Dad has fully recovered from his injury. He’s shaved off his moustache, and his dyed black hair has almost grown out. He has more threads of grey than before, but looks like my dad again. He’s rehearsing an Agatha Christie Miss Marple production with the Berwick-upon-Tweed Players. He says it’s the only way he can keep sane – losing himself in a role – pretending to be someone else. Ironically, he’s playing the murderer.

I guess we all have our methods of survival. Mine was alcohol. But I’m battling with my addiction, getting by without booze and feeling better for it.

Rosamund is awaiting trial. The prosecution are pushing for diminished responsibility. The distressing, emotional way she lost her baby when she was pushed against the coffee table, followed by the shock of killing Elise, left her in a delusional, psychotic state. Is it wrong that I feel sorry for her? Perhaps I understand more than some how traumatic it is to lose your unborn baby.

*

The doorbell rings. ‘That’ll be Finn and Julia,’ I call to Dad and Thomas, who are in the kitchen preparing dinner. I rise, and fling open the door.

‘Hey,’ Finn says, brandishing a bottle of wine I know I won’t touch.

‘Hey,’ I say, hugging them both.

We’ve become good friends – survivors of a terrible tragedy. I’ve been searching desperately for some good to come out of the terrors we’ve been through, and believe in Finn and Julia.

But whether they stay in our lives or not, my repair must come from inside of me. ‘To thine own self be true,’ Mr Shakespeare would have said, and I’m determined I will be.

I’m determined I won’t let everything that’s happened destroy us.

Gripped by Amelia’s story in I Lie in Wait? Don’t miss Her Last Lie, another heart-stopping thriller from Amanda Brittany. Available now!

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Acknowledgements

Firstly, I would like to thank my wonderful editor Belinda Toor who has been absolutely amazing. I’m so grateful for all her support in making I Lie in Wait the best it possibly can be.

Thank you to everyone at HQ; with huge thanks especially to Anna Sikorska for another fantastic cover design, to my excellent copy editor Helena Newton, to Abigail Fenton and to Christopher Sturtivant.

Thank you to my fabulous agent Kate Nash and her brilliant team, as well as her writers for their support since I joined the agency.