Big Lies in a Small Town: A Novel

Oliver and Morgan recount Anna’s story to Lisa. She is interested, but she is also more focused on ensuring that the mural is ready for the gallery opening. Morgan is nearly finished but still fears that she won’t be able to meet the deadline two days later. She works late into the night, and Oliver drives her back to Lisa’s house. The sexual tension between them is palpable, but Oliver doesn’t act on it.

The next morning, Oliver gives Emily Maxwell’s contact information to Morgan. She tries to stay focused on her work, but her fears of meeting Emily loom large in her mind. After several hours, Oliver gives Morgan a break, and she strolls through the finished gallery. On display are works of student art, young artists nurtured by Jesse over the years. Examining the art, Morgan realizes that her true passion is not in creating art—she was never a stellar art student—but in restoring it. For the rest of the day, she and Oliver work together on the mural. He asks about Trey, and she recounts her loveless childhood. Eager to shift the topic of conversation, they play music and return to work. As Morgan works to restore Anna’s signature, she notices something startling with the “D.”

With a shock, Morgan sees a small purple iris in Anna’s name, the same iris present in the work of another artist whose painting hangs in the gallery: Judith Shipley. With a start, Morgan realizes that Judith and Anna are the same person; Anna has continued to paint under an assumed name all these years. Oliver arranges to have an authenticator examine the work, and Morgan suggests that they contact Judith, who is living in New York.

The text next to Judith’s painting, Daisy Chain, details her unknown origins, her place in the art movements of the 1950s to 1980s, and her current interest in nurturing young talent.

Morgan and Oliver inform Lisa of the possible Anna/Judith connection, and she swears them to secrecy until it can be authenticated. In the meantime, she gives her approval for Oliver—not Morgan—to contact Judith and see if he can tease out any further information. However, Morgan is the one to make the call inviting Judith to the opening, but she is told that “Ms. Shipley no longer travels” (359).

Morgan and Oliver continue working together on the mural, and by 3 o’clock in the morning, they are finished. Oliver drives her home, and as they sit in the driveway, he confesses his love for her.

On the morning of the opening, Morgan walks to the gallery. The mural is hung, and Morgan admires its strange beauty. Lisa hugs Morgan and expresses her gratitude to her for “sav[ing her] house” (363). Morgan decides to pursue art restoration as a career. The gallery opening is hailed as being “extraordinary,” and the attendees include both local press and visitors from as far away as Washington, D.C. Afterward, Lisa invites Morgan to stay on, for she is aware of Morgan’s romantic feelings for Oliver. Lisa also informs Morgan that Jesse’s will stipulates that, if Morgan wants to further her education, his estate will cover the tuition. As Morgan and Oliver tidy up the gallery, a limousine pulls up, and Judith steps out.

Judith steps into the gallery. When she sees the restored mural, she is dumbstruck. Her reaction removes any doubt in Morgan’s mind that she is indeed Anna Dale, and moments later, Judith confirms it. She then fills in the gaps of her history. After serving in the Army, Jesse returned to Edenton, and Peter, who is now chief of police, buried the murder case. Anna and Jesse later reconnected in New York, where they were both successful artists; Jesse’s insistence on August 5 as the opening coincides with Anna’s 100th birthday. As they all gaze at the mural, Judith suddenly turns to Morgan and says, “I think I know why Jesse chose you to do this work” (376).

When Judith learns that Morgan’s last name is Christopher, she speculates that Morgan may be descended from the son she gave away 78 years ago. Morgan calls her parents to confirm her grandfather’s birthplace and learns that he was indeed born in Edenton and had red hair. Morgan is therefore the great-granddaughter of Anna Dale, which is why Jesse chose her to restore the mural.

Oliver drives Morgan to Emily Maxwell’s house. As she approaches the front door, she reflects on the past year and on all the challenges she has met and overcome: getting sober, restoring an important piece of art, and finding real love. She rings the bell and steels herself for one more challenge.