After spooning out the garlic, Emma poured the warm cream over the potatoes and put it all back on the heat, where she beat them together until smooth and glossy.

As she worked, wanting to get away from the tough topics, she asked, "What were you studying?" If Emma had really wanted to go to university, Dr. MacTaggart probably could've worked it out, even though she'd dropped out of school at thirteen. But Emma never could narrow it down to one thing she wanted to study enough to justify the extra effort. Especially when she was safest staying in Duninnean.