Chapters (54)
- Cover
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Epilogue
- A Note from the Author
- Discussion Questions
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Acclaim for David Rawlings
- Also by David Rawlings
Daniel eased forward another step, the wind swirling around him. “I want you to know Mom and I have agreed to talk to someone together, and we’d like you to come with us. You can ask all the questions you want.”
Kelly stepped forward. “But we need you to come down.”
Another gust of wind battered her, and a foot slipped over the railing. Milly screamed as she bent, thrusting out two hands as Daniel and Kelly leaped forward, each taking one. A split second after her jazz shoes hit the deck, she buried her face between them.
Daniel breathed again as he clutched his daughter.
Milly pulled away and leaned against the railing, her chest heaving, her brows knitting again. “I want the first question.”
Daniel started to fold his arms before thinking better of it. He left them hanging at his sides. “Okay, shoot.”
“Did you just come out here because I looked like I was going to jump?”
Kelly rushed to wrap her in an embrace. “Of course, sweetie. I didn’t want you to fall.”
Daniel studied his only child, the father and counselor within him jostling for position. Her question was deeper than that. “No, we needed to tell you we’re going to talk to someone. You standing on the railing just made it happen faster.”
Milly nodded, and the first smile in months threatened to creep across her face.
Daniel thrust his hands into his pockets. “My turn. What would you have done if we hadn’t come out?”
Kelly squatted in front of Milly, hands on her shoulders, as if giving her space to answer without letting go. “I don’t know, but the only time you two talk about anything is when it’s about me, so I had to do something.”
“But what if it got so windy—”
Milly shushed him with a finger. “My turn. What made you and Mom decide to talk to someone?”
Kelly turned to Daniel as if expectantly waiting for his answer. This was going to sound crazy, but he had to say it. “Gramps’s camera. It showed me truth about my life, and that I haven’t been following my own advice. I tell everyone else to keep no secrets, but I haven’t done that with you. Or with Mom. I need to say I’m sorry—to both of you.”
Milly nodded. “That explains what Gramps told me.”
Daniel’s quick glance at Kelly collided with the one she shot him.
“He kept telling me the camera never lies. That’s why I’ve been taking photos of you, because I was trying to find out what was really going on—seeing as you never told me. But it never showed me anything, so I’m not sure if I believe him anymore.”