Chapters (97)
- Cover
- Back Cover Text
- Praise
- Booklist
- Dedication
- 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
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Eighty-Six
- Eighty-Seven
- Eighty-Eight
- Eighty-Nine
- Acknowledgments & A Personal Note
- Excerpt
“Yes, well, turns out Jake had to cancel at the last minute. That leaves us scrambling, so the committee was wondering if you could ask your husband to appear on day one. Just for a couple of hours to sign books, meet people. We’ll have a lot of his books there to sell. Benjamin Grant at a book event would draw a lot of TV media attention, which would give us a boost for the next two days.”
“Oh gosh, I don’t know…”
“I hate asking like this but we’re in a bind and it would be a lifesaver, and of course we’d want you there helping in any way. A husband-and-wife team would be good for the cameras.”
Concern flitted across Emma’s face. “Me on camera? I don’t think you need me for that.”
“We most certainly do. Oh, Emma, would you ask him, please?” Clara Jean touched Emma’s shoulder. “Forgive me. I’m coming on too strong. It’s just that we’re in a jam.”
“No, no. It’s all right. I’ll ask Ben.”
“Oh, thank you!” Clara Jean opened her arms and hugged her. “Come with me to my car—I’ve got some material.”
Before going across the lot with her, Emma first unlocked the SUV for Kayla, who used the time to make another online search.
This time she entered the words Tony’s Diner and Beltsville.
One hit came up for a Tony’s in Baltimore. Others came up across the country. But nothing for Beltsville, Maryland. Well, it was a long time ago, and the place burned down.
Kayla bit her bottom lip and looked toward Emma.
I’m not giving up.
Thirteen
Eternity, Manitoba
2000
Marlene was washing the breakfast dishes while Janie returned food to the fridge and cupboards when the phone rang, startling Janie.
“What’s up with you?” Janie’s mother said. “You’re so jumpy. Can you get that? I’m running a bit late and have to put my makeup on.”
Janie picked up the cordless handset from the table, listened, then held it out. “It’s for you.”
“Who is it?”
Janie shrugged. “Some lady.”
Marlene looked at the clock on the stove. “Take a message. Tell her I’ll call her back.”
“Can she call you back?” Janie said into the phone, listened then held it out again. “She says it’s important.”
Marlene groaned silently, wiped her soapy hands on the towel, then took the phone, saying: “Hello?” A second later, she said: “Oh hi, Lila, I’m on my way in and—”
Janie recognized the name of her mom’s manager at the restaurant, and resumed putting away the salt, pepper and butter.