A love-at-first-sight romance becomes an unforgettable testament to devotion in the face of the unimaginable. At eighteen, Patty meets Brian-a brilliant, big-hearted saxophonist whose music and spirit light up every room. Their whirlwind courtship leads from small-town Nebraska to the sun-washed streets of Bordeaux, France, where dreams feel limitless-until sudden illness shatters everything. When encephalitis steals Brian's independence, Patty chooses love without conditions, returning home and dedicating herself to his care for sixteen years.
Told with candor, warmth, and lyrical detail,
Afterall
traces a journey from butterflies and mixtapes to hospital rooms and hard-won hope-a story about what endures when life doesn't go to plan. It's a memoir of music and marriage, grief and grace, and the everyday acts of tenderness that define true commitment. Readers who believe in soulmates-and in the quiet, stubborn power of love-will carry this book long after the final page.