Scout was named for a well known character in an American classic. Once full of life this part of her story begins in suffering but ends in a very different place thanks to the Kai and her coffee shop. Kai is stunningly beautiful but aloof and generally unapproachable. It's Scout who surprisingly helps her to better understand herself and love another.
Scout was a happy, gentle, loving young woman. That was before. She has returned to her parents a changed person. She is now way past sadness; she is an empty husk of herself, incapable of feeling any emotion. Her parents Lucy and Will have no idea why. Kai is a woman with a difficult past, but she has managed to work through most of that, and is in a good place - but not a perfect place. She has a distant brooding mentality, making her difficult for others to get to know. She is private, a loner, and quite happy to keep it that way. Kai runs her coffee shop and book exchange, with help from her friend Paul. Scout’s parents Lucy and Will are frequent customers, occasionally with Scout’s brother Walt. This is a beautiful story of recovery, trust, forgiveness, and deep love. There are some sad parts, some angsty parts, but one big trigger is abuse - the main focus of the whole story. As usual with Elle Watts, the writing is excellent (occasional typos notwithstanding) Her depth and understanding of her characters and what motivates them is astounding. In places it feels as though we are getting a free therapy session here. This is a romance of the deepest, darkest and yet most beautiful type.