Contents ( 66)
- Cover
- Books by Valerie Fraser Luesse
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Map of Florida
- 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
- forty-six
- forty-seven
- forty-eight
- forty-nine
- fifty
- fifty-one
- Epilogue
- Keep Reading for a Preview of Valerie Luesse’s Next Book!
- Prologue
- one
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Back Ads
- Back Cover
“I think that’s a good idea,” he answered. “And I can get a job too.”
“We’re not that desperate—yet,” his mother said, trying to muster a smile.
“No, I want to,” he said. “I want to know I can help. It’s important.”
His mother nodded. “You’re right. It is. You need to know you can stand on your own two feet. I’m so proud of you, Peyton. So was your father. I hope you know that.”
River sounds filled the silence between them. Finally, he said, “I know about Daddy’s mother—his real mother, I mean. Aunt Gert told me.”
His mother rubbed her forehead with her hand, the same way she did whenever Uncle Julian was around. “Oh dear. I’m not sure this was the right time to tell you.”
“No, I’m glad she told me. A lot of things make sense now that I know.”
“Don’t blame your father for keeping you in the dark. That was my doing.”
“I know,” he said with a grin. “Aunt Gert told on you.”
His mother sighed with what Peyton knew was exhaustion of every kind and put her head in her hands.
“Chin up, Katydid!” he said.
His mother had to laugh. “How you turned out the way you did, with all you’ve had to deal with, I’ll never know.”
“Mama, you make it sound like I was raised by a pack o’ wolves.”
“No, just Cabots.”
They both had a much-needed laugh before she grew serious again. “I really am sorry I kept such a big secret from you, Peyton. It’s just . . . well, I saw what it did to your father when he first found out. I’m not sure he ever got over it. I just didn’t want that for you. So I lied. Not exactly the example I wanted to set for you.”
“I know you were tryin’ to do the right thing. But from here on out, you’ve gotta promise to tell me everything. Even if it’s hard. And I’ll do the same. Deal?” He offered her a handshake.
“Deal,” she said as they shook on it. Then she took a deep breath and said, “Now about that bike and that map . . .”
“You really don’t want me to go, do you?”
“I didn’t say that. I don’t, of course, but after all you’ve been through, I think you have a right to ask for something that matters to you. What I need to know is why. Is this just about getting to see Lisa? Because if it is, I’ll drive you to Miami.”
“No, ma’am, there’s more to it than that.”
“I thought so.” It was peaceful on the river as the Madame Queen gently rocked them back to another hard question. Finally, his mother spoke. “You know you’ve got nothing to prove—to me or your daddy.”
“I know. It’s just something I need to do. But I don’t want to make things harder on you than they already are.”
She took his hand and kissed it. “Did you know that the very few disagreements your father and I ever had were about you?”