MarilynBraun
Everyone who knew David Walker before 9/11 thinks he’s dead.
David Walker has two lives, the one before 9/11 and the one after. In his life before he is Michael David Walker Peterson. On September 11, 2001 amidst the chaos Michael sees an opportunity to start over. He leaves his life, his family and his identity behind and starts anew as David Walker. On the 15th anniversary of the attacks the past catches up with him when he sees his daughter read his name during a televised memorial ceremony. He must then choose to confront the past or continue to run from it.
Before the attacks Michael is married to Penny and he has an infant daughter, Angelica. He is dissatisfied with his life, his work and has a hard time dealing with Penny who suffers from post-partum depression. All of these factors, along with being involved in a string of robberies, make him decide to move to Toronto, Ontario, Canada to start his new life.
Throughout the novel David’s life is interwoven with the experience of those he left behind. His wife Penny moves on, remarries his best friend and starts a new family. His daughter Angelica grows up having no memory of her father. A former co-worker of his, Kristin Mantis, reported him to the authorities for the robberies, and thinks that he might still be alive. Penny discovers a bank account with activity on it, also thinking that Michael might be alive but ultimately decides to leave well enough alone.
David is secretive about his past. He has been dating his girlfriend, Melanie, for 5 years and she wants a commitment. She discovers his secret while looking at photos of the victims in a commemorative copy of People magazine. Melanie confronts David and breaks up with him. David decides to confront his past and eventually ends up as the one left behind. He must then decide whether to end his life or start a new one.