Cal and Jacob stayed for about two hours. Mia gave them a tour of the house, claiming everything as her own. “This is my kitchen, and my backyard, and my laundry room . . .” Griswold stayed right by her heels the entire time, bounding along next to her as if not wanting her out of his sight for even an instant.
Wendy served snacks, and they made small talk in the living room. Jacob told Mia about his new school, and she chattered away about her room and going shopping with her grandmother.
Later, when they were out in the yard watching Mia throw a tennis ball to Griswold, Jacob said to Wendy, “I appreciate you letting me see her again. She looks great. So happy.”
“Mia wanted to see you too. I think it was important to her.” Wendy exhaled. “I don’t know if this is something we’ll do again, though.” She waited for his reaction.
Jacob nodded. “I understand.” He took a deep breath. “I feel like it’s important that I tell you I feel terrible that I didn’t speak up sooner about my mother keeping Mia at our house. I knew it was wrong. A million times I wanted to tell someone, but then I chickened out. I am so, so sorry.”
Wendy nodded and said, “I appreciate your apology, Jacob.”
“Sometimes I lie awake at night worrying about her, and I think about all the times I could have stood up to my mom and didn’t.”
“I’m going to be honest with you, Jacob. If you had called three months ago, I would have hung up on you. Mia’s therapist has been helping all of us deal with our anger and loss. Working with her has given me a new perspective. You were a victim too. It helps knowing you had a role in saving Mia. And my husband and I appreciate that you submitted her DNA.”
“It was something, anyway.” He swallowed. “I could have done it sooner.”
“There’s no point in beating yourself up over it. We can’t go back. Mia is happy and safe now. Everyone deserves a fresh start, don’t you think?”
“I sure hope so,” he said. Then he added, “Thank you.”
When it was time for them to go, Mia gave Jacob a big hug. “You never were my brother, were you?”
“No,” he said sadly. “I would have been lucky to have you as a sister, but you were never a Fleming, lucky for you. You belong here with your grandma and grandpa, Mia Duran.”
She patted the top of the dog’s head. “Thank you for my gift.”
Jacob smiled down at her. “Griswold was really yours all along, Mia. He always did love you best.”
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my early readers for their thoughtful comments and excellent catches. Kay Ehlers, Charlie McQuestion, Michelle San Juan, and Barbara Taylor Sissel—you’re the best!
Once again, copyeditor Jessica Fogleman served as both my editor and educator. She has a brilliant mind for details, and every time we work together I’m grateful for her insights. Jessica, I’ve learned so much from you over the years and was thrilled we could work together again. Per usual, any remaining errors are mine, since I was the source of the trouble to begin with.
A big thank you to early readers MaryAnn Schaefer and Ann Marie McKeon Gruszkowski for catching consistency mistakes. I’m honored that you read the story so carefully and saved me from embarrassment.
Scores of gratitude to Kathi Cauley for taking the time to answer my many questions regarding child protective services. My fictional social worker knew the rules but went a little off script, which happens sometimes in novels. I take the blame for any digressions.
I want to thank my review team (Karen’s Cool Kids) for reading this book ahead of time and helping to get the word out. Their encouragement and honest reviews mean so much to me. I feel lucky to have them in my corner.
To the My Book Tribe Facebook group, you’ve added so much to my life, both personally and professionally. I’m sending you my fondest appreciation. (If you’re reading this and don’t belong to My Book Tribe, come on over and join the fun! You aren’t going to find a nicer group of readers and authors. https://www.facebook.com/groups/MyBookTribe/ )
To my McQuestion home team—Greg, Charlie, Rachel, Maria, Jack, and Boo—I love you all. You keep me sane and happy.
And finally, a shout-out to my readers. You are the reason I write novels. Your support and reviews keep me going, and I hope to never let you down. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOKS OF Karen McQuestion
“Good Man, Dalton is a sweet confection you’ll savor as Midwesterner Greta Hansen arrives in New York City for a job that doesn’t exist—and discovers something better than money or fame.”
—Christine Nolft, bestselling author of The Road She Left Behind
“I was riveted to the page and on occasion brought to tears. A book you don’t want to miss.”
—Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of Faultlines and The Truth We Bury on Half a Heart
“Karen McQuestion just keeps getting better! Hello Love is an enchanting, impossible-to-put-down novel about big hearts and second chances.”
—Claire Cook, USA Today bestselling author of Must Love Dogs
“An emotional and engaging novel about family . . .”
—Delia Ephron on A Scattered Life
“McQuestion writes with a sharp eye and a sure voice, and as a reader, I was willing to go wherever she wanted to take me. After I finished the book, I thought about how I might describe it to a friend, and I settled on . . . ‘You should read this. It’s good.’”
—Carolyn Parkhurst on A Scattered Life
“The plot is fast paced and easy to dive into, making this a quick and exciting read.”
—School Library Journal on From a Distant Star
“I devoured it in one sitting!”
—New York Times bestselling author Lesley Kagen on Edgewood
“At first glance Favorite is a story of a girl and her family learning to cope with loss. But at some point it morphs into a psychological thriller. It’s an unexpected but welcome turn that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.”
—Jessica Harrison, Cracking the Cover
“This story featuring a strong protagonist who has mastered the art of being the new girl will appeal to girls who are fans of this genre.”
—School Library Journal on Life on Hold
“This is an adventure that is sure to appeal to both boys and girls, and I can’t wait to read it to my students.”
—Stacy Romanjuk, fourth-grade teacher at Hart Ransom School in Modesto, California, on Secrets of the Magic Ring
“An imaginative fable about two witches that should excite young readers.”
—Kirkus Reviews on Grimm House
OTHER TITLES BY KAREN McQUESTION
FOR ADULTS
A Scattered Life
Easily Amused
The Long Way Home
Hello Love
Half a Heart
Good Man, Dalton
Missing Her More
Dovetail
FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Favorite
Life on Hold
From a Distant Star
The Edgewood Series
Edgewood (Book One)
Wanderlust (Book Two)
Absolution (Book Three)
Revelation (Book Four)
FOR CHILDREN
Celia and the Fairies
Secrets of the Magic Ring
Grimm House
Prince and Popper
FOR WRITERS
Write That Novel! You Know You Want To . . .
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