Part 59 (2/2)

”My father can run it. He needs that. And I have ... oh, about forty-two weeks of vacation time accrued.”

They swung lazily as the sun set, licking a fire up the slate path and charging the stars in the night sky. Jack imagined taking Addie to Greece, to Portugal, to the Loire Valley. He envisioned her by the Trevi Fountain, in the Canadian Rockies, on the top of the Empire State Building. ”We'll visit my mother,” he said, the thought forming in his mind like a crystal. ”I think she'd like to meet you.”

”She lives in New York?”

Jack nodded. It was as good as place as any, he thought, to find a happy ending.

Shortly after midnight, Amos Duncan awakened. He lay in bed, gathering his sixth sense around him like an extra blanket, certain that something wasn't right.

Shrugging into his robe, he padded down the hall to Gillian's bedroom. The door was wide open, the covers on her bed thrown back.

He found her in the kitchen, sitting at the table in the dark. A gla.s.s of milk sat in front of her, untouched. Her head rested heavily on the heel of her hand; her eyes were focused on something only she could see.

”Gilly,” he whispered, so he wouldn't startle her.

She came out of her trance, blinking, surprised to find him there. ”Oh,” she said, fl.u.s.tered. ”I was ... I just couldn't sleep.”

Amos nodded, his hands in the pockets of his robe. ”I know. I understand. But Gillian ... maybe it's better this way.” She turned her face to his, so like her mother's in this half-light. ”Maybe we should just get on with our lives. Try to put this past us. Make things the way they used to be.”

When Gillian glanced away, Amos touched her jaw. ”You know I'm only looking out for you, Gilly,” he murmured, smiling tenderly. ”Who loves you most?”

”You do,” Gillian whispered.

Amos held out his hand, and she placed hers in it. Then he pulled her into an embrace, an old, old dance. Gillian closed her eyes, years past tears. Her mind was already a million miles away by the time her father's mouth settled over hers, sealing their deal once again.

By Jodi Picoult

Songs of the Humpback Whale

Harvesting the Heart

Picture Perfect

Mercy

The Pact

Keeping Faith

Plain Truth

Salem Falls

Perfect Match

Second Glance

My Sister's Keeper

Vanis.h.i.+ng Acts

The Tenth Circle

Nineteen Minutes

Change of Heart

Handle with Care

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