I’d cried after reading the card, but I’d taken the framed photo of Amber and Sara up to my room and set it on my desk. Then I’d rummaged through a special box I’d kept hidden under my bed, and I’d brought out a framed photo of Sophie and me, in our fishtail braids, hugging each other and looking forward to a future where we’d be best friends forever. The gift from Sara had felt so magical, and I’d had the strongest feeling that Amber had somehow influenced Sara’s decision to send me the image and the note.
“Message, received,” I’d said to her photo, and I’d known in that moment that I could find a way to forgive Sophie simply because having her in my life meant more to me than almost anything else.
In the meantime, Cole and I had continued to hang out, and we’d officially changed our statuses to “In a relationship” on both our Facebook profile pages. I found myself falling in love with him with each passing day.
And today, on my birthday, he and I had gone with Mom to pick up our newest addition—a little eight-year-old, twelve-pound mixed breed named Scamp, whom we’d rescued from the shelter. Mom was currently walking around with him, rocking him in her arms.
“He’s so adorable!” she kept saying. I think she already loved him more than I did.
Cole leaned over when Mom went in to get the pup some water and kissed me sweetly. When he lifted his face away, he set something in my hand.
“What’s this?” I asked, looking down at the rectangular box covered in pink wrapping paper that he’d given me.
“Open it,” he replied, without even a hint of what it was.
I pulled at the wrapping paper and got the lid off to reveal a gorgeous bracelet made of perfectly spaced beads of amber. “Ohmigod,” I whispered. “Cole!”
“You like it?”
“I love it!” I said.
“I made it,” he added proudly.
I laughed. “I can tell!” He helped me put it on and I admired it on my wrist. He still wore the amber bead at his neck, and I loved that he continued to silently honor Amber that way.
Cole had been the one to visit Mrs. Greeley and tell her what’d happened. He’d apologized to her on behalf of his family and he told me she’d cried for a long time, but she’d thanked him in the end. She’d told him he’d brought her peace and she knew her daughter could finally rest.
I knew it, too.
The doorbell rang and I sprang to my feet, almost too excited for words. “I’ll get it!” I yelled as I raced past the screen door, through the living room, down the hallway, and to the front door. Taking just a moment to pause in front of the mirror hanging in the front foyer, I smoothed out my hair and tried to compose myself. When I opened the door I saw a beautiful girl there with long black hair, big brown eyes, and a smile as wide as Georgia.
“Lily!” she cried, flinging her arms around me.
I hugged her back so tight and felt the tears slide out from tightly closed lids. For a long time, we were too overcome to speak, and we just stood there hugging each other. At last we pulled away and I reached down and took her hand, silently thanking Amber for inspiring me to make this moment happen.
“Come to the back,” I said. “I can’t wait for you to meet my boyfriend!”
Taking charge of her, I marched us through the house to the deck again, and when Cole turned to look up at us I said, “Cole, meet my best friend, Sophie. Sophie, this is Cole.”
I’D VERY MUCH LIKE TO EXPRESS my sincerest gratitude to my dear friend and agent, Jim McCarthy, my wonderful editor, Kieran Viola, and everyone else at Hyperion who has worked so hard to bring this novel together.
I’d also like to thank all those in my personal life who consistently support (i.e. don’t seem to mind) the long hours I work; the missed weddings, parties, weekends, and evenings out I fail to attend; the emails, cards, gifts, and letters I either flat-out ignore or am horribly late to acknowledge; and my general appearance on those mornings when I’m waaaaay behind deadline. You all have the patience of saints, and I’m very happy you’re all still in my corner!
Last, one very special shout-out to my amazing sister, Sandy, and her beautiful beau, Steve. This book is for the two of you. Love you. In this life and the next.
VICTORIA LAURIE is the New York Times best-selling author of the critically acclaimed YA thriller When, and also writes extensively in the adult paranormal mystery genre. She currently lives and works in a quaint little suburb in Michigan where she provides food, love, and shelter to a lippy parrot named Doc and a ginger-colored pup named Ember. To find out more about her and her books, please visit victorialaurie.com.