Desire After Dark: A Gansett Island Novel by Marie Force

to nowhere good. She clicked on an email and tried to lose herself in someone else’s problems, a practice that had been strangely cathartic since she’d been writing the column.
    Dear Erin,
    I’m not sure if youcan help me, but I don’t know where else to turn. So many of her letters were from teenage girls who were afraid to tell anyone else their problems. Even if she didn’t feature their questions in the column, she replied to every one of them, hoping her words might make some small difference to a struggling teen.
    I caught my brother stealing from a localstore and confronted him. He said his friends dared him and it was a one-time thing. Then I saw him do it again. We were at the drugstore, and he put things in his pocket and walked out without paying. His friends weren’t there. It was just the two of us. I want to find a way to stop him without getting him into trouble with the police, and I don’t want him to hate me for ratting on him. Please helpme. I can’t sleep or eat or do anything but picture my brother in jail.
    Sincerely,
    Tara
    Dear Tara,
    Your brother is lucky to have a sister who cares for him as much as you do. I understand your desire to protect him, but you can only do so much. If you’re unable to speak to one or both of your parents about what your brother isdoing, I urge you to talk to another adult you trust, a teacher, school counselor, neighbor or coach, someone who can help you navigate this situation. Tell them what you’ve told me and ask for help. Your brother may be angry at first, but one day he’ll thank you for keeping him out of big trouble. Please write to me and let me know how your situation resolves itself.
    Hugs,
    Erin
    She had a team of experts on retainer whom she could call on to advise her on how to answer questions when needed, but some, like Tara’s, were more clear-cut. The girl needed to tell someone she trusted and allow them to relieve her burden. She hoped Tara would write back to let her know the outcome.
    Sometimes people wrote back to say her advice had backfiredand made a bad situation worse. Erin tried to learn from that kind of feedback, but the disclaimer at the bottom of each column and email absolved her of any binding responsibility toward the people she corresponded with. And the paper’s legal team vetted every answer before it went live online or in the paper.
    Dear Erin,
    My life has been destroyed by the discoverythat my husband is having an affair—with my friend. I’m devastated, angry, hurt and so many other things I can’t begin to put into words. Having been betrayed by two people I loved is ruining me. I can’t find a way out of this unbearable pain. Please tell me how to make myself feel better and how to live without these two people who were so important to me.
    Debbie
    God, what to even say to this one?
    Dear Debbie,
    I’m so sorry this has happened to you. Sometimes there are no words that can bring comfort in a situation like this. But I will say that over time, you’ll find a way to go on, even if that seems impossible right now. It’s important to change your routine, to meet new people who interest you and to make new friends.New hobbies and new activities, such as joining a gym or taking a dance class, can lead to new people. Some would say that forgiveness can help you find the path forward. That may or may not work for you, but I put it out there as a possibility you might want to explore. You won’t ever forget what happened, but perhaps if you can forgive them, you can set yourself free in the process. In themeantime, rely on the people who bring you joy and please let me know how you’re doing. I’ll be thinking of you and wishing you well.
    Hugs,
    Erin
    She answered three more inquiries—one from a woman coping with the loss of her mother, another from a bride-to-be who’d changed her mind about getting married and was looking for a graceful way out, and a thirdfrom a young man who wanted a certain girl to