If You Leave - Margaret Hutton

In the final year of World War II, Audrey is holding tightly to her dream of becoming a painter, while falling hard for a naval doctor. Not long after they marry he's sent overseas, leaving her alone in Washington, DC. On a whim, Audrey rents a room to Lucille, launching an unlikely friendship that's a comfort to them both. But nothing is quite what it seems in this profound and tightly woven story spanning nearly three decades. Although Lucille's past has been a mystery to Audrey, nothing prepares her for the shock when Lucille abandons their makeshift family-- including her child-- and retreats to her orchard home in North Carolina. When the women meet again in 1973, Lucille is intent on mending the past. But Audrey lost faith in Lucille's dependability years ago. Instead, she's focused on leaving her unhappy marriage. Lake, the daughter Lucille left behind, is trapped in an abusive relationship, seeking the love she has long felt missing. If You Leave is an intimate, immersive story exploring motherhood, love, and art-- the challenges of each-- as two mothers and one daughter carve a wayward path toward reconciliation.