Hopefully Laura’s learned her lesson. She might even think she deserved to have that accident. Karma. The Universe. But there’s been no sign of an apology. No explanation. She said in one of her emails that she thought Greg was seeing someone else … Was that her way of trying to tell Carrie something? Was she waiting until Carrie got back home to confess all? Or was she going to stay silent, hoping that Carrie would never find out? Was it a one-off, or was it more? How long had it been going on? Carrie doesn’t even know who sent the image, or why. Was someone else out to hurt her?

Carrie’s chest flutters, and she feels a sudden urge to cry. It was easier to keep her emotions in check when she was filled to the brim with drink and drugs. Now, in this sober return to reality, the betrayal hits hard. A lump sticks in her throat, and she has to cough to release it.

To breathe.

The voice on the tannoy tells everyone to turn off their electronic equipment for take-off. She clicks her phone on to flight mode and leans back in her seat. Outside, the dark clouds have gathered, the day appearing like night, but for a slice of sunlight snaking through.

It’s going to be a bumpy ride, she thinks.

Oh Laura … what am I going to do with you?

Acknowledgements

In 2006, I took a round-the-world trip with my (not yet) husband, Jamie (aka JLOH) – including several (smelly) days on the Trans-Siberian Express. While on it, I read Stephen King’s brilliant On Writing and decided that I would start writing my own book. This is not the book that I started then, and there have been five others in between, but it was inevitable that the trip would feature in one of my stories one day … and that day has finally come.

He normally gets the final line in my acknowledgments, but in this case, he’s going at the top. Thank you, JLOH – for spending six months with me and two rucksacks, having fun and adventures across several continents (visiting many Irish bars along the way). Apart from anything else, we now have a shared, life-long love of Chinese dumplings, and memories that will last forever – some of which have been) fictionalised* and included in this book. (*Ewe’s milk tea, however, is very much real. Eeuw.)

Thank you, as always, to my brilliant agent, Phil Patterson, for always believing in what I do – and to all at Marjacq Scripts for their unwavering support. I couldn’t do it without you.

Huge thanks to Karen Sullivan and all of #TeamOrenda for continuing to publish the most beautiful, diverse and special books with a level of passion and enthusiasm that cannot be matched.