Maya loves this bit after every trip, the sense of possibility that comes with a freshly emptied bag, waiting for the next adventure.
Her sneakers are at the very bottom, the ones she’d worn on the beach that day. Shaking them vigorously into the sink, sand skitters out over the stainless steel, and with it comes a flash of Jo’s face as Maya had stepped toward her.
She’d found Jo staring out to sea, sniveling, self-indulgent. Maya could tell that when Jo turned, she thought it was Hana, ready to continue their argument about Liam. Jo’s mouth was already half open, ready to apologize, worm her way back into her sister’s affections.
When she saw it was Maya instead, she smiled in relief. Jo didn’t notice the rock in Maya’s hand—it wouldn’t even enter her mind that her cousin would hurt her. Maya’s always been in the background, meant to be grateful. Grateful that Jo had got her a job, a job that she’d then taken away. Grateful that Jo and Bea and Hana had absorbed her into their family unit after what had happened to Sofia.
But what Jo didn’t know is that Maya saw her. Really saw her. Saw who she was inside: someone grasping, selfish, the kind of selfish that doesn’t even recognize itself because it’s cloaked in laughter and teasing and couldn’t care less. Maya saw that Jo was jealous of her—even as a child—just like she was jealous of everyone who had what she didn’t have. Jealous of Maya’s pretty room, her matching curtains, her kind mother and father.
Maya saw that Jo was the type of person who’d take a match and light up her cousin’s striking embroidered curtains when she thought Maya was asleep, not stopping to think of the consequences.
For years, Maya thought she’d dreamed it—waking up to see Jo by the curtain, watching the flames lick the fabric, eyes wide open, reflecting the glow of the fire, match still held aloft in her hand.
Maya knew Jo wouldn’t do anything like that. She loved Maya. She was family. There was no way that her cousin would start a fire, a fire that went on to change Sofia’s life forever.
But then, as they grew up, she saw a pattern repeated—not just with Maya, but with Hana, too; and most recently, with Liam.
Jo saw something new and shiny of Hana’s that she had to take, and if she couldn’t take, she destroyed.
Maya, watching from inside, had admired Hana’s self-control after Jo confessed everything, how she’d released her grip on Jo’s wrist and walked away.
But Maya didn’t have the same self-control, she had something better—a plan. And because of that plan, Jo wouldn’t be able to take anything from anyone again.
She lifts up her bag. There’s still sand everywhere. She’ll have to shake it outside against the patio furniture. If that doesn’t work, she’ll raise the stakes: wedge the handheld hoover inside.
It takes time and effort to remove something so persistent, but she’ll get there.
Get rid of every little trace.
Acknowledgments
It was never going to be easy to write a book during a global pandemic, and I’d like to express my thanks to the people who helped bring this book to life during this challenging time.
First, a huge thanks to my amazing literary agent, Charlotte Seymour. Your ongoing support and kindness is something I value so much and has meant the world over the past eighteen months. What a journey so far and hopefully a lot further to travel!
At Pamela Dorman Books/Viking Books in the U.S., a huge thank-you to the talented Jeramie Orton for investing your skill and time to help develop the story—in every draft your eagle eye and professionalism has brought the story on in leaps and bounds. Special mention, too, for Pamela Dorman for her support, to the excellent Jane Cavolina for her immense skill and talent with the copyediting, and to Tess Espinoza, Tricia Conley, and Lavina Lee for ensuring the book moves through production so smoothly.
To Ben Petrone and Bel Banta, my publicists in the U.S., thank you both so much for all your hard work. I love how you have ushered my books with such care into the U.S. market and helped them find their place in it—no mean feat! Another massive thank-you to Mary Stone for her hard work and brilliant marketing—I have loved watching the campaigns come to life. I also want to thank Ervin Serrano and Roseanne Serra for the brilliant cover design and direction. I love how you bring the book to life so well.
Another big thank-you has to go to Reese Witherspoon and the wonderful team at Reese’s Book Club—selecting my debut as the February 2021 pick changed my world in the best possible way and proved to be such a motivation whilst I was writing this book. I’ll always be grateful.