Seth had been born fourteen years after Joy’s father, making him only ten years older than Joy. She’d adored her uncle Seth for as long as she could recall. As a child, she’d worshipped him

like a girl might her affectionate, protective, cool older brother. Even after Joy’s father had left them during Joy’s mom’s protracted illness, Seth had never wavered as the immovable, solid pillar of her life. She suspected she wouldn’t be alive today if Seth hadn’t been there.

“Where’s Everett?” Seth asked her, glancing around. Was that a hint of worry she caught on Seth’s face? She recalled what he’d said yesterday when they spoke on the...