Susan Wiggs deftly portrays the struggles and triumphs of
an American family facing life's greatest challenges as
they come to understand the timeless lessons of the heart.
SummaryGrace Bennett has it all—three wonderful children, a
devoted husband and a life of adventure and travel. But
beneath the calm demeanor of an efficient Navy wife, Grace
stands at the crossroads—of her life and her
marriage. When she looks in the mirror, she doesn't
recognize the person staring back. She's tired, out of
shape and feeling invisible. Somewhere between her
husband's demanding career, raising a family, the constant
uprooting and the Navy's routine, Grace has lost her sense
of self. Something needs to change. She needs to
change.
Steve Bennett simply can't understand the unraveling of
his wife's heart. He thought he was proving his love to
her with each promotion. He believed he could still be a
good husband and father while juggling an officer's myriad
duties. But he now realizes they were seeing their
marriage through different eyes. And when a nearly
forgotten secret resurfaces, Grace's discontent comes into
sharp focus. Now Steve must try to make their marriage
right again before his next deployment. For himself. For
his family. For the twenty years of shared history that
have always anchored him to home.
Then duty calls.
Separated by an ocean of regrets and longing, Grace and
Steve take a hard look at their faltering marriage, the
love that brought them together and the family they
cherish. They confront the choices they've made, the
sacrifices they've rationalized and the dreams they've set
adrift.
But just as they come to grips with their marriage, the
unthinkable happens—a disaster aboard Steve's
aircraft carrier shatters Grace's world. As she gathers
her children around her and waits for news, she faces a
Navy wife's worst nightmare—the cold truth that
life's biggest chances can slip away while you're looking
for guarantees.
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