Chapter 19

Violet had never understood why people hated the rain so much. She loved it. Gazing out onto the cityscape of Seattle as the rain poured down, she felt a sense of peace for the first time in weeks.

“Violet, do you want anything from the store? I thought I’d stop by after I get coffee,” Vera called from the hallway.

Violet had come down to Seattle to stay with Vera and her family, mostly at Martha’s insistence that Violet get away from town. Martha had regained her strength within a week after being admitted to the hospital, and by the tenth day, she’d been getting crotchety at Violet’s hovering. Violet hadn’t had the courage to tell her that she couldn’t bear to go out into town in case she ran into Ash.

Violet swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat. “No, I’m fine,” she answered. “I’ll start dinner while you’re gone.”

Someone yelled, and then a crash followed. More than likely Ethan had decided to play soccer in the house again.

Vera and Jim owned a pretty bungalow that w