Treading Deep Water

This warm, perceptive novel follows the story of three adult siblings, their survival of a past full of tragedy, and their struggle to bloom in a future filled with love.

No family is perfect. But for the adopted children of the McDell family, dysfunction and adversity seem to follow them wherever they go. Memories of childhood abuse and neglect finally surface in Deep Water, Colorado, as eldest sibling James returns for the funeral of his adoptive uncle.

James hasn't been back to Deep Water since graduating high school ten years ago. That was also the last time he saw his brother, Rory, and his sister, Kendall. But a heartfelt reunion is the last thing on his mind. He wishes to return only long enough to pay his final respects to Uncle Martin.

Kendall, a natural caregiver in spite of her damaged spirit, is also anxious about the reunion. But for Rory, spending time with Kendall means dealing with feelings he's not sure he can handle. James, once the family's anchor, fears that returning home will also mean being called upon to resume the the task he dreads the most: rescuing his siblings at the cost of his own identity.