Karen Trailor Thomas

When the Sutherland family reunion descends on Malvern Gardens Inn, it catches eighteen-year-old Jennalee Preece in rebellion. Daughter of the inn’s owners, Jennalee hasn’t forgiven her father for uprooting the family from a comfortable life in San Francisco and dropping them in the middle of California’s gold country, far from anything hip, or fun, or exciting.<br><br>Acting out with local boys and refusing to play the piano she loves, Jennalee finds the Sutherland hordes a welcome diversion. Amid the countless well-off families come the Laidlaws -- on motorcycles. This black sheep branch of the family seems as rebellious as Jennalee does, and she’s drawn to their punk violinist son, Harley.<br><br>Over the four-day Fourth of July weekend, the Sutherlands drink, party, squabble, and even manage to burn down part of the inn. Can Harley pull Jennalee from her rebellion and help her find emotional stability with the music they share?

Sutherland

At first she thought everyone gone, but the gentle lap of water told her otherwise and, upon moving closer, she saw Troy and Carl swimming in long fluid strokes. She kept in shadow and watched them glide effortlessly along, and it was only when they reached the pool’s edge and turned in near-choreographed symmetry that she saw they were naked and also that Troy had seen her. He interrupted his stroke to raise a hand and wave. Jennalee waved back, then hurried on, Donna Witherspoon’s voice chasing her with chants about butt fucking. Inside her room she stripped away the bikini, took up her iPod, and climbed among tangled sheets clutching Bascomb Bunny, a worn remnant of childhood. Through her earbuds she took in the slow movement of Beethoven’s 7th. The haunting yet lyrical piece soon put her into a fitful sleep.


Chapter 28