BooksBarbecue
Back The Newcomer
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

“Like Elsa,” Isabelle said, laughing at her own joke. “Well, I know I’m being selfish, but I hope you don’t leave anytime soon. My mom really, really likes you, and of course, she freakin’ adores Maya. I think it’s great that she can leave here for a few hours every day and have a life, knowing that you’re here and have things under control. I’ve been kind of worried, you know? About what will happen when I leave for school in the fall. I mean, Joe’s around, but not really around all the time like I am. I love my brother, but he’s kinda clueless when it comes to family stuff.”

“I envy you your relationship with your mom,” Letty said wistfully. “We didn’t really have that with my mom, growing up.”

“You and your sister? Maya’s mom?”

“Yeah,” Letty said.

“Is your mom around?” Isabelle asked. “I mean, she’s not dead, right?”

“No, she’s just not in my life. Hasn’t been for a long time,” Letty admitted. “She wasn’t what you’d call a traditional mom. She shipped us off to live with our grandparents when we were bratty teenagers and she was in the process of splitting up with her husband. We finished high school in West Virginia, then Tanya and I both kind of did our own thing.”

“Tanya?” Isabelle looked startled. “That’s your sister’s name? The one who died?”

Letty knew instantly, from the look on Isabelle’s face, that she shouldn’t have let Tanya’s name slip. But it was too late to take it back now.

“Yes,” she said.

“Oh my God,” Isabelle said slowly. “That’s why I keep thinking Maya looks so familiar. Why you look vaguely familiar.” She studied Letty’s face. “She was taller, and her hair was red. Your hair is darker, and you’ve got brown eyes. Different mouth, too.”

“We’re half sisters,” Letty said. “Irish twins, my mom used to like to say. She split from my dad right after I was born, and got involved and pregnant, with Tanya’s dad on the rebound. They never actually married, which was just as well, so she just gave Tanya my dad’s name. It was easier that way. For her.”

“Oh my God,” Isabelle repeated. “Tanya was your sister. Maya’s mother. I can’t believe it. Does my mom know? Does Joe?”

“No!” Letty said. She gave Isabelle a pleading look. “Are you going to tell them?”

“No. But will you tell me what’s going on? Why you’re here?”

Letty folded and unfolded a top sheet, trying to make up her mind. She desperately wanted to confide in someone. Maybe saying Tanya’s name wasn’t an accident. Maybe it was the universe’s way of letting her know it was okay to trust.