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Back The Copycat Save as PDF
Chapters (68)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Chapter One
  7. Three
  8. Four
  9. Five
  10. Six
  11. Chapter Two
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Chapter Three
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Chapter Four
  19. Twelve
  20. Thirteen
  21. Fourteen
  22. Chapter Five
  23. Fifteen
  24. Sixteen
  25. Chapter Six
  26. Seventeen
  27. Eighteen
  28. Nineteen
  29. Chapter Seven
  30. Twenty
  31. Twenty-One
  32. Twenty-Two
  33. Chapter Eight
  34. Twenty-Three
  35. Twenty-Four
  36. Twenty-Five
  37. Chapter Nine
  38. Twenty-Six
  39. Twenty-Seven
  40. Chapter Ten
  41. Twenty-Eight
  42. Twenty-Nine
  43. Thirty
  44. Thirty-One
  45. Chapter Eleven
  46. Thirty-Two
  47. Thirty-Three
  48. Thirty-Four
  49. Thirty-Five
  50. Chapter Twelve
  51. Thirty-Six
  52. Thirty-Seven
  53. Thirty-Eight
  54. Chapter Thirteen
  55. Thirty-Nine
  56. Forty
  57. Forty-One
  58. Forty-Two
  59. Chapter Fourteen
  60. Forty-Three
  61. Forty-Four
  62. Forty-Five
  63. Forty-Six
  64. Forty-Seven
  65. Chapter Fifteen
  66. The Following Summer
  67. About the Author
  68. About the Publisher

“He was even nominated for Academy Awards,” she’d said with pride.

Walter’s face appeared in no fewer than ten frames. He’d autographed them all the same way: To Gigi, with much love, Walter. Gigi had been in her twenties in the 1940s. Ali wondered if they’d ever met.

Gigi deposited the seeds and squirrel on the windowsill and waved her over. Despite Gigi’s flannel nightgown and the fact that she was cocooned within several layers of thick wool blankets and seated on a chintz-covered chair, she exuded the aura of a queen in her throne room: regal and elegant. A mug of hot chocolate still steamed on the small table next to her. A copy of The Golden Compass lay open on her lap. Ali made a mental note not to mention it, to avoid further spoilers.

Since the squirrel was still on the windowsill, Ali hopped onto Gigi’s bed so there was at least ten feet between herself and its germs. Though Ali had only lived with Gigi for two weeks, she already knew that some days were better for her great-grandmother than others. Today was a better day; her hair and makeup were done. Sure, the part was crooked, the rhinestone hair clips that held back her bangs were lopsided, and the blush was a little too pink, but at least she’d tried.

ALI’S ANIMAL RULES

  1. It would be nice if the dog in your house wasn’t your father.
  2. Wild animals belong OUTDOORS.

Gigi leaned forward and peered at Ali over the top of her turquoise glasses. “So?”

“It went okay. Guess what? Alfie Sloane goes to Princess Elizabeth School!”

Gigi clapped her hands. “I thought he might!”

“Why didn’t you tell me he was in Saint John?” Ali demanded. She received a shrug.

“I’m old. I forgot.” Gigi said that a lot, but Ali didn’t buy it. Gigi knew everything. “Isn’t it amazing that you’ve both moved to Saint John at the same time?” Gigi continued. “It’s like it was meant to be. Did you meet him?”

“Not yet, but I will soon. He’s joining the debate club, so I am too.”

“I’m not surprised. Did you know I was a debater at university?”

Ali shook her head. She knew very little about Gigi’s life. Until two weeks ago, she’d never set foot in Saint John. Gigi had come to visit Ali’s family three times a year until the apartments became too ratty for even her adventurous spirit. After that she stayed in hotels and took them out to eat in fancy restaurants.

“Once I meet Alfie, I’ll bring him home to meet you.”

“You’re a sweet girl, Alison. Wouldn’t it be nice if he came to my hundredth birthday celebration?”