Page 113 of The Banned Books Club

Margot laughed. She could tell that was the understatement of the year. Gia really liked the town vet. Ida and Leo thought he was “the one,” which was pretty ironic, given that he was Mr. Hart’s son.

“Are you sure you won’t mind having Mr. Hart as a father-in-law?”

“Whoa!” Gia said. “Take it easy. We just started dating.”

Margot pressed a hand to her hat so that it wouldn’t fly away in the breeze kicking up. “The fact that you didn’t say it will never happen tells me this guy is different.”

“He might be,” she admitted with a laugh.

“Your voice sounds better. It was so raspy after what Sheldon did to your throat. How’s the bruising?”

“Not pretty. Looks like I’m wearing a purple scarf.”

“I’m so sorry that happened.”

“Don’t be. I’m just glad you’re able to come home. Mom and Dad have missed you and the boys so much.”

“I’ve missed them, too.”

“What are you doing today?”

Margot gazed out to sea. “Just relaxing on the beach.”

“I wish I was there with you.”

“I wish you were, too. You’ll have to come back with me in the summer and spend a couple of weeks.”

“Maybe I’ll do that,” she said.

Margot hadn’t expected this answer. “Won’t you be in Coeur d’Alene running your business?”

“I might be able to squeeze in a vacation,” she said. “A girl’s gotta live.”

After they hung up, Margot checked her inbox. Sure enough, she’d received another email from Max. They’d exchanged several so far, and this morning he’d sent her a darling picture of his dog curled up with his late wife’s cat and told her about going to the symphony last night.

He was so different from Sheldon. But that was what she found appealing.

She hit the reply button and wrote a response.

I’d like to give you my number. I have to go back to Iowa to be with my family for a while. It could be months, depending on how my mother fares, but I hope we can continue to get to know each other.

She added her phone number and sent the message. Then she took the boys over to the pier for some rides and cotton candy. She was nervous about how Max would respond, wondered if he might end the relationship since she was no longer going to be in the area.

But when she checked her inbox again and read his message, a warm feeling washed over her.

I’m sad you have to leave, especially because this sounds health related. If it’s serious, I’m sorry. But I’m happy to have your number and will text or call you from now on.

I look forward to getting to know the beautiful woman I saw in the park.

Max

Under his name, he’d provided his number, too.

EPILOGUE

The funeral was on a blustery day at the end of March. Ida had lasted longer than the doctors had predicted by nearly three months—and had passed peacefully in her sleep only three weeks after Gia had to return to Coeur d’Alene to help Eric open Backcountry Adventures. She’d wanted to stay longer—until the end came—but no one knew when that would be, and life had to go on. Her mother had been the one to insist on that.

Gia felt awful now. She could’ve made it just three more weeks. But she’d checked in every day and laughed and talked with Ida about the good times they’d had over the holidays, playing cards as it snowed outside, watching shows and movies together with bowls of popcorn and eating all the meals she’d made—some that’d turned out better than others. Witnessing her mother’s slow decline had been heartbreaking, and yet...she found a deep comfort in those five months. Gia was sure she would never have gotten to know her mother quite like she did without them. The resentment she’d carried around for so long before that—for the way things had gone when Mr. Hart did what he did, for constantly trying to rein her in when she wanted to run free and for giving Margot so much more approval—was gone. In its place was a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices and love of a good mother.

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