After 40 years of marriage, Olivia Glass thought she could handle the unexpected death of her husband. But when Ben’s will reveals a life-altering secret, she suffers a blow no widow should ever experience.
Olivia learns that she gave birth to a baby who later died in the nursery. Instead of telling his wife what happened, Ben switched the child with another. And as if that’s not enough, Ben’s will doesn’t reveal which of their five sons is truly not hers.
While an attorney searches for answers, Olivia visits each of her sons to share a final connection before facing the truth that will change their family, and discovers that each of them has been harboring a painful secret, just like their father.
Olivia challenges herself to re-assemble and save their relationships. But will the secrets destroy their family beyond repair?
Praise for WATCHING GLASS SHATTER:
"Author James J. Cudney’s début novel is both atmospheric and contemplative, and delivers a gut punch of family angst, devotion, and heartbreaking love" - Cammie Adams, Amazon review
"One of the best literary books I've read." - Cathleen Townsend, Amazon review
Amazon bestselling author.
Ben uncrossed his legs and hunched forward. Wobbly knees trembled under the mahogany desk as he fought to suppress his plaguing nausea.
“Do you have any specific instructions on how I should handle the matter?” Ira Rattenbury’s mellow voice echoed off the thin, panel-covered walls of an office hiding in Brandywine’s downtown historic square.
“I hoped you might have a solution. This was a difficult decision.” Ben lifted his head from a determined stare at the envelopes he’d dropped on the desk. Uncertain how to broach a troublesome topic, he removed and cleaned his wire-framed spectacles and replaced them on his pale and furrowed face, shuddering at the reflection of graying hair at his temples.
“Altering your last will can disturb your long-held confidences in prior decisions. Do the envelopes contain a change to the estate’s division among your heirs?” Ira shuffled through the paperwork strewn across his desk.
“No.” Ben inhaled the scent of the sandalwood candle Ira’s secretary lit outside the frosted glass office door, its pungent burn reaching his unprepared nose.
Ira’s face crinkled. “Did you acquire new assets we need to account for?”
