I haven’t told her the truth about her father yet, or about her birth mother, and her therapist agrees it’s best to wait. She thinks that her dad had to leave the country for work, and we’re still figuring out how and when to tell her he’s not coming back. When she is old enough to know more, perhaps she will want to visit him, but I’ll leave it up to her. In the meantime, Gigi and Ed have become surrogate grandparents to her, and their presence in her life has somewhat mitigated the loss of her family. I’d love to move back to Philadelphia with her so I can be closer to them, but I can’t leave the state until I’m able to adopt her. I hope that day will arrive before too long.
There are other reasons I’d like to go back. Hailey and I have remained close, and we talk a few times a week. Gabriel took some time away from the gallery to get his head together, she tells me, and he spent some time working for an organization in India that helps street children. I haven’t seen or heard from him since that terrible night we said goodbye in the police station, but Hailey’s told me that he’s coming home next month, and she’s invited me to his welcome-back party.
I told her I’d think about it. In truth, I’ve thought about it quite a bit. Imagined it really, seeing him again after all this time, embracing, maybe starting anew. But a lot can change in a year, and reality has eluded me for so long that I’m not going to indulge in fantasies. It’s enough to know that I’m no longer filled with missing pieces, to know myself and be rid of the doubts that used to plague me. Whatever happens or doesn’t happen with Gabriel, I will continue moving forward with hope and purpose.
I am coming to terms with all I’ve lost, but I’m learning to be grateful for what I do have. I now look in the mirror and recognize the reflection looking back at me. I like her. A lot. I am even beginning to appreciate all I’ve been through, the good and the bad. Those experiences have all contributed to making me the woman I see in the mirror today. A woman who is learning to become just as comfortable in front of the camera as behind it. A woman who is no longer a stranger.
Acknowledgments
We give grateful thanks to our readers and hope we will continue to entertain and surprise you. Our gratitude also to the wonderful librarians and booksellers everywhere—your support means everything to us.
It’s a rare privilege to love the work you do and to be fortunate enough to also love those with whom you work. Our heartfelt thanks to our amazing team at HarperCollins. Thank you, Jonathan Burnham and Doug Jones, for your continued support. Huge thanks to Emily Griffin, our wise and talented editor—you are the one who perfects the work and brings out our best. Heather Drucker, our brilliant and tireless publicist: we are so lucky to be in your capable hands. Immense thanks to Katie O’Callaghan, our superb marketing guru, and the wonderful Sales, Marketing, and Production teams. Thanks also to Virginia Stanley and the fabulous Library Marketing team for your steadfast support and enthusiasm. Deep appreciation to Miranda Ottewell for your eagle eye in refining context/chronology and helping to keep track of details. Our heartfelt thanks to Julia Wisdom, Kathryn Cheshire, Fliss Denham, and the team at HarperCollins UK, for your creativity and all you do an ocean away.
To Bernadette Baker-Baughman, our extraordinary literary agent, everything began with you. We are forever indebted to you for your faith in us and your steady and judicious navigation of our careers. You are the perfect partner. To Victoria Sanders and the VSA team, thank you for all you do for us. We love working with you.
To our exceptional film agent, Dana Spector, deepest gratitude for your unwavering efforts to bring our characters to life on film. We so appreciate your dedication to us and your belief in our stories.
To Travis Seal, huge thanks for sharing your immense knowledge and love of Philadelphia, which was invaluable. And thank you, Sharon Seal, for connecting us.
To Lieutenant Steven B. Tabeling III, retired from the Baltimore Police Department, our thanks for always being at the end of the phone whenever we have a police procedural question. Your helpfulness knows no bounds.
Thanks to Special Agent Chris Munger for your help with our law enforcement questions, your generosity in sharing your time and knowledge, and your friendship.
Many thanks to our first readers, Dee Campbell, Honey Constantine, Lynn Constantine, and Cindy Graham, for your time and much-valued feedback.
And finally to our families. Your love and encouragement really do make it possible. To Rick and Colin, you are our rocks and safe landing places—and the best decisions these sisters ever made.