Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. The GuardianBy Nicholas SparksWarner AdultCopyright © 2003Nicholas SparksAll right reserved.ISBN: 9781586213954Chapter OneFour Years LaterIn the years since Jim had died, Julie Barenson had somehow found away to start living again. It hadn't happened right away. The firstcouple of years after his death had been difficult and lonely, buttime had eventually worked its magic on Julie, changing her lossinto something softer. Though she loved Jim and knew that part ofher would always love Jim, the pain wasn't as sharp as it had oncebeen. She could remember her tears and the total vacuum her life hadbecome in the aftermath of his death, but the searing ache of thosedays was behind her. Now when she thought of Jim, she remembered himwith a smile, thankful that he'd been part of her life. She wasthankful for Singer, too. Jim had done the right thing by gettingher the dog. In a way, Singer had made it possible for her to go on.But at this moment, while lying in bed on a cool spring morning inSwansboro, North Carolina, Julie wasn't thinking about what awonderful support Singer had been during the past four years.Instead, she was mentally cursing his very existence while gaspingfor breath, thinking, I can't believe that this is the way I'm goingto die. Squashed in bed by my very own dog.With Singer splayed across her, pinning her to the mattress, sheimagined her lips turning blue from oxygen deprivation. "Get up, youlazy dog," she wheezed. "You're killing me here." Snoring soundly,Singer didn't hear her, and Julie began squirming, trying to bouncehim from his slumber. Suffocating beneath the weight, she felt as ifshe'd been wrapped in a blanket and tossed in a lake, Mafia style."I'm serious," she forced out, "I can't breathe." Singer finallylifted his massive head and blinked at her groggily. What's all theracket about? he seemed to be asking. Can't you see I'm trying torest here? "Get off!" Julie rasped out.Singer yawned, pushing his cold nose against her cheek. "Yeah, yeah,good morning," she gasped. "Now scoot." With that, Singer snortedand found his legs, further squashing various parts of her as he gotup. And up. And up. And up. A moment later, towering over her withjust a smudge of drool on his lips, he looked like something from alow-budget horror movie. Good Lord, she thought, he is huge. You'dthink that I'd be used to it by now. She took a deep breath andlooked up at him, frowning. "Did I say you could get into bed withme?" she asked. Singer usually slept in the corner of her room atnight. The past two nights, however, he'd crawled in with her. Or,more accurately, on top of her. Crazy dog.Singer lowered his head and licked her face. "No, you're notforgiven," she said, pushing him away. "Don't even bother trying toget out of this. You could have killed me. You're almost twice asheavy as I am, you know. Now get off the bed." Singer whined like apouting child before hopping down to the floor. Julie sat up, ribsaching, and looked at the clock, thinking, Already?She and Singer stretched at the same time before she pushed asidethe covers."C'mon," she said, "I'll let you out before I get in the shower. Butdon't go sniffing around the neighbors' garbage cans again. Theyleft a nasty message on the machine." Singer looked at her."I know, I know," she said, "it's only garbage. But some people arefunny that way."Singer left the bedroom, heading toward the front door. Julie rolledher shoulders as she followed him, her eyes closed for just amoment. Big mistake. On the way out of the bedroom, she slammed hertoe against the dresser. The pain shot from her toe up through herlower leg. After the initial scream, she began to curse, combiningprofanity in all sorts of marvelous permutations. Hopping on onefoot in her pink pajamas, she was sure she looked like some sort ofderanged Energizer Bunny. Singer merely gave her a look that seemedto imply, What's the holdup? You got me up, remember,