The Wife's House - Arianne Richmonde Page 0,118
a cruise, apparently. I read about their engagement in The Times. She would have believed, like everyone else, that I was washed away with Cliffside, alongside the triplets, Pippa, and Lee, and all those poor, unsuspecting officers in the line of duty. It was on the news, the names of the deceased, mine included.
My mother’s prediction had come true. I had no choice but to let Mum believe I’d lost my life in that earthquake and landslide. I couldn’t contact her, or anyone I knew; it was too risky. By all accounts, she recovered from my death pretty quickly. She probably felt a little chuffed that she had warned me all along. Told you so, you stupid, stupid girl.
I didn’t make Juan’s life easy; he had to earn me back. Prove to me he was worthy of my trust. He bought an old stone farmhouse for me, surrounded by lemon groves, restored it, stone by stone, beam by beam, tile by tile, with his own hands. Taught himself on the job. The deeds, of course, are in my name. I accepted his gift of contrition, his peace offering. Because I knew what I wanted; for better, for worse, it was Juan Trujillo.
We lead a simple life now, Juan, Beanie and I, on our sunny island, with our new identities and new house. Juan had a healthy stash he’d stowed away with him when he faked his death. Real money, not tainted. Money he’d earned from before he’d unwittingly got involved laundering for his “VIP client.” The rest of that money is in a bank account in my name alone. I will never lose control of my own destiny again, never allow myself to be the guardian of someone else’s bad choices. I call the shots now. Literally. I’ve even learned to shoot a gun. Not that I’ll ever need to, I hope, but I won’t go through life unprepared again.
Did Juan’s client and co believe Juan’s “death?” Or ever suspect he was still alive? Who knows, and that’s why we remain incognito.
I could have started anew, the way I had planned, adopted a child as a single mum. But when Juan picked me up in that helicopter and took me by the hand, I knew I was done for.
In that second, I learned something important.
Home is where the heart is.
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A Letter from Arianne
I’d like to say a big thank you, dear reader, for choosing to read The Wife’s House, and I hope you enjoyed immersing yourself in the story. This book was a very emotional journey for me, both high and low. It started as a dream, when I woke up in my bed startled, after meeting the triplets by the ocean, telling me I was living in their house, and it ended with a different kind of dream when an editor at Bookouture, Helen Jenner, told me she had fallen in love with my book and wanted to publish it. However, along the way, my number one muse and assistant (my beautiful black Labrador, Ludo, who lay at my feet while I wrote) unexpectedly died, leaving me grieving and bereft and with terrible writer’s block. This novel holds a part of him and a piece of my heart on every page. Thank you for sharing his journey, too.
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If you enjoyed The Wife’s House, I would be so grateful if you’d recommend it to your friends and family and, if you have a moment, leave a review, even if it’s just a few lines. It’s always wonderful to get readers’ thoughts and feedback, and you would also be helping like-minded readers discover my work.
I love chatting with my readers, so please feel free to reach out. You can join me on my Facebook page or Twitter, or my website.
Thanks again for including The Wife’s House in your library. There are so many fabulous books in the world, I feel honored you chose mine.
Arianne
Acknowledgements
Many friends and loved ones have been with me on this journey. From my husband—bringing me home-cooked meals when I was on a writing roll (making sure I never starved—thank you!)—to my team of trusted women, who have given me insight and encouragement from the very first draft.
My amazing editor and publisher, Helen Jenner, thank you from the bottom of my heart, for loving my writing and bringing The Wife’s House to life. And to the rest of the Bookouture team for your seamless collaboration along every step of the way. It is a joy to work with such consummate professionals, Kim Nash, Noelle Holten, Alexandra Holmes, and Peta Nightingale, and all of you, who know how to make your authors shine. I am so proud to be part of the Bookouture family. Also, thanks to Jane Eastgate and Becca Allen for your eagle eyes.
Betty Kramer, thank you for always believing in me, from the time I turned up on your doorstep when I was nineteen years old and you gave me a home, to reading everything I’ve ever written, however jumbled. Lisa Cavender, you have bolstered me no end with your cheerleading, great observations, and your laugh that always puts me in a good mood.
Claire Owen, I am indebted to you for coming up with the perfect title, The Wife’s House. Andrea Robinson, thank you so much for your spot-on and intuitive editorial notes. And Sarah Bedingfield, huge appreciation for your input and detailed edits that helped shape this novel.
Nelle L’Amour, thank you for being the best pen pal a girl could ever ask for—we’ve been on this crazy trip together. Zoje Stage, you gave me confidence to have faith in my work, thank you for being there.
And Alessandra Torre, your generosity and support mean so much.
Sharon Tomas Sastre, you have been amazing, thank you.
Gratitude also to Nancy Sanders, for showing me around Big Sur and sharing some of its beautiful secrets—you inspired this book. Any inaccuracies or embellishments about the region, or liberties with time lines (particularly concerning the collapse of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge) are my own and the result of a writer’s active imagination and creative license.
Lisa Salvary, Cheryl Tenzen, and Paula Swisher, thanks, as always, for your fabulous notes and attention to detail, you are my rocks.
And Suzie Mackenzie, I am so grateful for your wise words and support.
Finally, a big shout out to my readers, new and old, and to all the bloggers who review and recommend my books. You have given me the best job ever.
Published by Bookouture in 2020
An imprint of Storyfire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
Copyright © Arianne Richmonde, 2020
Arianne Richmonde has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
eBook ISBN: 978-1-83888-950-0
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, 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.