Chapter Three As she zipped up her coat, Allie reminded Todd to pull the a-frame sign from the sidewalk before he locked up. The newest books in their stock were listed on the sign. She’d decorated the corners with holly leaves and berries depicted in green and red chalk which had been scuffed off in […]

Chapter Two continued… Lydia was unusually silent in the truck’s passenger seat. Luke glanced at her several times, trying to gauge what she might be thinking. “Pumpkin—” “Did you really kiss the bookstore lady?” Crud. Was that what she was thinking about? “I did. We were very young.” “What about Mommy?” “I hadn’t even met […]

Chapter Two Allie realized straightaway she should have just let him introduce himself and be done with it. Sometimes she didn’t know when to leave well enough alone. She understood that, and yet she still managed to open her mouth and stick her foot in on a regular basis. She watched his hand drop from […]

Excerpt #2 (Chapter One continued) Luke hung up the phone. He pushed his palm across his head, fingers dragging through disheveled hair. “Damn it.” Snatching his coat from the rack by the door, Luke swore again. He shoved his arms into the garment, the fabric still chilled from his recent trek among the douglas firs. […]