“What’s it say?”

“It’s a Dear John, that’s what it is. It says this whole thing between us would never work, and she thinks she’d better end it before one or both of us gets hurt. Some kind of crap like that,” he said bitterly. He started to walk determinedly toward the staircase that led to the dormer bedroom where Seth was staying.

“Everett, what are you doing?” Katie called, standing. Daisy made a muffled sound of protest and then started to cry.

“I’m going to ask Seth what he knows about this!”

“Why would Seth know something that you don’t?”

“He’s got to understand something better than I do,...