Chapter One Laurelyn Prescott Thank God for Valium. I feel guilty for taking a mind-altering drug so I can deal with the feelings I'm having about leaving Jack Henry—especially after everything I went through with my mom's addiction. But I need an escape from the torment in my head. It's a temporary fix—I knew that when I took it—and I have no idea how I'll cope with my feelings once I'm home without the effects of the medication to help me. It kills me to admit it, but I think I might understand how my mom's addiction started. I see how the path might be an easy one to follow when all you can see is darkness. This is a huge red flag for me. I'll love Jack Henry until I draw my last breath, but I won't allow myself to walk the same path as my mother—no matter how tempting. Our grueling flight from Sydney lands at LAX and I immediately notice the distinct smell of Los Angeles—fuel and smog—when our jet bridge attaches. It's the same odor that caught my attention when we connected here with our flight to Australia three months earlier. Wow. That was such a different time in my life. We fight our way out of the crowded terminal and find Addison's parents waiting for us at baggage claim. She's going home for