Her One Mistake(94)
Then along came Nelle. You picked my book off the slush pile and told me we were going to work hard and yes, we certainly did! It took a year of rewrites until I finally heard you utter those magical words—Your book is ready to fly. Nelle Andrew, I would not be allowed enough pages to harp on about how fantastic you are. I could not have wished for a bigger champion. Thank you so much for believing in me and for taking me on this incredible journey. And big thanks also to the wider team at PFD, including my wonderful step-agent, Marilia Savvides, and the fantastic rights teams: Alexandra Cliff, Jonathan Sissons, Zoe Sharples, Rebecca Wearmouth, and Laura Otal. You have all worked so hard to make this a success.
When we did finally let my book fly I was fortunate that two incredible editors fell in love with it. Emily Griffin at Cornerstone and Marla Daniels at Gallery—I am thrilled to be working with you both. Your observations and direction are spot-on and between you, you took the story to another level.
Finally my wonderful family. Mum, ever since I was eight you have been telling me I can write and you have never stopped supporting me since. I have never lacked love or encouragement. Whatever choices I have made, you’ve always remained unconditionally by my side and these are things that matter the most. I know how proud you are, and I know how proud Dad would have been too.
My husband, John—five years ago I probably wouldn’t have taken the time to “see if I could write a book” if it weren’t for you. Your belief in me has not once wavered and I needed this more than I’ve probably ever told you. Thank you for reading the book nearly as many times as me and for your editorial input. I’m always telling you you know too much but in this instance I appreciate it! You make me laugh every day and are the kindest man I could wish to have met. Thank you for being you.
And my beautiful Bethany and Joseph. My proudest achievements ever. You have turned my world upside down and I love you for it. My own words don’t do justice to how much I adore you and so I have stolen yours: Bethany, I love you to Pluto and back infinity times, and Joseph, I love you more than infinity more times than the universe. Always follow your dreams, my little ones.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HEIDI PERKS was born and raised in the seaside town of Bournemouth on the south coast of England. After moving up to London for a short stint, she has since moved back to Bournemouth, where she now lives with her husband and two children. Heidi has been writing since she was small, though for too many years her daytime job and career in marketing got in the way. Now she writes full-time and cannot think of anything she would rather be doing.
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COME BACK FOR ME
Coming Fall 2019 from Gallery Books!
Evergreen Island
September 1993
We left in a storm. The sea was rising in sharp clumps of angry waves, rain hitting my feet like bullets. Dad must have known we shouldn’t be making the crossing to the mainland, yet he stood on the boat, one hand frantically flapping for one of us to reach out and take it. The hood of his red raincoat had whipped off his head, the rain now plastering his hair to his scalp. He yelled over the wind for us to get in, but we wouldn’t move from the end of the jetty.
The boat rocked violently as it tugged at the rope that kept it tethered to the dock, and I noticed Dad’s other hand gripping tightly to the steel railing of the steps. “Get in, Stella!” he shouted.
Thunder cracked overhead and the sky lit up with magnificent streaks of light. Behind me our house flashed bright between the silhouettes of our tall pines, making it look like something from a horror film. I pushed my hands deeper inside my sleeves, clutching Gray Bear harder to my chest. I didn’t want to leave the only home I had ever known, but I had never seen my dad so determined. His jaw was set in a flat line, his teeth bared. It wasn’t like him to be so persistent, so unrelenting, and I found myself shrinking farther back.
“I’m not going anywhere!” Bonnie screamed from beside me. “We’ll all die if we do.” My sister held her hood tight against her head, but I could just make out the haunting paleness of her face in the moonlight. Bonnie had yearned to leave the island for years, but this wasn’t the way she wanted to go.
“We will not die, but we need to go!” Dad yelled back. He turned to me and added a little softer, “I promise you. It’s fine. We’ll be safe.” Dad owned the small ferry that he was demanding we board, and he’d run the thirty-minute crossing between Evergreen and Poole Harbor every day for the last sixteen years. If anyone could take us to the mainland safely, it was him, but we’d never dared attempt a crossing in weather like this before. Mum wouldn’t usually let us out of the house when it was this bad.
“Why can’t we wait till morning?” Bonnie was begging.
I stared at the water, its white foam bubbling and spitting in rage. “Because—” Dad shouted. “God, will you both just get in?” He flapped his hand again, his gaze drifting over my shoulder to where Mum was coming down the dock. Her head was low, arms tucked inside a plastic poncho as she trailed a suitcase behind her.