He looks uncertain because this is new to both of us and we still don’t know the rules.

“I think so,” I say.

I watch Nia chase Aaron, his giggles filling the park. Then I close my eyes and imagine Amy playing here with the brother she lost far too soon.

Will’s silhouette dances away from me, a shape I can’t fill in. But Amy’s is crystal clear, and she looks beautifully, blissfully happy.

I know she’s not that person anymore, but I hope that, one day, if she wants to, she’ll come here with us.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my wife, Rachel, for your unwavering support. From the moment I told you I dreamed of being an author, you have encouraged and believed in me, and that means the world.

To Charlie—you are the smartest and funniest person I know. Thank you for filling every day with laughter…and for sleeping so I could write this in the gaps between our adventures. And to Lucas—you may have only just arrived but I am so pleased you got to see this book’s publication. Thank you for completing our family.

Thank you to Claire Wilson, who is undeniably the best agent in the business. I am so grateful for everything you do, and I now have two books that only exist because of your faith and support.

Thank you to everyone at Sourcebooks who has played a role in bringing this book to an American audience, including Steve Geck, Cassie Gutman, Beth Oleniczak, and Meaghan Summers.

I am so grateful to Nicole Hower and Kelly Lawler for designing such a wonderful cover. It might just be my favorite one yet.

I owe huge thanks to my UK editor Carmen McCullough at Penguin Random House. I will never forget your reaction when you first read this story. Writing a second book is scary and incredibly uncertain, but your feedback immediately calmed my fears. I have loved working with you on this one from the very beginning.

Thank you also to Millie Lean for working so closely with Carmen. Your enthusiasm for these characters was clear from the outset, and your notes were invaluable.

Wendy Shakespeare—your brilliance is no secret, but I will add to the praise regardless. Thank you and everyone on your team for the intricate work you do to ensure this and every book is as good as it can be. That includes my copy editor Jane Tait, whose eye for detail is amazing, and my proofreaders Marcus Fletcher and Leena Lane.

Thank you to everyone else who has worked with me at PRH, most notably Maeve Banham, Anne Bowman, Toni Budden, and Harriet Venn.

Thank you so much to Emily Hayward-Whitlock and Fern McCauley at the Artists Partnership, and to Miriam Tobin and Safae El-Ouahabi for all your work at RCW.