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Chapters (77)
  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Also by Silas House
  4. Dedication
  5. Epigraph
  6. Contents
  7. Part One
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. Part Two
  27. 1
  28. 2
  29. 3
  30. 4
  31. 5
  32. 6
  33. 7
  34. 8
  35. 9
  36. 10
  37. Part Three
  38. 1
  39. 2
  40. 3
  41. 4
  42. 5
  43. 6
  44. 7
  45. 8
  46. 9
  47. 10
  48. 11
  49. 12
  50. 13
  51. 14
  52. 15
  53. 16
  54. 17
  55. 18
  56. 19
  57. 20
  58. 21
  59. 22
  60. 23
  61. 24
  62. 25
  63. 26
  64. 27
  65. 28
  66. 29
  67. 30
  68. 31
  69. Part Four
  70. 1
  71. 2
  72. 3
  73. Epilogue: The Everything
  74. Acknowledgments
  75. About the Author
  76. About Algonquin
  77. Copyright

“But when you think about it, really think about it, can you accept it? Can you honestly say you don’t believe that people like me are doomed to hell?”

“No,” Asher says, loud, instant. “I do not believe that. Absolutely not.”

Now Luke puts his eyes on Asher’s. “Can you look at me and Sam and not think of us as different from any other couple?”

“All I can do is try my best, Luke. That’s worth something, ain’t it?”

“Yeah,” Luke says, after a few seconds. “It is. But I don’t know, Asher. I can’t just flick a switch and make this alright for you.”

And just like that, Luke turns and walks away, lifts his hand to the homeless men who call out to him as “Preacher!” Asher sits on the beach, not moving, until the island has surrendered to nighttime.

27

27

Dear Evona,

I am hoping you will not grieve too much when I’m gone. You’ve had enough of that in your life.

You are the only family I have, as far as I’m concerned. My people back in Alabama might try to claim me now that I’m dead but Martha Campbell down on Truman has it all worked out for you. I’ve left it to you.

Have me cremated. It’s already paid for. Spread most of my ashes here at Song to a Seagull, where I was as happy and free as a person can be in this life. I’d like for my pastor to say just a few words. Play a Joni song. Whichever one you want. My favorite scripture is Galatians 6:9 and it’d be nice to have that read.

But I’d like it if you could spread some of me back in Notasulga, too. They never did want me there when I was living but I always missed the place, if not the people. There is a little grove of catalpas near the water tower at Tallapoosa and Lyon Streets, where I used to be happy as a girl, and I’d like to settle there. I don’t imagine too awful much has changed in Notasulga so I believe those old trees will still be standing. If not, I’ll never know the difference. The thing is that I never have forgotten those catalpa trees and how cool the shade was there on the hottest days.

Thank you for everything,

Olivia Bell Williams

28

28

They play “Song to a Seagull” at the service. The sleeves of their shirts flap in a Gulf breeze that is moving over the island in waves. The palm leaves lift. The sky streaks lavender and red above their heads as twilight descends.