The children go back to their game. The girl stretches her feet to the sky. The mother goes back to her baby.
I want to believe it’s Genevieve, with her head tipped back, staring at the sky, and Ava, being rocked to sleep, beginning her life again right now. I hope, whoever they are, that they have a good life. I hope they live and love and know that there are people who love them back—in this life, and the last.
“I really can’t wait to teach you to swim,” Cameron says, hanging an arm over my shoulder. “I mean, seriously, you’re horrible. It’s like you have no natural instinct for survival.”
He opens the door of the mud-covered truck, and I climb in before him. “I bet you don’t even know how to drive,” he says.
“Add it to the list,” I say.
“I’ve got a long list,” he says.
I sit beside him on the bench seat in the front of the truck. Nobody follows us as we pull out of the lot, then onto the highway. Every few minutes, he catches my eye and smiles, and I can’t help doing the same. I spend a lot of the drive daydreaming—no nausea at all. Imagining what waits for us.
In my mind, I can see it already: feet in the sand, Cameron in the water, and my mother’s voice, calling me inside.
But for now, Cameron is sitting beside me and we’re in the cab of a truck, heading south. Next, we’ll get out and cross the river on foot. We’ll make it there, to Tierra de Sue?os and whatever awaits us.
We will make it.
I know we will.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to everyone who helped usher this book from idea to draft to finished product. I am so fortunate to have all your guidance and support.
My agent, Sarah Davies, whose thoughtful advice I rely on from the first pitch to the final book—and beyond. I’m so lucky to have you in my corner.
My editor, Emily Easton, who championed this idea when it was just a handful of pages and a chat over dinner, and who knew exactly what I was hoping this book would become—and showed me how to get it there.
The entire team at Bloomsbury, including Jenna Pocius, Patricia McHugh, Nicole Gastonguay, Lizzy Mason, Erica Barmash, Beth Eller, Linette Kim, and Courtney Griffin; and the teams at Bloomsbury UK and Australia, including Rebecca McNally, Natalie Hamilton, and Emma Bradshaw. It’s such a pleasure working with you all!
My talented and thoughtful critique partners: Elle Cosimano, Megan Shepherd, Ashley Elston, Jill Hathaway, and everyone at Bat Cave 2013. I’m so thankful for your feedback, and your friendship.
My mother, who will read every draft of everything I ever write; and my father, who tells everyone who will listen about my books.
And my husband, Luis, who declared this one his favorite idea.