Page 114 of The Banned Books Club

Cormac sat on one side of her, holding her hand and offering the same steady support he’d given her almost since they started dating, while the pastor spoke of her mother’s many wonderful attributes. When it’d come time to go back to Idaho, it’d been difficult to leave him, too, but they’d never planned on being separated for long. He’d told her he’d sell his practice and move to Idaho, and she’d thought that was probably the best way to go, since she couldn’t move her business to Wakefield.

But she’d since stopped him. It didn’t make sense that his sister should be put out of a job when Gia wanted to come home, anyway. The year she’d dropped out of college, she couldn’t seem to get far enough away from Wakefield. Now she preferred to be surrounded by the memories of her childhood—or most of those memories, anyway. She also wanted to be with her father, her sister and her nephews during this difficult time—and maybe well beyond that.

Coming home was what felt right, so she was selling her half of the business to a friend of Eric’s and was going to use the money to open a bookstore. There was a redbrick storefront for rent not far from Cormac’s clinic. It’d been a gift store until the owner retired, but Gia could easily imagine all the changes she’d make to turn it into an awesome bookstore. She even knew what she’d name it: The Banned Books Shoppe. She still had the club going. At Margot’s request, the next book the Banned Books Club had decided to read wasThe Patron Saint of Liarsby Ann Patchett.

“Are you doing okay?” Margot asked. She was sitting on the other side of Gia, and the boys were sandwiched between her and Leo.

Gia leaned closer. “I’m glad you talked me into coming home for the winter—I can tell you that. It changed my life.”

Margot smiled despite the tears glistening in her eyes. She hadn’t been the same person since Sheldon had gone to jail. Although he’d only been sentenced to four years in the state penitentiary, it was enough to give Margot the chance to get a divorce and rebuild her life without having to worry about him, and she was thriving.

Fortunately, his legal troubles had shocked his parents, made them realize they’d probably overindulged him and excused his behavior way too many times. They hadn’t been perfect to Margot since she came back, but they were treating her with enough respect that she’d been willing to work out visitation for the boys. Peggy and Ron were even at the funeral. So were Eric, Coty and Ingrid, Sammie and Ruth and Cormac’s sisters and mother. Gia had seen several members of the Banned Books Club enter the church, too. The only person who wasn’t there was Mr. Hart—and that was a good thing.

At least, that was the only person Gia thought was missing—until she heard a murmur at the back of the church and turned to see a man walking up the aisle, smiling apologetically at everyone he passed. Gia didn’t realize who he was until he reached the front pew, where they were sitting, and Margot’s mouth dropped open. “Max!” she said.

Cormac and Gia slid to the left immediately to make more room, and he sat in the spot they’d just vacated. “I’msosorry I’m late. My plane was delayed by four hours. I wanted to surprise you, but not like this.”

Margot pressed a hand to her chest. “You came all the way from California?”

“Of course,” he said. “I would’ve come all the way from Europe if I had to. There’s no way I’d let you go through this alone.”

Margot blushed and smiled, obviously so happy Gia could hardly look away.

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