whispers of shade

planks beneath his feet creaked with every step as he leaned on the railing. The air was thick with the scent of wild mint and river silt, t

not really. But the car had a way of knowing wh

fore-but beneath the sharp edges he saw the same girl who used to tuck dandelions behind her ear and wh

Gabe, his editor in New York: Have you decide

lenced th

crunch of foot

haunt this place," came

ossed, a skeptical tilt to her chin. She looked like Clara, but

nodding. "Didn't think

towns like to talk. Word gets around f

eepish smile. "Gues

he railing too, her gaze fixed on the wa

o. Wasn't ready fo

d n

"Still figur

t, the only sound the whisper

y said without looking at h

d slowly. "Y

are you ba

use some things feel unfinished. Because I thought if I

one of her books. She's had to hold everything together for years-Dad

gently. "I just wanted to see if...

or a moment, her ex

make it eas

easy. I just

wry smile. "Then you're

while longer, strangers

ulian spoke again. "How

go-of him, of the house, of the past. And I get it, I do. But I can't w

d to fix what she

ng an eyebrow. "You still run

breeze rustled through the reeds be

k to stop running

iling and started to wa

" she called ov

erfoot until it faded into quiet. Then he turne