Saving Alice

Very early in life, Stephen Whitaker had determined he was never going to be like his dad, a loser in every way, as far as Stephen could tell. From then on, his goal was to distance himself from those early years in Aberdeen, South Dakota. And his efforts were paying off - top grades in high school, an ivy-league university, a great job offer with a New York law firm after he graduated . . . and he had an engagement ring in his pocket and the proposal all worked out for lovely, talented Alice. . . . Losing Alice was the event that changed for Stephen. Back in Aberdeen, he attempted to pick up the pieces of his life. He married best friend Donna, and they had a precocious daughter with whom Stephen immediately bonded. He went into business with his high school buddy, and it looked like he had things back in hand. The gradual downward spiral began so slowly that Stephen wasn't paying attention as his life started to spin out of control. And then it was too late . . . Or was it?