Introduction

Lawyer-turned-stay-at-home mom Sarah Shaw is struggling to keep it together for her two young sons and law professor husband. Since the death of their infant daughter, her husband has been buried in his career, her friendships have withered, and Sarah remains lost in a private world of grief. Then one day walking in L.A., Sarah’s heart catches at the sight of a young homeless woman pushing a baby in a stroller?and saving them becomes her obsessive mission. An unlikely bond grows between Sarah and the young mother, Josie. When tragedy threatens Josie, Sarah discovers that she is capable of deceptions and transgressions she never imagined. Her lies unleash a downward spiral that will threaten her marriage, family and her sanity. Shelter Us speaks to the quiet joys and anxieties of parenthood and illuminates a place all parents know: that shadowy space between unconditional love and fear of unbearable loss.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

Chapter 1

This Ferris wheel revolves faster than I remember. It was Robert’s idea to come tonight. “A great way to say good-bye to the year—right, kiddos?” Oliver and Izzy jumped up and down, squealing their agreement. There was no saying no. And so we ride.

My stomach drops as the wheel lurches. Izzy is on my lap, and I tighten my grasp around his tiny, sturdy chest. It is his first time up here, he is curious by nature, and, at not quite two years old, he hasn’t yet developed a healthy fear of heights. He wears the layers I’ve forced upon him: red race car T-shirt, orange long-sleeved shirt (stained with “washable” finger paint), blue fleece sweatshirt zipped to his neck. Hand-me-downs, all. He wanted to wear the T-shirt alone. Wanted the skin on his neck and arms and ears to touch the sunset sky we’re flying toward, without a coat or cover negotiating the distance. He is all California, my little boy. But it is December 31, it is twilight, and I am cold. The chill outmatches my pink cotton sweater. The useless hood keeps falling off my head—style over substance. My ears are growing numb, but I let the hood lie limp on my back. I keep both arms wrapped around my squirmy boy, a hundred feet off the ground.

Across the circular yellow bench, Robert rests his hands on Oliver’s small shoulders. They are facing the ocean, backs toward us. The swoosh of air from the wheel’s motion lifts Robert’s straight brown hair, then rests it back in place. His brown wool–jacketed arms surround Oliver, our firstborn, who wears a navy blue parka without complaint. They huddle with their heads side by side, looking for dolphins or whales or sea monsters. Screams of laughter roll past us, the adjacent roller coaster rumbling by. The ocean reaches closer, then farther, then closer, over and over, around and around. I close my eyes. Since when have Ferris wheels made me nauseous?

I keep my stiff grip on Izzy, tamp down his inclination to investigate beyond this yellow orb holding our family. I try to submit to the motion, the swings of discomfort, the unpredictable stopping and starting, the peaking, the resting, the lifting, the dropping. As we round the bottom, I catch a glimpse of us as we may appear to the young couple next in line, their happy future five or ten years hence—a joyful evening, a buoyant marriage, two bubbling children, a dream lived out. Robert turns around to check how Izzy likes it. He sees me: jaw clenched, body locked. “Sarah,” he implores above the squall of gulls, “honey, try to have fun.”

Smile, I tell myself. I stretch my lips toward their corners. The brisk air whips a tear from my eye. I can tell by Robert’s shrug I’m unconvincing. Ah, but it’s what I’ve got. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

1. Sarah says her typical reaction to homeless people had been “to give them food, or a dollar, or do nothing.” Why does Josie spark such a different reaction from Sarah?

2. Can reaching out to help people in need heal our own wounds? Does it work for Sarah?

3. How do values get passed down from one generation to the next? What values do you trace to your parents? What are the values you want to pass to your children, and how do you communicate them?

4. Although Sarah claims to be surprised to see her high school boyfriend in Berkeley, do you think she wanted to see him? Have you orchestrated “accidents” because you didn’t want to admit to yourself that you wanted something?

Weblinks

»	Author's web site
»	Publisher's Book Info

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 0 of 0 members.

Member Reviews

There are no user reviews at this time.
Rate this book