The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep

Home > Suspense > The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep > Page 26
The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep Page 26

by Laurie Faria Stolarz


  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.

  Thank you for buying this

  St. Martin’s Press ebook.

  To receive special offers, bonus content,

  and info on new releases and other great reads,

  sign up for our newsletters.

  Or visit us online at

  us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup

  For email updates on the author, click here.

  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.

 

 

 


‹ Prev