One Vacant Chair

Sarah's Aunt Edna paints portraits of chairs. The old house is filled with the paintings and the chairs themselves surround her work - a silent yet vigil audience. At the funeral of Grandma Hutton, who Edna had cared for through her terminal illness, Sarah begins helping her aunt clean up the last of a life. This includes honouring Grandma's surprising wish to have her ashes scattered in Scotland. As the novel moves from the oppressive heat of Texas to the misty beauty of Scotland, Sarah comes to learn about Edna's remarkable secret life on a journey of discovery.