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Acknowledgments

At the co on those people who've helped ins with my wife, Cathy, who not only has to put up with the creative uesyear, one in which she lost both her parents I love you and wish there were so I could have done to lessen the loss you feel My heart is with you

I'd also like to thank my children--Miles, Ryan, Landon, Lexie, and Savannah Miles is off in college, row is always a source of joy

My agent, Theresa Park, always deserves my thanks for all she does to help me write the best novel I possibly can I'm lucky to ith you

Ditto for Ja, and I'm thankful for her presence in my life

Denise DiNovi, my Hollywood friend and producer of a number of my films, has been a source of joy and friendship over the years Thank you for all you've done for me

David Young, the CEO of Hachette Book Group, is both s the fact that I' my manuscripts

Howie Sanders and Keya Khayatian, ents, have worked with me for years, and I owe much of my success to their hard work

Jennifer Ro, has worked with me on every novel I've written, and I consider myself lucky for all she does

Edna Farley, ent, and is fabulous at helping to make my tours run smoothly Thank you

Scott Schwimer, my entertainment attorney, is not only a friend, but also exceptional at negotiating the finer points of my contracts I'm honored to ith you

Abby Koons and Emily Sweet, a couple of cohorts at Park Literary Group, deserve n publishers, my website, and any contracts that come my way You're the best

Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey, who did a terrific job as the producers of Dear John, deserve my thanks for the work they did I appreciate the care they showed the project

Likewise Ada, were terrific to ith Thanks for all you did

Courtenay Valenti, Ryan Kavanaugh, Tucker Tooley, Mark Johnson, Lynn Harris, and Lorenzo di Bonaventura all showed great passion for the films adapted fro you've done

Thanks also to Sharon Krassney, Flag, and the teas to get this novel ready to print

Jeff Van Wie, , deservesscreenplays, along with his friendship

1

As Katie wound her way ah her hair Carrying three plates in her left hand and another in her right, she wore jeans and a T-shirt that read Ivan's: Try Our Fish Just for the Halibut She brought the plates to four ht her eye and sh he was just a friendly guy, she kneatching her as she walked away Melody hadlocations for a movie

After retrieving a pitcher of sweet tea, she refilled their glasses before returning to the waitress station She stole a glance at the view It was late April, the te just around perfect, and blue skies stretched to the horizon Beyond her, the Intracoastal was calm despite the breeze and seeulls perched on the railing, waiting to dart beneath the tables if someone dropped a scrap of food

Ivan Ss, and he'd already patrolled the railing tielding a wooden plunger, trying to scare them off Melody had leaned toward Katie and confessed that she was er had been than she was about the seagulls Katie said nothing

She started another pot of sweet tea, wiping down the station A moment later, she felt sohter, Eileen A pretty, ponytailed nineteen-year-old, she orking part-time as the restaurant hostess

"Katie--can you take another table?"

Katie scanned her tables, running the rhythm in her head "Sure" She nodded

Eileen walked down the stairs From nearby tables Katie could hear snippets of conversations--people talking about friends or fa At a table in the corner, she sao people close their er at the table trying to ood at small talk, but she was efficient and polite and none of the customers seemed

to mind

She'd been working at the restaurant since early March Ivan had hired her on a cold, sunny afternoon when the sky was the color of robins' eggs When he'd said she could start work the following Monday, it took everything she had not to cry in front of hi down At the time, she was broke and hadn't eaten in two days

She refilled waters and sweet teas and headed to the kitchen Ricky, one of the cooks, winked at her as he always did Two days ago he'd asked her out, but she'd told him that she didn't want to date anyone at the restaurant She had the feeling he would try again and hoped her instincts rong

"I don't think it's going to slon today," Ricky coer than her, and still lived with his parents "Every tiain"

"It's a beautiful day"

"But why are people here? On a day like today, they should be at the beach or out fishing Which is exactly what I' when I finish up here"

"That sounds like a good idea"

"Can I drive you home later?"

He offered to drive her at least twice a week "Thank you, no I don't live that far"

"It's no problelad to do it"

"Walking's good for me"