Excerpt of Included!

JOHN HART“I’ll make it.”“Damn it, Adam.” Dolf caught my arm. “He’s human. He messed up. Itwas a long time ago.” I pulled my arm away, but he kept talking. “Sarah Yateswas young and beautiful and willing. He made a mistake.”“Some mistakes you have to pay for,” I said.“I asked if you’d like to know why. Well, I’m going to tell you. It’s becausehe’s the best man I’ve ever known. Being his friend has been a privilege, a goddamnhonor. You’re blind if you don’t see that.”“You’re entitled to your opinion.”“Do you know what he sees when he looks at Grace? He sees a grownwoman and a lifetime of memories, an amazing human being that would notbe here without the mistake you’re so ready to damn him for. He sees the handof God.”“And I see the death of the finest woman I ever knew.”“Things happen for a reason, Adam. The hand of God is everywhere.Haven’t you figured that out yet?”I turned, started walking, and knew that he was right about one thing. Itwas a long way back to town.I spent the next four days at Robin’s place. We ordered in. We drank wine. Wedid not talk about death or forgiveness or the future. I told her all that I couldabout New York City.We read the papers together.The shooting was big news, and articles ran across the state. Red WaterFarm was described as a North Carolina landmark. Three bodies in five years.Six towers. Billions at stake. It did not take long for the wire services to pick itup. One enterprising reporter wrapped the story into a larger piece about nuclearpower, rural desecration, and the price of unstoppable growth. Othersspoke of obstructionism. Editorials ran hot in all of the major papers. Peopleclamored for my father to sell. Environmentalists protested. The situation escalated.On the fourth day, the power company announced that it had settled on asecondary site in South Carolina. Better water supply, they claimed. Just as316