic cry burst out of her. “What does she have that I don't?”

“She's not gorgeous like you, she's not even as smart as you are. She just… accepts me. She doesn't want to change me.”

I don't want to change you! Rose wanted to shout. But she couldn't. Because it wouldn't be true.

“I'm miserable when I'm not with her,” Bobby went on. “I can't think. I can't work …”

“Screw your goddamned work!”

She hadn't meant to say that, would have given anything not to have said it. Because that was when she saw him decide that this was a waste of his precious time. “I'm moving out,” he said briskly. “I'm leaving now for your mother's place in the country to finish the play. When I get back, I'll come pick up my things.” And now he was the one walking to the door and she was the one trying to block his way.

“Bobby, we can work this out. We have a history, we have—” She stopped short. Because he had leaned down to pick up his suitcase.

“Who packed that?” Rose demanded.

“I did.”

He had packed for himself, for the first time since they'd been married. He had taken her job. Her insurance. She watched in mute horror as he picked up the suitcase and walked to the door.

“I'm sorry,” he said, as if somehow saying it would keep her from falling apart. “I'm so sorry.” And he was gone. From somewhere deep inside, she started to cry—a wail that hurt as it came up through her throat.

I've lost him.

Chapter 34 - New York 2008