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Back When She Returned Save as PDF
Chapters (48)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT
  3. CONTENTS
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. ONE
  6. TWO
  7. THREE
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. THIRTY-SEVEN
  42. THIRTY-EIGHT
  43. THIRTY-NINE
  44. FORTY
  45. FORTY-ONE
  46. FORTY-TWO
  47. FORTY-THREE
  48. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“Stuff,” I said, feeling more uncomfortable every second. Did she know I let Mom on my phone at night? I couldn’t say no to her after I’d already let her do it once, so I didn’t have a choice when she asked. Besides, she’d only had that weird reaction once. Now she just scrolled through the pictures for a few minutes and then handed it back to me.

“Has your mom talked to you about what it was like when she was away?”

I cocked my head to the side. “Why are you asking so many questions?”

“Oh, no reason. I’m just trying to get a handle on things. See if there’s anything I can do to help.”

None of her questions seemed helpful, just nosy. Meredith grew more paranoid every day. I’d be acting the same way if I were her, though. I mean, Dad’s old wife was back. Everyone knew what that meant. Dad would still be married to Mom if she hadn’t disappeared. He’d still be pining over her if the rest of us, including myself, hadn’t pushed him to move on. I was surprised Meredith was keeping it together at all. I’d be a mess. Still, I wanted her to leave me alone. I didn’t like the way she’d asked the questions, like I was involved in some elaborate conspiracy with Mom. Conspiring to do what, I didn’t know, but that was how it felt.

“I think we’re good,” I said. “Are we done now, Meredith?”

“Honey, I’m only trying to look out for you. I just want you to be careful.” She moved to hug me, and I stepped aside.

“Be careful? I don’t need to be careful—she’s my mom.”

KATE

THEN

I ducked my head and tried to sneak back to my tent without anyone seeing me, like the family didn’t already know we were sleeping together. None of Abner’s maiden selections were a secret. He announced them each night after the fire gathering. I hadn’t expected him to get to me so soon, and I’d almost thrown up the first night he’d picked me. The thought of him touching me curdled my insides, and my body trembled as we walked from the campfire to his tent. But then he showed me a side of himself I’d never seen, and I couldn’t help but soften a little.