12
Several days later, Noah woke alone in his bed. As soon as he became conscious, he thought of Lily and felt almost sick. He didn’t know what had happened between those moments in her brother’s office and the other night, but she shut him out. His heart ached, and he felt like a fool. He’d laid his feelings bare, but it hadn’t even mattered. He kicked the covers back and forced himself to get up. A while later, he walked down the hall to check on his mother. After a quick knock on her bedroom door, he heard a faint reply. He pushed the door open and found his mother sitting in bed, propped up on her pillows reading.
Carol glanced up at him. “Hi there.” Her eyes were weary, but then his mother had carried an edge of weariness for as long as he could remember. Being married to his father
