Colleen held Beckett’s hand and looked directly at her sister, allowing their gaze to hold, allowing everything they were and had been and would be to settle between them. “I think so, yes. I believe home is a land that calls for you, a place that shelters. It’s a family with all the complications that a family can be.” Colleen looked at her brother and nieces and then at Beckett. “This is my home.” She kissed Beckett, and then smiled at her family. “Because now I understand—home is more than a place, it’s a love story.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I have long been fascinated by the role of memory in our lives—how it both allows us to look back in fondness and yet is also capable of keeping us captive to pain or loss. Who are we without our memories? How do they define, center and hold us? I attempted to answer these questions—as I do most inquiries that keep me awake—in story.

Although the pages must be written alone, the story unfolded with the input, help, brainstorming and encouragement of many others. First, I want to acknowledge and thank Dr. Jim Ray (son of the brilliant writer Cassandra King) of the Neurodegeneration Consortium at MD Anderson Cancer Center for allowing me to interview him ad nauseam about Alzheimer’s research and treatment. Dr. Ray is on the forefront battling this horrific illness and yet spent time with me to help me understand how it affects both the patient and the families. Any errors are mine alone.

My writer tribe was there with me to brainstorm and carry me through when the story seemed to be falling apart. I love all of you. Thank you most directly to Mary Alice Monroe and Kathy Trocheck (aka Mary Kay Andrews), who worked through the plot tangles with me, who helped me name the pub and title the book, and who were there through the dark night to help me find the heart of the story.

My friends—all of you—God bless you for having to put up with me through the heads-in-the-cloud phase, through the on-the-road phase, through the I’m-overwhelmed phase. I love you each and all.

My agent, Marly Rusoff, has been there to strengthen and encourage. My stellar team at Berkley/Penguin Random House continually offers unwavering support. I offer over-the-top gratitude to my editor, Danielle Perez; my publisher, Claire Zion; Danielle Keir; Craig Burke; Roxanne Jones; Fareeda Bullert; Betty Lawson; and my sales team. You are the dream team in so many ways.

To Meg Walker at Tandem Literary, whose calmness and insight only make this a better journey from beginning to end.

To Ellen Edwards—we have worked on over seven books now together and your keen eye, compassionate spirit and steady hand always make my stories more than they would be without you.