As if by fate, William appeared at the river, sitting on a log, on his kerchief of a blanket. “Why, hello,” he said. “I was just going to come looking for you.”
“How delightful,” Clara said. “And I was just about to say that it’s funny meeting you here.”
“Not so funny at all, in fact.” William leered. “You see, today is a very important day for you, oh dear Clara, whose name means light.”
“More important than yesterday or the day before that?” Clara asked.
“Well, every day is important, indeed,” William said. “But, yes, I’d say that today holds a bit more weight.”
“And why is that?” Clara smiled.
“Come and I’ll show you.” He popped up from his seat and led Clara to the edge of Spider Hill, where one could see all of the villages and valleys beneath.
“It’s breathtaking,” Clara said, taking care to stay at least a foot from the edge. “But I still don’t understand. Why is today more important than tomorrow or yesterday?”
“Because today is the day that you are going to die. You were fated to die tomorrow, but recall that because you made your wish at the wondrous Wishy Water Well, you lose one day. That means today is it.”
Clara could not believe what William was saying. “That doesn’t make any sense. I’m not ill. How would I ever die? That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I promise you,” said William, “I would never joke about death. Recall that I nearly died of illness myself.”
“Then how shall I die? Tell me that.”
“I shall show you now.”
And so it was: the tiny orange man with the green-and-white-striped suit and the scrunched-up face inhaled a deep and powerful breath, then blew it out: a wind so fierce it knocked poor Clara over the side of Spider Hill.
Down.
Down.
Down.
Down Clara fell, because she made a wish at the magical water well.
Acknowledgments
Many, many thanks to the talented team at Wednesday Books (Cathy Turiano, Beatrice Jason, Sara Goodman, Melanie Sanders, Brant Janeway, Sarah Bonamino, Anna Gorovoy, DJ DeSmyter, Alexis Neuville). It’s been such a pleasure working with all of you. A special thanks to my editor, Tiffany Shelton, for her critical questions and insightful perspective, and to Kerri Resnick for designing a stunning cover.
Thanks to my agent, Kathy Green, for always being there to provide literary guidance (as well as for when I want to chat about reality TV).
A special thanks to friends and family members who read pieces and/or drafts of The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep, and/or who indulged me in conversations related to its characters and plot strands: Shawn, Ed, Julianna, Emily, Kathy, Susan, Shari, Cat, Sara, and Robin. I’m forever grateful for your time, feedback, and generous support.
Thanks to all the teachers, librarians, bloggers, vloggers, book club members, and readers who read and shared Jane Anonymous, the companion novel to The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep. I really appreciate the role you play in promoting reading, authors, and a sense of literary community.
And, last, huge thanks go to my readers, who continue to support me by reading my work and sharing it with others, who reach out with kindness, gratitude, and (so often) perfectly timed words of encouragement and support. I’ve loved being on this journey with you.
also by laurie faria stolarz
Blue Is for Nightmares
White Is for Magic
Silver Is for Secrets
Red Is for Remembrance
Black Is for Beginnings
Bleed
Project 17
Deadly Little Secret
Deadly Little Lies
Deadly Little Games
Deadly Little Voices
Deadly Little Lessons
Welcome to the Dark House
Return to the Dark House
Shutter
Jane Anonymous
About the Author
LAURIE FARIA STOLARZ is the author of several popular young adult novels, including Jane Anonymous, the Dark House series, the Touch series, Project 17, Shutter, and Bleed, as well as the bestselling Blue Is for Nightmares series. Stolarz’s titles have sold over a million books worldwide, been translated into thirty languages, and been named on numerous award lists, including the Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list and the Teens’ Top Ten list, both through the American Library Association. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also by laurie faria stolarz
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group
THE LAST SECRET YOU’LL EVER KEEP. Copyright © 2021 by Laurie Faria Stolarz. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
www.wednesdaybooks.com
Cover design by Kerri Resnick
Cover art: woman © Meredith Adelaide/Stocksy; texture © BNMK 0819/Shutterstock.com
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Stolarz, Laurie Faria, 1972– author.
Title: The last secret you’ll ever keep / Laurie Faria Stolarz.
Other titles: Last secret you will ever keep
Description: First edition. | New York: Wednesday Books, 2021.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020040973 | ISBN 9781250303738 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250303752 (ebook)
Subjects: CYAC: Online chat groups—Fiction. | Kidnapping—Fiction. | Impersonation—Fiction. | Survival—Fiction. | Guilt—Fiction. | Suspense fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.S875
7 Las 2021 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020040973
eISBN 9781250303752
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First Edition: 2021
* Rule number eight: Be careful who to trust.
The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep Page 26