The bestselling author of "I Stay Here" and "When I Found You" tells a touching story about friendship and boundless love. Pearl has never had it easy in her life. By the time she becomes a mother, she is still a teenager herself. Nevertheless, Pearl is determined to give her little son Leonard unconditional love and ensure that he has a better life. When the past catches up with her one day, her five-year-old son suddenly ends up with her neighbor Mitch, a young man without a family of his own. The responsibility for the lovable and bright boy with thick glasses challenges carefree Mitch in entirely new ways. Yet, despite the age difference, an unusual and deep friendship blossoms between them, changing both of their lives forever. "The Presence of Happiness" was published in 2008.