First published 1995
Wade Mayfield abandons his nine-year career as a New York architect in spring 1993. At thirty-three, he travels back to North Carolina with a stark purpose: to spend his final months dying of AIDS in his father's house. His parents have recently separated, but Wade's condition draws them back together. They unite with friends to provide steady care during the remaining time with their only child. Wade faces his illness with remarkable patience and fierce resolve to die on his own terms. His family and friends draw unexpected strength from his courage. After Wade's death, those left behind discover he has arranged a mystery that will unfold in his absence. This revelation promises to restore vitality to a family line that seemed headed for extinction. The story examines love between family members, loyalty under pressure, suffering, racial tensions, personal freedom, and moral obligation as Wade's final months bring both ending and unexpected beginning.
Genres: american-fiction, contemporary, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-freedom
Setting: North Carolina, New York
Period: 1993
Audio Cassette · Audioworks
Content warnings: terminal-illness