We’ve talked with Tomas about searching for his birth mother, but he says he’s not ready, maybe when he’s sixteen—like all twelve-year-olds, he thinks sixteen is practically grown-up. Whatever, I’m in no rush to deal with that particular problem. Time will take care of it or it won’t.

Truth is, I’m not sure where all this is going. Or if it has a happy ending. All I know is we’re taking it one day at a time, and finding joy in the smallest things, all three of us.

So far so good.

Now you’ll have to excuse me. My perfect, precious, truly gifted son is stepping into the batter’s box.

“Come on, Tomas! Clean stroke! Good at bat!”

I have no doubt.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-0383-3

TAKEN

Copyright © 2006 by Rodman Philbrick.

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, MIRA Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

MIRA and the Star Colophon are trademarks used under license and registered in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries.

www.MIRABooks.com

First Printing: July 2006

About the Author

Chris Jordan grew up on the New England coast and has been writing novels since the age of 16. His books have won many awards and have been translated into numerous languages. One of his novels was adapted into the film The Mighty, starring Sharon Stone. He and his wife, journalist and writer Lynn Harnett, divide their time between Maine and the Florida Keys.

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