Megan Hart - All Fall Down

Selected Praise for Megan Harts
Precious and Fragile Things

Hart plunges into the mainstream fiction genre
with this haunting, devastating, heart-wrenching tale.
She masterfully weaves every off-hand mention of a seemingly incidental detail,
every potentially eyebrow-raising plot point together in service to her story and the
resulting dramatic climax, which then becomes believable, thanks to Harts skill. This story
will stay with you long after you reach the last page.
RT Book Reviews

This isnt like the previous books Ive read from Ms. Hart
and Ive definitely learned to expect the unexpected from her.
I know this book will speak to others differently; its that kind of read.
For me it was dark, disturbing, difficult, uncomfortable, heartbreaking,
and finally, redemptive and life affirming.
Its not easy to try and face those dark nooks and crannies
in our hearts and minds we prefer to pretend dont exist.
Manic Readers

Precious and Fragile Things is an emotional ride
where every page delivers a new facet of the story.
The details of each character are so honest and deep that
they draw the reader in and keep you turning the pages.
I found myself riveted, unable to put the book down and at the
end of the book wondering, if I was Gilly,
could I have taken the same actions.
The book was very enjoyable and thought-provoking.
Night Owl Romance

An expertly titled and disturbing tale
about the complexities of motherly love, loss, and the
relationships that change our lives. I couldnt tear away
from the interaction between Gilly and Todd.
The overall concept was fascinatingan excellent pick for the right book club.
Reading for Sanity Book Review

Megan Hart

All Fall Down

This book is dedicated once again to my family and friends
always there to support me. Special thanks to my sister Whitney
for making time to read this book in advance.

To my first pass readers, the ever fabulous Lauren Dane and
the wonderful JNB, as well as my hardcore gang, The Bootsquad
I rely on you all to make sure Im doing something right
even when I feel like Im doing it all wrong.

To the readers whove given my books a chance
and come back for more.

To my agent Laura Bradford for holding my hand when I need it.

To my editor Susan Swinwood
for making me be better at this writing thing.

To the MIRA art department for consistently giving my books
the most beautiful covers, ever. All Fall Down is exquisite.

To my children, whove long outgrown naps
but are now blessedly able to make their own breakfasts.

And of course, as always, to Superman,
who listens to me talk endlessly about plot points
and reminds me I CAN do this writing thing.

Contents

ARRIVING

Prologue One

G et up, Sunshine.

Sunny didnt want to get up. Shed only just started dreaming. She hadnt had more than a few hours of sleep at a time for the past three weeks. Tugging at the blankets, she shifted on the thin pad of her mattress and burrowed deeper into her pillow.

Sunshine. Now!

Sunny rubbed at her eyes, listening. No babies were crying. No alarms were ringing. She heard only the soft breathing of her sleeping children and her moms urgent whisper.

Sunny. Get up. Cmon. Its time for you to go.

Sunny sat up then, eyes wide and blinking in the darkness. A tiny crack of light shone from under the door, then the unfamiliar glimmer of yellow from the flashlight her mom held tight against her body, fingers cupped over the lens. Her hand made a shadow like a giant spider on the ceiling. Sunny looked immediately to the crib where baby Bliss lay sleeping. Happys cot was empty.

Theyd taken him.

Sunny was up and out of bed, across the room and tearing at the blankets before her mom could grab her.

Hush! Hes here, with me. Hes ready to go. You need to help me now, Sunny. You get the baby. Ill take care of Peace. Now! Her moms whisper hissed, harsh, not like her normal voice at all.

Sunnys heart pounded. Her palms were sweaty, and she scrubbed them against the soft flannel of her nightgown. The light from the flashlight swung as her mom set it on the cheap dresser missing a leg. The light wouldnt stay steady.

Mama? Is it time for the rainbow? The wobbling light hurt Sunnys eyes. Disoriented, sluggish, she could think of only one reason why her mother wouldve woken them. Is it time to leave?

Sunshine. Mamas face was even harder than her voice. Hush. You need to get yourself and the babies out of here. Dont ask questions. Hush and do as I say. Listen.

Sunny hushed, going still and quiet. She listened with her heart, as shed been taught. To obey.

Her mother took both of Sunnys hands and brought them to her lips. She kissed the knuckles. In the pale and trembling light, Sunnys mom looked pale and trembling herself. She looked too thin, her cheeks hollow. There were shadows under her eyes that had been there for a while but now looked extra dark. She pulled Sunny into a tight hug, crushing Happy between them. The boy didnt cry out. He was listening, too.

Get out? I dont understand. Sunny was awake now. Wide-awake. She moved to the crib to change Blisss wet diapers and dress the baby in a fresh nightgown. Also the socks her mom tossed at her. A knit cap. A blanket, wrapped tight around Sunnys now-waking daughter.

Sunnys mom grabbed her by the upper arms, turning her. I have money. Here.

She pressed a soft wallet stuffed with folded bills into Sunnys hands. Ive packed your bags, just one backpack for you and Bliss and Peace. Happys a big boy, he can carry his own bag, cant you, my sweetheart?

I can, Nana.

Sunny looked at her son. At four, he was just starting to lose the baby plump in his cheeks, but it seemed like only yesterday that shed held him the way she was holding Bliss now. She looked at her mother. Her heart skipped at the weight of the money in her hand and the baby in her arms. With the heaviness of knowledge.

The alarms blared. The lights in Sunnys tiny, concrete-walled bedroom came on overhead, bright enough to startle Bliss fully awake and into a scream. Sunny closed her eyes against the glare.

No time for that! Come on! Lets go!

Sunnys mom tugged her forward to sling a backpack over the arm not cradling Bliss. In her cot, Peace sat straight up, small mouth in a frightened O, while Happy struggled into his own backpack. Sunnys mother helped Peace out of bed. She tugged a sweatshirt over the little girls head and shoved her feet into shoes while Sunny grabbed the blanket up from her bed and slung it around Happys shoulders. He had no winter coat. None of them did. No boots either, though Happy wore a pair of battered sneakers two sizes too big, the laces shredded and knotted so tight they couldnt be undone. Sunny had a zippered sweatshirt, ragged at the sleeves, the strings of the hood missing. The zip would go only halfway up, and it was impossible to make it go farther with one arm cradling a baby. Maybe not even with two free hands to tug it.

Itll have to do. We dont have time to get you anything else. Her mother paused to press her fingertips between her eyes, a habit shed taken up over the couple years that had become so second nature she didnt notice she was doing itbut Sunny did.

It meant her moms head was hurting her again. Maybe bad enough shed have to lie down in a dark room. It might even be so bad that John Second would let her miss chapel if this were during the day, but never a summons in the middle of the night. Not when it might be time for the rainbow.