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Back The Newcomer Save as PDF
Chapters (71)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. 60
  64. 61
  65. 62
  66. 63
  67. Epilogue
  68. Acknowledgments
  69. Also by Mary Kay Andrews
  70. About the Author
  71. Newsletter Sign-up

“I’m so sorry,” Letty said, plunging into the pool. Maya reached up and wrapped her arms around Letty’s shoulders, hiding her head in the crook of her aunt’s neck. Letty patted the child’s back, but could already hear her sniffling and feel warm tears trickling down her neck.

The other swimmer reached the shallow end and stood up. It was Billie, their other neighbor.

“What happened?” Billie asked, looking from Ruth to Letty.

“Some people have no manners,” Ruth said indignantly. “She just let this kid jump on top of me.”

“It’s adult swim!” Billie said. “No kids in the pool during adult swim.”

“I’m sorry,” Letty repeated. “I had no idea. There wasn’t a sign or anything.”

“It’s common courtesy,” Ruth said. “Everybody here knows we swim laps from eight to nine every night. You didn’t see us? You just let your kid run loose, like a wild animal or something? I bet she’s not even wearing a swim diaper.”

“She’s not a wild animal. She’s a four-year-old child!” Letty exclaimed, feeling the rage building in her chest. “She’s been cooped up in a car or a motel room for three days and she just wanted to get in the pool and swim. Is that a crime? I’ve said I’m sorry she jumped on you. She won’t do it again, but there’s no need to get nasty.”

“I’m going to speak to Ava about this,” Ruth said. She turned to the other woman. “Come on, Billie. Let’s go.”

Billie nodded. “Newcomers!” she muttered, as she dog-paddled past Letty and the now-wailing Maya.

The two women climbed slowly up the concrete steps, water streaming from the baggy seats of their floral skirted swimsuits.

Maya lifted her head. “I’m sowwy, Letty,” she whispered.

5

SHE’D FINALLY MANAGED TO FALL asleep when she heard her phone ding softly from beneath her pillow. Letty looked anxiously down at Maya, who was burrowed into her side like a small, determined hedgehog. Or maybe a barnacle was a more apt description. Don’t wake up, she thought, reaching for the phone. Please don’t wake up.

It was another text from Zoey.

OMG. Evan showed up at my work today, yelling and carrying on about how I better tell him where you are. He almost got me fired. And then a cop came and asked a bunch of questions too. I told them I don’t know anything, because I don’t. They think you killed your sister. It’s crazy. Be careful, please.