This collection is an insightful interpretation of the complexities of emotion and circumstance. Spanning decades and generations, with a fantastic array of settings, Michael Shay introduces characters who are delightful, tragic, and indisputably honest. Big Ed is the skeletal embodiment of perseverance in his delicate care for Mrs. P; finding a much-needed surprise at the scene of a remote accident, Michael Kincannon negotiates the balance between possibility and the burden of conscience; Renee Akschmidt and Bob Rogers enjoy a refreshing change of pace in chance meetings with odd strangers. Friends and family dance in and out of each story, their relationships edifying Shay's collection as a truly exceptional whole.