An Unusual and Interesting Novel!
It has been 10 long years since Angie Bartoli eloped with Sam Holland. At the time, they stopped off to tell her parents; this was a serious mistake. Mr. Bartoli ordered Angie upstairs and Sam Holland out of his house! Thus, their marriage was not consummated; years passed with no communication between the couple.
Still in Chicago, Angie has spent her time embroidering countless pillow cases and hating Sam. Her husband has not led such a celibate life. After moving to Colorado, he lives with a young woman and becomes father to 2 girls ? Lucy and Daisy. At the opening of the story Laura has been dead about 1 year.
After her father?s death, (suddenly penniless) Angie goes to Willow Creek with the last of her money and asks Sam for a divorce. She also needs the funds to live quietly until the divorce is approved. She wants to marry a wealthy attorney, a friend of the family, back in Chicago.
Sam explains that he approves of getting the divorce, but he lacks the money to either initiate a divorce or to set her up to live (until the divorce comes through). He doesn?t even have the money to pay for a hotel room in Willow Creek. With horror, Angie learns that she must live in Sam?s home ? and help tend the 2 children, until he has the money.
It is obvious at the beginning why they didn?t stay together 10 years before; each blamed the other person and did not see any fault in their own actions. In the early days of their forced co-habitation, each of their arguments eventually led back to the unresolved issues of 10 years before. Each seemed to be quite stubborn and Angie particularly, saw things in black-and-white.
With the help of a group of well-fleshed-out secondary characters, Angie and Sam start to grow ? independently as well as a couple. There are several daunting problems each must face; as they mature, they see each other in a new light.
This is a great story! Enjoy!
