the windows, the steady

ng, sleep refusing to come. A year of memories with J

Dawson and Willis families together. That bond had

with a solemn maturity, dressed sharply in a black

t, clingy, always tugging at his sleeve,

aside. He had stayed near, tolerating her chatter

bled into a lake, sinking under frigid water. Jerred had leapt in without

e haze of cold and fear, she thought she was st

he was left in her grandparents' care, and th

d from then on, she had never again returne

lly tracked her down in the small, weathered c

escape the hardships of life in the countrysi

rt had pounded with joy when she first l

for what it was: a fleeting dream gra

ent to wake up f

he night sky, lightning splitting the darkn

lled the covers tighter around her,

e shrill buzz of her phone

a blade, dripping with disdain. "Still in bed at this hour?

red Maggie Willis' barbed rema

d never come f

e clashing with Maggie would o

he already shouldered enough weight; she had n

her shifted. She was done en

e last year, I'd never have agreed to you marrying my son. You d

're right. I've never been worthy of Jerred. But marri

divorce me and marry someone you think is worthy. Jerred married me a year ago because he had

ue knotted. She was st

who had always been submissive and q

out of

st to scold me, Maggie? If you have that much free time, maybe use it to convince your

decisive motion, leaving M

hen Thea ended the cal

ng, but she'd also dared to show not the

d at Maggie until he

claiming, "Has your wife lost her mind? I called to wake her up, but she snapped at me in

he rain-washed leaves outside the window. A faint crease deepened bet

cuses to avoid it. Now that she's the one bringing it up, it's the perfect chance. I don't care what excuses you have; you need to end your mar

e storm last night probably kept Thea awake with al

his wrist, then added evenly, "It's only seven, and

ward the ward's doorway, where a frail figure in

he lowered his voice. "Somethi

ed toward Jaylynn. "Why are you out of bed

faint smile. "I overheard your mom saying T

she looked at him. "Jerred...