The Law of Moses (The Law of Moses, #1)

by Amy Harmon

Whatever it was, when Moses came to Levan, he was like water—cold, deep, unpredictable, and, like the pond up the canyon, dangerous, because you could never see what was beneath the surface. And just like I’d done all my life, I jumped in head first, even though I’d been forbidden. But this time, I drowned.

“Cracks and all. In fact, if your brain wasn’t cracked, none of the brilliance could spill out. Do you realize that?”

“Just keep telling yourself that, Georgie Porgie. I’ll keep telling myself that too.”

“When I’m in the state of Georgia?”

I had never wanted anything so much in my life. And I couldn’t imagine wanting something so much ever again.

But there are laws. There are rules. Laws of nature and laws of life. Laws of love and laws of death. And when you break them, there are consequences. And Moses and I, like a stream of fateful lovers who had gone before us and who would come after us, were subject to those laws, whether we kept them or not.

“Poe said, ‘There is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in the proportion.’”

So I’m going to fix it up. And then I’m giving it to Georgia. Maternity expenses, four years of child support, funeral costs, pain and suffering. Hell, the house probably isn’t enough.”

“I heard there was this new law in Georgia. Nobody named Moses can even visit. So I’m thinking a name change is in order.”

“Why didn’t you stay away from me?” he choked. “I told you so many times to go away. But you wouldn’t. You wouldn’t let me be. And I hurt you. I created this situation. I did. Do you know that I have lost every person I love? Everyone. And just when I started to hope, to think maybe things could be different with you, Gi died. And she proved me right. And I wasn’t going to let you get anywhere near me. I was in a mental hospital, Georgia! A mental hospital. For three months. And I wasn’t going to let that touch you. I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I was trying to save you. I didn’t come back because I was trying to save you . . . from me! Don’t you get that?”

“Georgia’s eyes, Georgia’s hair, Georgia’s mouth, Georgia’s love. And Georgia’s long, long legs.”

“I want to take care of you, Georgia. I can’t take care of Eli. But I can take care of you.”

“I wanted a lot of things, Moses.” “I know.” And I was determined to give them to her. Anything and everything within my power.