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Prologue

Darby

I turn off the engine, taking a moment to ad looks the sa time since I lived my life without a plan

Out of the corner ofMoolden retriever, crawls halfway across the console, excited to finally be here

“What do you think, boy? Ready for soes?”

He barks his reply

We ju out his new surroundings My heart leaps whenfour steps away from her wheelchair, and extends her arms to me

“Mama!”

“Get your skinny butt up here!” she haughtily calls back

I cross the distance and al weeks since her surgery Seeing her stand and take those steps sends relief flooding through me Of course, Dad, Lynda, my brother, Mom’s physical therapist, and her doctor had all sent videos, but witnessing it in person makes it all the more real She’s fine

“Looking good, old wo back here to a lazy slug”

“Lazy my ass I’ll show you lazy e’re up at five-thirty in the ”

“Oh, are we sleeping in to out a hand to Lynda, who takes it affectionately

“S ertips “My Darby Rose is home”

The words are si is clear “I’m home”

There’s a short twinkle in her eye before she looksed up last time you were home, but I remember you Now, you’re skin and bones”

Here we go Let the ridiculing begin “I’ht It’s called getting fit”