At dawn, Grace would have woken to a mouthful of fur, the leopard’s head resting gigantic on her knee. She would have thought: How gentle, this world. How tender, this mercy.
*
There would have been 6,552 babies. Over a span of eighteen years, 6,552 hearts would have beat unconscious, cocooned in the blank swim of their mothers’ wombs. 204 of those babies would have been born blue, then slapped awake. 81 would have died. But 6,471 infants would have taken their first gasps of oxygen as they slid from echoing caves—they’d have stretched their thrashing limbs into Jenny’s waiting hands.
Jenny would have been a blur. Their eyes, still so new, would not have been able to track her face. But 6,471 newborns would have felt the soothing capability of Jenny’s gloved palms, the humility of her fingertips as she checked their vitals, wiped them clean. They’d have heard Jenny’s voice, rumbling the same words every time she passed them into their mothers’ sticky arms.
Welcome, little one, Jenny would have whispered into each precious seashell ear.
You’ll see. It’s good here.
Acknowledgments
This book is dedicated to my literary agent, Dana Murphy, because I owe its existence to her profoundly generous mind. Dana held faith in my work through moments of existential fear and self-doubt—she provided wise counsel, a level voice, necessary honesty, and a tender understanding of the novel’s aim. I am lucky to call her my artistic soul mate and a dear, invaluable friend.
In my editor, Jessica Williams, I’ve found a warm creative home. Jessica saw straight down to the heart of this book, pulled out its best parts, and held them up to the light. I’m grateful to Jessica, and to Julia Elliott, for making this publishing experience feel dynamic, delightful, and extraordinarily rewarding.
Thank you to Liate Stehlik for her support, to Brittani Hilles and the William Morrow publicity team for their dedication, and to the HarperCollins sales force for their stunning show of enthusiasm. Thank you to production editor Jessica Rozler, copyeditor Andrea Monagle, and sensitivity reader Neha Patel. For his incisive help with detailed research, many thanks to Dylan Simburger. I’m grateful to the lovely ladies of the Book Group, and to Jenny Meyer for her belief in this novel’s life abroad; thank you to Darian Lanzetta, Austin Denesuk, Dana Spector, and the rest of the team at CAA. Thank you to Francesca Main and Phoenix Books for providing this novel a loving home in the UK.
I am forever indebted to Michelle Brower, who gave me a career as a literary agent—a job I didn’t know I needed, which has enriched my world so fully. Thank you to my colleagues at Aevitas Creative Management, and to my clients for trusting me with their words.
Thank you to my inimitable writing group here in Seattle: Kim Fu, Danielle Mohlman, and Lucy Tan, thank you for listening over coffee all these years. Thank you to Caitlin Flynn, for her steady friendship and passion for all things crime. Thank you to Mary Rourke and Janet Charbonnier, for providing an outlet and a source of comfort at Acorn Street Shop （also, lots of yarn）。 Thank you to Dominick Scavelli and Janelle Chandler for their help behind the scenes.
I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the crowd of friends that lifted me up along this particular winding path: Jenessa Abrams, Carla Bruce-Eddings, Al Guillen, Maggie Honig, Abi Inman, Zack Knoll, Ida Knox, Ellen Kobori, Danielle Lazarin, Emily McDermott, Kaitlyn Lundeby Miller, Karthika Raja, and many more. You know who you are.
I would not be here without my beloved family. Thank you to Arielle Kukafka, David Kukafka, Laurel Kukafka, and Joshua Kukafka. Thank you to Avi Rocklin, Talia Zalesne, and Zach Zalesne. Thank you to Shannon Duffy, Pete Weiland, and Maddy Weiland. Lisa Kaye, Aiden Kaye, and the whole extended crew. I love you all so much.
Thank you to Tory Kamen, because of course. To Hannah Neff, my oldest and always. To Remy-Bear, smallest of pups, sweetest of baby boys, source of constant and unbridled joy. Thank you to Liam Weiland, my love, for this astonishing life.
About the Author
DANYA KUKAFKA is the internationally bestselling author of Girl in Snow. She is a graduate of New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She works as a literary agent.
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