The Secrets of Primrose Square

by Claudia Carroll

  *

  As the singing went on, Susan looked around the little corner of the square, where the simple little ceremony was being held. The Remembrance Garden had been a labour of love for Ella’s old classmates, with Josh Andrews the driving force behind the whole project. They’d even raised enough money for a wooden bench, which Susan and her family often sat out on, with a simple, little brass plaque on it that read: This is in loving memory of Ella Hayes. Always in our hearts.

  She’d even planted tiger lilies there, which had obediently come to full bloom, just in time for Jayne’s special day.

  I’m in a Remembrance Garden, Susan thought on that happy, sunny afternoon, and it’s only right that I remember. So now she remembered back to that fragile, desperate, hysterical woman who kept vigil night after night outside Josh’s house, somehow hoping to transfer the searing grief she felt onto someone – anyone – who she could conveniently blame. And she marvelled how she’d come full circle.

  Last thing of all, Susan remembered a freckly-faced, curly-headed teenager, stretched out on that very corner of the square with a book over her face, pretending to study when she was really trying to get a tan.

  A wonderfully wild, free-spirited girl, who wanted to change the world, bit by bit. Ella may not have been given enough time on this earth to do everything she wanted, but she certainly changed the lives of everyone around her.

  Susan remembered.

  And then, she finally let go.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you, Marianne Gunn O’Connor. You’re so much more than an incredible agent; you’re an amazing friend too.

  Thank you Eli Dryden, for taking me with you on this amazing adventure to Bonnier Zaffre. You’ll never know how grateful I am to be working with you again. And I’ll keep nagging you till you eventually come back to visit us in Dublin!

  Thank you Pat Lynch, who works so hard and is always so positive and uplifting. See you in The Farm very soon, Chicken. Thank you to Vicki Satlow in Milan who does such an incredible job with translation rights. You’re a true star, Vicki.

  Thank you to the fabulous team at Bonnier Zaffre, for the warmth of your welcome and your enthusiasm, not to mention all your hard work and incredible support. I’m so lucky to be a part of Team Bonnier Zaffre. Special thanks to Tara Loder, Sarah Bauer, James Horobin, Nico Poilblanc, Angie Willocks, Victoria Hart, Stephen Dumughn, Kate Parkin, Imogen Sebba, Carla Hutchinson, Francesca Russell, Sahina Bibi, Alexandra Allden and Laura Makela. It was a real joy to meet you all at the Publishing Preview back in February. Now that’s how you throw a party!

  Thanks also to Natalie Braine and Sophie Buchan, whose brilliant work and forensic attention to detail was amazing.

  Thanks to Simon Hess, who works so hard and does so much for all of us. And of course huge thanks to all the team here in Dublin: Declan Heeney, Helen Gleed O’ Connor and, of course, the man himself, Gill Hess.

  Special thanks to Mum and Dad and all my wonderful family, for everything.

  Big thanks to my lovely pals from the world of publishing; Sinead Moriarty, Liz Nugent, Monica McInerney, Carmel Harrington and Patricia Scanlan. It’s always such a joy to meet up with you all so we can talk books and stories and ideas.

  And in case you think I’ve forgotten anyone – Heartfelt thanks to Clelia and Clara Belle Murphy, Karry, Caroline and Isabelle Finnegan, Susan McHugh, Marion O’Dwyer, Alison McKenna, Maria McDermottroe, Isobel Mahon, Fionnuala Murphy and Fiona Lalor.

  This one is for all of you and if you want to know why, just keep reading.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Claudia was born in Dublin, where she still lives and works as an author and actress. She’s a Sunday Times top ten-bestselling author in the UK and a number one bestselling author in Ireland, selling more than half a million copies in paperback alone.

  To date, Claudia has published fourteen novels, four of which have been optioned, two for movies and two for TV. She’s currently hassling producers for a walk-on role, and is hoping they might even let her keep the costumes for free.

  @carrollclaudia

  @claudiacarrollbooks

  First published in Great Britain in 2018 by Zaffre Publishing

  This ebook edition published in 2018 by

  ZAFFRE PUBLISHING

  80-81 Wimpole St, London, W1G 9RE

  www.zaffrebooks.co.uk

  Copyright © Claudia Carroll, 2018

  Cover design by Alexandra Allden

  Cover illustration by Ami Smithson (Street)

  Cover images © Shutterstock.com

  The moral right of Claudia Carroll to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organisations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  ISBN: 978-1-785-76527-8

  [Original binding] ISBN: 978-1-785-76525-4

  This ebook was produced by IDSUK (Data Connection) Ltd

  Zaffre Publishing is an imprint of Bonnier Zaffre,

  a Bonnier Publishing company

  www.bonnierzaffre.co.uk

  www.bonnierpublishing.co.uk