And we agreed to keep my family, the rest of it, out of the spotlight. There’s no way either Andrew or I would show Emma to the world. He really does love me enough to take me back, although he insisted on counseling. We see a nice family counselor who is absolutely not a clinical psychiatrist. We’re not back to where we were last year, when I was lying about my past, my parents, even my name, and that’s a blessing.
Now that I’m not walking on eggshells, I’m not quite as careful about making the house perfect, and I disagree with Andrew sometimes. And I love him more than I ever thought possible. I think we’re actually heading to a better, more authentic future.
Bethany still looks at me like I’m an alien, but Felicia says I’m officially the most interesting person she knows. And she wants a picture, if I can get one, of me behind the news desk in one of the two anchor chairs. She’ll photoshop herself into the other.
The host sits down, adjusting her skirt. She leans across me and addresses Ava. “So they’re probably going to ask about your next book, the novel. What are you going to say about your inspiration?”
I exchange a wry glance with my sister. “It’s me, isn’t it?” I ask. “I’m your muse.”
She grins, beautiful and brave and vibrant. “This one’s about a total badass who saves the day. What do you think?”
Emma waves, and I have the strangest feeling, one that might become familiar. I have a family I love and friends I trust. If things continue like this, if I don’t screw anything up, I think I might be …
Happy.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Sarah Warburton is the oldest of four sisters, raised in Virginia, and an avid reader and knitter. She has a B.A. in Latin from the College of William and Mary, an M.A. in classics from the University of Georgia and another from Brown. Sarah has worked at independent bookstores, spent ten years as a writer and eventually lead editor for UpClose Magazine. Her short story "Margaret’s Magnolia" appeared in Southern Arts Journal, and her Pushcart prize nominated story "Survival English" appeared in Oyster River Page. Now she lives with her family--husband, son, daughter, and hound dog--in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia.
This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real or actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2020 by Sarah Warburton
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Crooked Lane Books, an imprint of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.
Crooked Lane Books and its logo are trademarks of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.
Library of Congress Catalog-in-Publication data available upon request.
ISBN (hardcover): 978-1-64385-525-7
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-64385-526-4
Cover design by Melanie Sun
Printed in the United States.
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Crooked Lane Books
34 West 27th St., 10th Floor
New York, NY 10001
First Edition: September 2020
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