Summary

It is only a little more than a month after the fire and Grace feels exhausted. As she nurses Claire back to health, she realizes that she has overlooked one possible shelter: Merle’s house. She borrows Gladys’ care and drives out to the northern coast herself. The house is intact, but she hears noise from upstairs. Warily, she creeps upward, slowly realizing that she is hearing the sound of a piano being played beautifully. A stranger comes down to join her on the stairs. Apologizing for taking up residence in what he believed to be an abandoned house, he introduces himself as Aidan Berne. He is an attractive young Irish pianist who arrived at Merle’s house when he was fleeing the fire. Grace likes him and his music, and proposes that he become their boarder. Though her mother protests, Grace fixes...