by Allen Eskens
As she continued getting ready for the day, she rubbed a dab of scar-reduction cream on her arm and noticed that she didn’t feel the ridges strum against her fingertips. She looked more closely and saw lines so thin and small that they were nearly invisible.
Lila went to her closet and found one of the few sleeveless shirts she owned and slipped it on. She could still see her scars—she would always see them, even if they became invisible to the rest of the world—and she was okay with that.
At first she planned to welcome Joe home with a dinner of king crab legs, but that was her favorite meal. His was spaghetti. She would need to run to the store for some meatballs, and she skipped like a little girl as she went to her car. Joe was on his way home.
When she parked at the supermarket, she caught sight of a jewelry store a few doors down. She remained in her car for several minutes, staring and contemplating something crazy. Lila was willing to concede that she wasn’t in the proper frame of mind to make a wise decision. She was far too manic to be giving voice to the thoughts in her head, but she ran with her happiness anyway.
What was it Joe had said? The woman has just as much right to say when the time is right as the man. And if that time ever came…”
Lila stepped out of her car and walked toward the jewelry store, pondering whether Joe would prefer gold or silver.
Acknowledgments
I couldn’t do what I do without the love and support of my beloved wife, Joely. I would also like to thank the many people who have helped bring this work to the world, starting with my first readers, Nancy Rosin, my agent, Amy Cloughley, and my wife, Joely. I also want to extend my deep appreciation to Helen O’Hare, my editor, for helping me to shape Lila’s story. I remain forever grateful to my team at Mulholland/Little, Brown, including: editorial director, Josh Kendall; marketing manager, Ira Boudah; publicist, Shannon Hennessey; cover designer, Lucy Kim; production editor, Mike Noon; and copyeditor, Allison Kerr Miller.
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About the Author
Allen Eskens is the USA Today bestselling author of The Life We Bury, which has been published in twenty-six languages and is in development for a feature film, and five other novels, including most recently The Shadows We Hide and Nothing More Dangerous. His books have won the Barry Award, the Rosebud Award, the Silver Falchion Award, and the Minnesota Book Award. He has also been a finalist for the Edgar Award, Thriller Award, and the Anthony Award. Eskens is a former criminal defense attorney and lives with his wife, Joely, in greater Minnesota.
Also by Allen Eskens
The Life We Bury
The Guise of Another
The Heavens May Fall
The Deep Dark Descending
The Shadows We Hide
Nothing More Dangerous