Her Name In The Sky Part 39

"Of course we're okay," Clay says, looking sideways to Wally, Joanie, and Luke. He clasps hands with Wally and looks back to Hannah. "Six-Pack for life."

Hannah steps toward them. Wally meets her eyes. His smile is gentle and steady.

"What do you say, Han?" he asks.

Hannah feels her smile all over her body, from the roots of her hair down to the bones of her feet.

"We thought an evening bike ride would be really cliched and disgustingly romantic," Luke says.

"Which is how we knew you'd like it," Joanie says.

"Come on," Clay says, tilting the bicycle at his side. "I've got ice-cold c.o.ke and a bag of chips in my booksack. We'll make a picnic out of it."

Hannah turns to Baker. "Did you plan all this?"

Baker pulls her eyes away from the group to look at Hannah. "Maybe."

They hold each other's eyes for a second, and then Hannah swings her smile from Baker to the others. "I'm down," she says.

Wally holds his extra bike out for her. She steps forward to take it, thanking him with disbelieving eyes. He pulls his lips up in a smile.

Clay balances the other bike as Baker steps forward to take it. She kicks her sandals up onto the pedals and looks sideways to Hannah.

"Ready?" she asks.

"Ready," Hannah says.

They bike away from the yard, first Clay, then Wally, then Baker, then Hannah, then Joanie and Luke laughing in the back. They bike down Olive Street and into the core of the Garden District, and Hannah watches Clay's booksack flapping with the wind, watches the evening sunlight glint off Wally's gla.s.ses when he turns his head to the side, hears Joanie and Luke's shouts of laughter behind her, feels Baker's presence at her side. Clay raises his hands in the air-his left hand with all five fingers spread apart, his right hand with just one finger pointing in the air-and they all copy him, whooping and yelling before hastily grabbing onto their bikes again. They ride over pebbles and patches of dusk-colored sunlight, underneath the spread arms of the live oaks and the promise of their green leaves, past houses full of people and rules and prayers and magic. Hannah looks at Baker, and Baker extends her hand outward into the s.p.a.ce between them, holding it palm-up for Hannah to take, right there in the heart of the garden.

Acknowledgements.

My deepest thanks to:.

JJ and Ruth, for reading early drafts and cheering me on when I so desperately needed it; and to all the Brittana writers, for leading me back to the joy of writing.

Srice, for all the long talks and the wise advice you gave me about the end of this story, and for believing in me from the beginning.

Melissa (Sis), for your thorough and dedicated reading, and for being with me through the lighter and darker moments.

Elise, for providing critical and insightful feedback on rough drafts, for your unfailing encouragement, and for being one of life's little oases.

My Louisiana family, for the adventures and the joie de vivre, and for making me fall in love with such a uniquely beautiful place.

Faf and Nik, for a.s.suring me early on that everything would be okay, and for anchoring me through stormier times.

Hamy, for your patient heart and your steady friendship-you have seeped into so much of this story.

Mom-mom & Pop-pop and Grandmom & Grandpop, for championing me in my education and my dreams of writing.

Maria, for your gentle criticism on early drafts (you were right, of course), for putting up with me through this whole thing, and for refusing to be ashamed. I love you.

Deb, for all your feedback, your support, your enthusiasm, and your patience, and for tackling all those formatting issues. You are irreplaceable.

Eric, for sharing your artistic talents and your generous heart. You are one of a kind in the best way.

Freida, for being my confidante through this whole process, for taking my whiny phone calls, for kicking my a.s.s when I needed it, and for being the one "who heard this one first." If this book is any good, it's because of you. #yourejoanie Mom and Dad, for everything you have given me and for being the truest example of love I know. I would be lost without your guidance, support, and unmatched senses of humor. This work of love is for you.

About the Author.

Kelly Quindlen began writing Her Name in the Sky while teaching middle school in Louisiana. She is the co-creator of the original web series "The Family Business" (www.tfbwebseries.com). She lives in Atlanta.

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