“I had no idea. I thought…” I’d assumed the worst about my sister yet again and I regretted it. The bracelet had always symbolized my father’s love. Now memories of Claudia were mixed in, too. How she would have mocked me for being so overly sentimental about a bauble. Deep down, you’re pretty superficial, as she liked to tease me. “Did she tell you it was from our father?”

“She did. She told me that he always found very special presents for his children.” He touched my wrist, openly admiring the bracelet. “Claudia told me he was a wonderful father to both of you. She said she had been very lucky when he was alive.”

My eyes were welling with tears, but I smiled. “That’s because he always took her side when she was in trouble at school or anywhere else.” My father was the same way with me, but those occasions were rare. With Claudia, no matter how good her intentions, something always went sideways.

“I know,” said Tariq. “Even when our girl was being good, she was bad.”

Acknowledgments

This book wouldn’t be in your hands if it hadn’t been for a short story and the people who took notice of it. I will forever be indebted to Todd Robinson and Allison Glasgow, who gave my story “Anniversary” a home in Thuglit. Then Sarah Weinman, Martin H. Greenberg and Ed Gorman selected it for an anthology, and George Pelecanos and Otto Penzler named it as a distinguished story of the year. Next, agent Nat Sobel took notice, contacting me to ask if I’d thought about writing a novel.

Me? Funny you should ask.

Deepest thanks to my agent, Judith Weber, and to my editor, Paul Stevens, who both worked with me to make this book the best it could be. I’m also grateful to the staffs at Sobel Weber and at Forge, who’ve been so helpful.

Thanks to my wonderful Thursday night writers’ workshop: Susan Shapiro, Kate Walter, Royal Young, Rich Prior, Tony Powell, and Alice Feiring. I owe you an apology for keeping you in suspense for so long while forcing you to read eighteen different versions of Chapter 1. Many thanks as well to my other writers’ group—Beth Russell Connelly, Ellen Neuborne, Jenna Schnuer, Jessica DuLong, and Leslie Elman—for years of moral support and endless glasses of wine.

I’m also grateful to two sources, both of whom chose to remain anonymous, who opened up to me about their addictions. Thank you for your openness, your honesty, and your trust.