Big Lies in a Small Town: A Novel

Unable to sleep after reading the journal, Morgan walks to the gallery in the dead of night and stares at the mural, reflecting on Anna’s tragic life. She falls asleep, and Oliver wakes her the next morning. She tells him about the journal, insisting that he read it from beginning to end.

Oliver and Morgan recount Anna’s story to Lisa. She is interested, but she is also more focused on ensuring that the mural is ready for the gallery opening. Morgan is nearly finished but still fears that she won’t be able to meet the deadline two days later. She works late into the night, and Oliver drives her back to Lisa’s house. The sexual tension between them is palpable, but Oliver doesn’t act on it.

The next morning, Oliver gives Emily Maxwell’s contact information to Morgan. She tries to stay focused on her work, but her fears of meeting Emily loom large in her mind. After several hours, Oliver gives Morgan a break, and she strolls through the finished gallery. On display are works of student art, young artists nurtured by Jesse over the years. Examining the art, Morgan realizes that her true passion is not in creating art—she was never a stellar art student—but in restoring it.