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Prologue

January 10, 2009

Creemore, Colorado

THE SNOW HAS fallen heavily, relentlessly, for two days now, and shows no sign of letting up It’s hs are out, Lindsey re trapped and restless Trapped by theher in this small Colorado town thirty miles fros such silence Sometimes the silence makes her want to scream

Her husband enters the tiny, crowded living roo bookshelves held together with screws

‘All set?’ Patrick asks as she turns and looks up at hinant belly They’re still being careful with each other, after last night’s argument

She’s glad to be getting out of here, where her sense of isolation is so co to visit her mother and sister in Grand Junction for a few days, where the weather isby the door She longs to be back in the bosory for the much-needed company and attention She didn’t know this would be so hard She’ll stop in familiar coffee shops, and meet up with the friends she’d left behind They’ll s she is, and want to touch her sto baby And Lindsey will feel better Better about everything And then she’ll be able to face co back

Or maybe she will stay in Grand Junction

‘I’d better start shovelling the car out,’ Patrick says, and puts on his boots and coat He adds a hat and gloves, and says, ‘I’ll warm up the car for you’

She nods and turns back to the

CHAPTER ONE

August 2018

Aylesford, New York

HANNA BRIGHT PUTS little Teddy in his baby swing on the front porch and sits down to read her novel It’s going to get hot later, but in theit’s nice here on the porch, out of the sun She notices two cars parked at the house across the street and a couple of doors down The house is for sale; so to buy

She soon becorossed in her novel, but looks up a little while later when she senses movement across the street A heavy-set ent is in the driveway talking to a wo if she is a serious buyer The house hasn’t been on the hbourhood; she ioes to a young family – she wants lots of friends for Teddy, who’s six months old There’s a pair of four-month-old tith a really nice mom – Stephanie – directly across the street whom Hanna’s become friends with This woman looks to be alone – no husband or kids in tow