{"product_id":"where-we-end-begin-isbn-9780593440230","title":"Where We End \u0026 Begin","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Fans of Sonali Dev and Helen Hoang will find this just their style.”—\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStar-crossed lovers get a second chance at romance when they’re reunited at a wedding in Nigeria, in a heartfelt novel from the acclaimed author of \u003ci\u003eThe Sweetest Remedy\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Dunni hasn’t seen her high school boyfriend, Obinna, since she left Nigeria to attend college in America. Before their devastating separation, they vowed to find their way back to each other one day.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Twelve years later, and their vow is a thing of the past. Dunni works as a geneticist in Seattle and is engaged to a man she doesn’t love but one her parents approve of. Her future is laid out for her, and everything is going according to plan until she returns to Nigeria for a friend’s wedding and runs into Obinna. The shy, awkward boy she loved as a teenager is now a sophisticated, confident man. Things have changed, but there’s still an undeniable connection between them. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e As they rediscover each other, their days filled with desire and passion, Dunni is reminded of the beautiful future she once planned with Obinna. But when devastating secrets are revealed and the reckless actions of their past bring new challenges, she’s left questioning everything, including if the love that consumed her as a teenager is still worth holding on to.“Jane Igharo tortured my emotions in the very best way with this beautifully written story of love that would not be denied. This is the second-chance romance you’ve been waiting for.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eFarrah Rochon\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e Bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Hookup Plan \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“A sumptuous. evocative and heartfelt second-chance romance. Jane Igharo writes beautifully, and you can't help but be immersed in the romance, the culture and the richly-drawn setting of Lagos, Nigeria, and root for Obinna and Dunni as they find their way to each other.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eLauren Ho\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \u003ci\u003eLucie Yi Is Not A Romantic\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eLast Tang Standing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Igharo’s masterfully nuanced writing delineates the detailed emotions and thoughts of her protagonists and makes for a superbly memorable read.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e (starred review)\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“This beautifully crafted, heart-achingly romantic tale plays with juxtapositions—poor and rich; superstition, religion, and science—and the ways they twine together. Family ties are essential to the characterization of the leads, and these relationships are insightfully and thoughtfully explored. The realistically flawed characters make mistakes, and there are consequences but also forgiveness. The story doesn’t shy away from heavy situations and hurtful relationships, but at its core it’s about how incredible support and love can be. A passionate and empathetic story of how relationships define a person and a love that was meant to be.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"With storylines that explore family trauma and immigration struggles, this deeply emotional and epic romance from Igharo will appeal to readers who enjoy the second chance trope, along with fans of Bolu Babalola and Alyssa Cole.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Through flashbacks, Igharo cleverly shows the couple at their highest and lowest points, making it easy to root for their undeniable connection. This is a heartwarming treat.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Sweetest Remedy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A page-turning, emotional, and romantic journey of self-discovery. Jane Igharo beautifully celebrates the powerful ties that link families and the legacy of love that unites them.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eChanel Cleeton\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba\u003c\/i\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eThe Sweetest Remedy\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Sweetest Remedy\u003c\/i\u003e is a journey around the world into the complex and wonderful intricacies of family. Igharo gives readers a story filled with love, humor, and the magic of belonging. Reading \u003ci\u003eThe Sweetest Remedy\u003c\/i\u003e will have you calling your family, updating your wardrobe, and looking for your passport!”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eDenise Williams\u003c\/b\u003e, Author of \u003ci\u003eThe Fastest Way to Fall\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Sweetest Remedy\u003c\/i\u003e is a stunning story about family, love, and what it means to belong. Jane Igharo has a knack for writing bold, heartfelt stories and this one is a joy from start to finish!”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eSaumya Dave\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \u003ci\u003eWhat a Happy Family\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Jane Igharo does it again in \u003ci\u003eThe Sweetest Remedy\u003c\/i\u003e! Igharo masterfully weaves together family drama, romance, and acceptance into this gorgeous, unputdownable novel.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eKaia Alderson\u003c\/b\u003e, Author of \u003ci\u003eSisters in Arms\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This well-paced, multi-narrator tale expertly marries romance with a moving story of family and identity. Readers will be impressed.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e (starred review)\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“An engrossing work of women’s fiction.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eTies That Tether\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Lovingly written and heartfelt. \u003ci\u003eTies That Tether\u003c\/i\u003e is a beautiful exploration of culture, family, and romance. Azere’s journey to find her own voice should resonate with anyone who’s ever felt trapped between conflicting worlds and expectations.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eHelen Hoang\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Heart Principle\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eTies That Tether\u003c\/i\u003e takes the reader on a rich, emotional journey. A big, bold story about finding ourselves amidst the struggles of family loyalty, honoring one’s culture, and the endless facets of love. Loved every glorious moment of this book!”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJennifer Probst\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eOur Italian Summer\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[An] intriguing examination into the dynamics of family relationships and what it means to have pride in one’s culture and heritage. It also holds some unexpected twists and turns that will keep readers engaged until the end.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAssociated Press\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“This exploration of identity, love and loss in the context of an interracial relationship feels authentic and bittersweet, yet hopeful all the same.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBookPage\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Happily ever after is hard-won and satisfying in this #ownvoices romance.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Igharo’s debut beautifully depicts the tension between self-determination and the desire to live up to family expectations…Clever and heart-warming storytelling. Readers will be rooting for Azere from the very first page.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“An unexpected and heartfelt romance about true love and the sacrifices we make for it.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eSonya Lalli\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \u003ci\u003eSerena Singh Flips the Script\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eTies That Tether\u003c\/i\u003e was a roller coaster ride from page one and holy cow did I love it. Jane Igharo chronicles Azere's journey in such a beautiful, wrenching, and relatable way. As Azere struggled to find a balance between her love life, her own happiness, and the expectations of her family, I went through a whirlwind of emotions--and I adored every minute of it. I laughed and teared up and cheered and yelled. Best of all, Jane Igharo delivers a happily ever after that made me smile until my cheeks hurt. I tore through this amazing book, I couldn't read it fast enough.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eSarah Smith\u003c\/b\u003e, Author of \u003ci\u003eSimmer Down\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“A Nigerian immigrant herself, Igharo tackles issues like immigration, cultural identity, and interracial dating in a compelling way. While a love story at heart, this book is so much more than that. It’s a must-read for your summer vacation.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBetches\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A wonderful fall romance with immense depth, \u003ci\u003eTies That Tether\u003c\/i\u003e seizes you from the very beginning.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eShondaland\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The best part of this book for me was Azere and her mother’s relationship. It is so fraught with the immigration experience…. To read this book is to read it for the tenderness of the romance and for the immigrant experience, to feel your heart soften and your throat clog with tears, and to celebrate the resilience of the spirit. As Rilke has said, 'To love is the ultimate human task.' So celebrate the love between the protagonists and within their families as you turn the pages.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFrolic\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“…with deft writing, snappy dialogue, rom-com movie references throughout, and a delightful cast of characters, \u003ci\u003eTies That Tether\u003c\/i\u003e is a wonderful romance and the start of a long career for Jane Igharo.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFresh Fiction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Igharo brings a great deal of heart to Azere’s internal conflict as she navigates two cultures. This emotional debut marks Igharo as a writer to watch.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eJane Abieyuwa Igharo\u003c\/b\u003e was born in Nigeria and immigrated to Canada at the age of twelve. She has a journalism degree from the University of Toronto and works as a communications specialist and voice over actress in Ontario, Canada. She writes about strong, audacious, beautifully flawed Nigerian women much like the ones in her life.CHAPTER ONE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The plane landed, and Dunni's rapid heartbeat slowed. As the pilot announced the arrival in Lagos, a prolonged breath eased out of her along with a whiff of alcohol, courtesy of the wine that had made her anxiety manageable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dunni had recently developed a fear of flying. And the person responsible for that fear was her grandmother-her Iya Agba. The seventy-eight-year-old woman, known within the family for dreaming sinister things that somehow came true, had called Dunni five times in the last month, detailing five different scenarios where Dunni died.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A plane crash had been one.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The logical part of Dunni's brain, the part that had gotten her a Ph.D. in genetics, had dismissed the dreams. The other part of her brain, the part that kept a detailed account of her grandmother's predictions, had been terrified, paranoid, and irrationally cautious.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dunni often described her grandmother as someone who lived with one eye in the present and another peeking into the future, spiritually straddled between two periods.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Iya Agba dreams, and her dreams come true. History held the proof.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e When Iya Agba was a child, she dreamed her primary school teacher died in an okada accident.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He had.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e On the eve of her wedding, she dreamed her husband-to-be died of a heart attack days after his sixty-fifth birthday.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He had.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Iya Agba dreams, and her dreams come true. It was a known fact, especially to that other half of Dunni's brain that relied on historical proof. But she tried to ignore history and her upbringing in a country where there were always two narratives-the natural and the supernatural. Dunni had lived in America for twelve years, where she had studied molecular genetics, pursuing a career as a research geneticist. She had learned to rely on the practical, the explainable. But now, back in Nigeria, with her grandmother's warnings resounding in her head, practicality suddenly seemed unattainable, further from her reach than it had been before, a continent away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She rolled her suitcase along and stopped once outside of the airport. It was evening, the sun partially beneath the horizon. The dusty harmattan air moved through the weightless chiffon blouse that flapped against her body. The paved ground beneath her feet was a source of comfort and security. For the first time since leaving Seattle, she breathed easy and felt the fullness of air through her nose and mouth, noting the difference between what she had inhaled in America and what she inhaled now-a dense mugginess infused with the scent of dry earth and flavored with something invisible yet so particularly Nigerian.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Trimmed hedges lined the walkway she stood on; the green shrubs complemented the pale red of the ground. Dunni missed this aspect of Nigeria-the soil, its color, and even its stubbornness, how it clung to anything and everything. It was definitely resilient.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She'd spent twelve years away from her home and from him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She scanned her surroundings to ensure he wasn't there. It was stupid. Like her, he was thirty now. For twelve years, she only ever thought of him as a boy. But he must have changed. His lean face and slender physique were probably fuller now, either with muscles or fat. The scanty hairs on his chin, the ones she used to count without going past twenty, must have multiplied, carpeting his face with an unruly thickness. She even suspected his fair complexion had darkened. Then she suspected, with no evidence, that he could be the black-market dealer hollering at travelers, telling them he'll give good prices for currency exchange-dollars to naira and vice versa. That could be him-Obinna.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Could it?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Maybe she wouldn't recognize him. But what if she did? What if something in her-something that had stayed the same for twelve years, frozen in time-recognized him? Would that familiarity in her-the one that was both comforting and taunting-recognize the same familiarity in him, something kindred between them?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She hoped not.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dunni had four days in Nigeria, and if Tiwa wasn't her best friend, she would have declined her wedding invitation and sent an expensive present instead. She was here only out of obligation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Madam! Madam Dunni!\" The voice came from behind, a gruff projection that disturbed Dunni's thoughts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She turned around and studied the man jogging toward her, his round face older and more worn than she remembered. \"Paul?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, ma. It's me.\" His feet fell to a slow stride as he neared her and caught his breath. \"Welcome, ma.\" He sucked in air greedily, then pushed it out as if he no longer had use for it. \"Welcome home.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Thank you, Paul. It's good to see you.\" She examined his face and noticed the hard lines that tugged on his smiling lips and the corners of his eyes. They hadn't been there twelve years ago. \"You look . . .\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Like an old man.\" He laughed, and his round belly jiggled along with each chuckle. \"It's the consequences of time. What can we do but embrace it?\" His mouth closed, and he assessed her. \"But look at you. You left home a girl and have returned a woman.\" He shook his head and pressed his lips in a regretful smile as if offering condolences for the loss of her youth, something he might consider a tragedy. Or maybe the true tragedy had been the way she'd lost it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As her family's driver, Paul had always been there-at the forefront, uncomfortably watching things unfold while trying to appear like he saw nothing and heard nothing. Sometimes, however, he was pushed into the chaos and forced to be an unwilling participant. That day, twelve years ago, when it all happened, that was exactly what he'd been. Unwilling, forced to do something her mother had made him do.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dunni wondered if he still felt guilty. He had, all those years ago. She remembered that days after the ordeal, he'd driven her to the airport. She was eighteen at the time, leaving home to attend university in America. Her parents hadn't accompanied her to the airport. It had been only Paul and her in the car. Her stare connected with his in the rearview mirror, and she saw his eyes, full of remorse.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It wasn't your fault,\" she had told him, because she felt he needed to hear it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Some people knew how to handle their guilt-how to rearrange the order of an ordeal and direct blame at someone else or redefine their guilt as sympathy pains. Paul did not know how to do any of that. He needed someone to do it for him, so that day, Dunni had.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What happened wasn't your fault,\" she'd told him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But I should have . . .\" Paul choked on his words, then cleared his throat until his tone was steady again, professional as it ought to be. \"I should have done something to help him.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"My mother would have sacked you if you had. You have a family to take care of.\" She looked through the window as the distance between the car and the airport shrunk. \"Just stop. Stop apologizing.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, ma.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dunni still remembered arriving at the airport and checking her phone, while Paul pulled her luggage out of the trunk.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Madam Dunni,\" he had said. \"Is everything okay?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I need you to do something for me.\" She looked at him. \"It's important.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He nodded briskly, eager to make amends for what he had done just days ago. \"Anything, ma.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I need you to check on him.\" For the first time since knowing Paul, ten years, she had touched him-gripped his hand, squeezed firmly to convey how desperate she was. And she was. The action-foreign to them both-was more telling than saying please. \"I've called him, but no answer. He knows I'm leaving today, and still, I've heard nothing. You know where he lives. Go to him, check how he's doing, tell him I'll find a way for him to join me in America. Tell him I love him. Please.\" She added the word for good measure. \"Please, Paul. Do this for me, and say nothing to my mother.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Madam, of course,\" Paul had said. \"I'll do as you've asked. And I won't say a word to big madam.\" That was a vital part of the request-one that would secure his job and Dunni's head.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Thank you. I'll call you once I land.\" She released her grip and entered the airport.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She left Nigeria that day to attend Princeton University. But she had a plan. They had made it together-Obinna and her. She would attend university abroad as her parents wanted, and they would stay in touch-talk on the phone and send emails. Dunni would hire an immigration lawyer and find a way to bring Obinna to America on a student visa. He was smart; he had excellent grades. He would join her months later. They would live in the apartment her parents bought her. They would study hard during the weekdays, visit American landmarks during the weekends, and make love as often as they wanted. And after they graduated, they would get married-a small garden ceremony with the eccentric group of friends they had grown to call family. They would have three children or maybe four, just to even out the number. They would be happy. They would be together. That had been the plan. But it never happened.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dunni spread out her fingers and looked at the scar that split across the center of her palm; it broke through creases to forge a path of its own. He had a similar scar. They'd made it together-broken their flesh in order to mend their fates. Back then, she believed it would be enough, that a binding promise would secure their planned future. But she'd been wrong. She turned her hand and looked at the engagement ring on her finger. She'd been so very wrong. It hadn't been enough. In fact, it had meant nothing at all.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She expelled a deep breath and coached herself to forget the past.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Twelve years without seeing him or speaking to him. Four days in Lagos to attend a rehearsal dinner and a wedding. Then she would be back in America-an ocean and continent away from her past. It sounded simple enough, but she felt unsettled somehow-disturbed by the anticipation of something unknown.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e You shouldn't have come here. The thought occurred to her, and rather than dismissing it or combating it with positive thoughts, she agreed with it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e No. I shouldn't have.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e CHAPTER TWO\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eWhen the black gate slid open and revealed the Lekki estate, Dunni became more certain she had made a mistake.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe house had changed since she last saw it. Her mother had hired architects to reconstruct the traditional features of the pillared building into something contemporary with large windows and glass railings. It looked less like a home than it had before.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003ePaul drove through the opening, and the car's wheels trundled over the interlocking concrete pavers. If Dunni's mother felt motivated to renovate something, it should have been the pavement. She should have had the small squares hauled out-anything to forget that Obinna's blood had once been there, pouring out from the gash on his back, covering the patterned ground, and seeping into the slim cracks of the interlocks.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Madam Dunni,\" Paul said.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eShe met his eyes in the rearview mirror, and it suddenly felt like it had all happened yesterday. She hated that. In America, the memories eventually grew stale-lost their vividness until they were shadows lurking in the back of her head. But now, back in Nigeria, back at her family's house, sharing a knowing look with Paul through the rearview mirror, the memories seemed to take shape again. And Dunni felt like a child coloring, bringing the details of a horrid picture to life.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Madam, there is a very nice hotel near here. If you would prefer-\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"It's okay, Paul.\" She inhaled deeply and held the breath before releasing it. \"Take my bags to the guest room.\" She opened the car door, and the soles of her sandals slapped the pavement as she walked toward the front door.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe instant Paul entered the house with a suitcase and a duffel bag, Dunni heard her grandmother's taut voice; it trembled as she asked Paul questions, confirming he had truly picked Dunni up from the airport-all of her and not parts of her under the ruins of a blazing plane. When Paul answered the question-the same one multiple times-she shouted, \"Hallelujah!\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe elderly woman appeared at the front door-her skin like roasted chestnuts, her petite physique made hefty by the folds of wrapper around her waist. Dunni thought it was intentional, the way her grandmother doubled up on the ankara fabric-an attempt to make her figure as big as her personality.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Ololufemi. My darling.\" She sang in Yoruba then translated to English, a pattern she continued while dancing toward Dunni, waving her hands and shaking her waist. \"Ayo mi. My joy. Omo baba olowo. The child of a wealthy man.\" Her arms looped around her granddaughter and tightened. The action looked less like an embrace and more like an attempt at preventing something from slipping away.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Iya.\" Dunni hunched slightly and pressed her face into the curve of her grandmother's neck, inhaling the scent of baby powder and peppermint on her creased skin. This was the only reason she had chosen not to stay in a hotel. \"I've missed you. So much.\" She'd last seen her grandmother six months ago in Seattle. It had been too long.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"My dear, I have missed you far more.\" Her palm flattened and stroked the back of Dunni's head. \"You didn't tell me you were coming. Why?\" She pulled away and frowned.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"I didn't want you to worry. After all the dreams you've been having, I-\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Exactly. The dreams. How could you get on a plane after everything I told you? How could you take such a risk? Eh?\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Tiwa is getting married.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"And so?\" She braced her hands on her hips or on the layers of material that gave her a false weight. \"Tiwa is getting married. Does that mean you should come and die?\" She pressed her eyes closed after saying those words and murmured a prayer, retracting the statement. When she looked at Dunni, her lips relaxed and expanded to a weak smile-a voiceless apology. \"You came alone?\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Yes.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Why? You could have at least brought Christopher.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"He couldn't make it-work.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eDunni felt the weight of the engagement ring on her finger, as she often did. It was heavy and not in the playful way newly engaged women pretend their diamond is too massive and is therefore weighing their hand down. The ring on Dunni's finger was heavy like a tumor-like something that didn't belong on her body. She felt also, along with the weight of the ring, the need to lie, to answer a question even though it hadn't been asked.","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300291662053,"sku":"NP9780593440230","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780593440230.jpg?v=1767744068","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/where-we-end-begin-isbn-9780593440230","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}