The Lemonade Year

The truth will set you free, but first it will make a huge mess of things.

Nina's once-sweet life has unexpectedly turned sour. Her father has just died, her marriage is over, and her job is in jeopardy. Her teenage daughter is slipping away from her, and her mother may or may not have fallen off the wagon. Her ex-con brother, Ray, has just found out he's a father, and her sister, Lola, is about to reveal that she knew Ray had been responsible for the childhood accident that resulted in the loss of her short-term memory. When the entire family gathers for the funeral, it is the first time in years that they are forced to deal with their issues.

With Nina struggling with her family drama, all she has left to hold onto is her final assignment photographing images for the book 32 Ways to Make Lemonade. Well, that and the attention of a younger man who might turn out to be more heaven-sent than she thought. But Oliver's on-again-off-again interest in her romantically ebbs and flows so much she is seasick. And then Jack, her ex-husband, shows up, wanting to get back together.

Nina is reluctant to let Jack back in her life; she is still smarting over some assumed infidelity on his part and the miscarriage they both suffered. As she continues to turn to Oliver, she finds that not only does he provide a welcome distraction from her troubles, but he also helps her understand what she stands to lose if she walks away from her family.

When Oliver breaks off the relationship by revealing that he has decided to resume his education, complete his Master of Divinity degree, and enter the Catholic priesthood, Nina realizes that she has been given a second chance to follow her own path back to her own happiness. Just as Oliver has focused on what was important to him and found the courage to pursue it, Nina chooses to reconnect with her mother and reconcile with her ex-husband. In doing so, she comes to know that her family's love is the best sweetener for her life.

Amy Willoughby-Burle is a writer and teacher living in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband and four children. She writes about the mystery and wonder of everyday life. Her contemporary fiction focuses on the themes of second chances, redemption, and finding the beauty in the world around us. She is the author of a collection of short stories entitled Out across the Nowhere and a contributor to the anthology Of Mist and Magic.