Page 2 (1/2)

Graenerations and this place—Oak Run Plantation—had been in the fao, Gram’s father had turned the family home into a successful bed and breakfast/ to ood drunk who couldn’t find his own butt if he needed to

My grandmother even stayed on after her husband died, but instead of living in the big house, she e house And that’s where I’ this summer

Everyone—which would bethe hot Louisiana summer and laid-back atmosphere would somehow fix me They think that the city and the memories are too much, and I don’t have the heart to tell them that the memories will never leave That much I’ve learned

So location doesn’t really e, expressive, puppy-dog eyes She looks at me a lot when she thinks I won’t notice, and every tiest failure on the planet

I don’t kno to react to her anynore her? Do I tell her to get out of my face?

And my father, God, he’s the total opposite He acts as if everything is normal As if the last year and a half never happened—as if each one of us is whole—and that ry And kinda sad

Gra “I love you, Monroe”

“I know,” I whispered

She grabbed her keys and paused “Barbecue sound good for supper?”

I shrugged “Sure”

“All right then” She moved toward the door but paused, her hand on the ivory handle “He’ll be here in an hour Why don’t you brush your hair?”

“Okay,” I answered, though I’m pretty sure we both kneasn’t likely to happen

Chapter Two

Nathan

The crap thing about not being able to drive is that I do a lot of waiting around for rides, and I hate waiting Doing nothing makesI’ for these days