Maribeth Slovasky

John Petersen had enough. He lost both his parents, his ex kept his daughter from him, and selling cars had no future. “I gotta get out of here.” He rented a condo in Acapulco, Mexico and left for the sun and relaxation. No worries for 18 days.He meets Elvira the second day of his vacation...

Monica Starling has everything she ever wanted. She's a third-grade teacher in Steubenville, Ohio, where she grew up and knew she wanted to return. She lives in a beautiful condo less than a quarter mile from her parents.

Gary Mooser is nearly finished with his dual doctorate in Philosophy and Religious Studies. His girlfriend, Danielle Fifner, and he visit Dyersville, Iowa, home of a registered Basilica, the subject of Gary's dissertation.

Everyone is the small town of Udall, Kansas, knows about the F5 tornado that destroyed the town in 1955. They also know about a little girl named Polly Oran who was never found, alive or dead, after the storm.

The Midwest...thoughts of long country roads, fields of corn, red barns, white picket fences, and a simple life that is happy and peaceful. Maybe. Small town people are there for each other.