Contents ( 109)
- CONTENTS
- ONE
- Sylvie
- TWO
- Sylvie
- THREE
- Thomas
- FOUR
- Sylvie
- FIVE
- Thomas
- SIX
- Sylvie
- SEVEN
- Thomas
- EIGHT
- Sylvie
- NINE
- Thomas
- TEN
- Sylvie
- ELEVEN
- Thomas
- TWELVE
- Sylvie
- THIRTEEN
- Thomas
- FOURTEEN
- Sylvie
- FIFTEEN
- Thomas
- SIXTEEN
- Sylvie
- SEVENTEEN
- Thomas
- EIGHTEEN
- Sylvie
- NINETEEN
- Sylvie
- TWENTY
- Thomas
- TWENTY-ONE
- Sylvie
- TWENTY-TWO
- Thomas
- TWENTY-THREE
- Sylvie
- TWENTY-FOUR
- Thomas
- TWENTY-FIVE
- Sylvie
- TWENTY-SIX
- Thomas
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- Sylvie
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- Thomas
- TWENTY-NINE
- Sylvie
- THIRTY
- Thomas
- THIRTY-ONE
- Sylvie
- THIRTY-TWO
- Thomas
- THIRTY-THREE
- Sylvie
- THIRTY-FOUR
- Thomas
- THIRTY-FIVE
- Sylvie
- THIRTY-SIX
- Thomas
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- Sylvie
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- Sylvie
- THIRTY-NINE
- Thomas
- FORTY
- Sylvie
- FORTY-ONE
- Sylvie
- FORTY-TWO
- Thomas
- FORTY-THREE
- Sylvie
- FORTY-FOUR
- Sylvie
- FORTY-FIVE
- Thomas
- FORTY-SIX
- Sylvie
- FORTY-SEVEN
- Sylvie
- FORTY-EIGHT
- Sylvie
- FORTY-NINE
- Thomas
- FIFTY
- Sylvie
- FIFTY-ONE
- Thomas
- FIFTY-TWO
- Sylvie
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
- connect online
- What’s next on your reading list?
My pulse quickens. “Let’s go.”
“Where is he?”
I point to fresh footsteps in the dewy grass. Dad is a creature of habit. He chooses a random row, walks slowly, so he can examine his trees for signs of fungus or fire blight, a bacterial disease that can wipe out an entire crop. I lead, Moose by my side, Thomas follows. We could take a shortcut to Eddie’s, but this one last time I want to walk in Dad’s footsteps. Thomas glances at me, like he can’t quite believe I’m here, doing this. Will he keep his end of the deal? I didn’t, with Danny. If Thomas screws me, it’ll be karma back to bite me in the ass.
This walk through the orchard makes me feel like Benjamin Button. The years fall away until I’m a little girl again. I climbed these trees, played tag with Eddie’s kids, balanced on tall ladders to help pick. What would Eddie say if he saw me now? He watched me grow. Taught me about pears, but also, family. He and Carla have five children. Their home was noisy, messy, filled with energy, fun, and love. Their small ranch stands on the corner where the elementary school bus dropped me off. I’d run in to get a hug from Carla and a snack. Until Mom made a rule I had to come right home. Is Eddie ashamed of me, too?
Thomas touches my arm, points. Dad is twenty yards ahead of us, head bent over a tree branch. He’s in the same work clothes as last night, but now wears a green down coat over his vest and one of Mom’s knit hats, this one striped blue. He doesn’t look up as we approach, though by now he’s heard us. “Daddy,” I call softly then realize we’re out of Mom’s earshot. “Dad.”
“Sylvie.”
I swallow hard. “I’d like to ask you a few more questions.”
He scowls. “I thought I made myself clear last night.”
My heart flutters like a hummingbird’s wings. “You lied.”
“Ironic, coming from you.”
“Think whatever you want about my career—”
“Come on, Sylvie. What you do is—”
“Go ahead, say it,” I dare him.
“What you do is a charade . . . at best.”
“Fine! You’re better than me. Mom’s better. Your way of life is the only one that’s worthy. Okay? But you both lied about how my biological parents died. I want the truth.”
“I told you, leave the past alone.”
“I need it.”
Dad exhales a mist of white. “I don’t know the whole truth.”
TWENTY-TWO
Thomas
Sylvie asks, incredulous, “How is that possible?”
Wess turns and continues walking slowly down the row of trees. Silently, I take my phone out and trail closely behind Sylvie and her dad. I hesitate then press the red record button, slide the phone into my vest pocket.
“When Hana couldn’t have a child, she was heartbroken. Don’t give me that look. Being a mother is all she ever wanted. You know that she’s an only child. Continuing her parents’ and grandparents’ legacy . . . it was her heart’s desire but also her responsibility to honor them.”