Past Perfect Life

by Elizabeth Eulberg

  “I mean a lot, a lot. Like really a lot.”

  We laugh as I give her another hug.

  “Send pictures from the road and be careful. And be sure to keep your phones charged, and if you run into any trouble, call Triple-A. You can use our account. And have plenty of water in the car in case—”

  “Paula,” Craig says gently.

  “Sorry.” She looks down at our locked hands. “It’s really hard to let go.”

  “It is.” I give her hands another squeeze before hugging her one last time. For now. “Thank you for understanding that I need to do this. I love you, Mom.”

  “Oh, Ally, I love you so much.” She kisses me on the cheek before I head to the door. I hesitate for a moment. There’s a pull to this house that didn’t exist before. Maybe because I now have a choice. When I come back, it will be because I want to be here. I want to spend more time with Mom, Craig, Sarah, and the whole extended family.

  With every second I stay, it’s going to be harder to leave.

  “See you soon,” I say as I finally start down the walkway to Rob’s car.

  The four of them wait in the doorway, Craig’s arms around both Mom and Sarah, Grandma Amanda holding Mom’s hand.

  I get in the passenger seat, and Baxter jumps in my lap. “Thank you for doing this.”

  “Hey, I got to take two days off school to rescue the girl of my dreams. I mean, come on. This is hero stuff.”

  I look out at my family and feel a tremble of my chin.

  “Are you okay with all of this?” Neil asks. “Because you seem really sad.”

  “Yes. No. I—I …” I fumble for a minute to try to understand all my feelings. “I’m going to miss them, but that’s a good thing. I need to go home.”

  I never would’ve thought this when everything tumbled apart, but I’m a lucky girl. I used to think only my dad is family. Then I had the Gleasons. Now I have Mom, Craig, Sarah, and the entire Cardiff and McMullen clan. Soon I get to go meet my Linsley family.

  Pretty lucky, indeed.

  Especially since I finally get to return home. Well, to one of my homes.

  “Ready?” Neil asks as he starts the engine.

  “Ready.”

  Acknowledgments

  The idea for Past Perfect Life came from a segment I saw on the news a couple of years ago, about a teenage boy who had something similar happen to him. It caused me to think a lot about personal history, identity, and, above all, family. Writing this book reminded me how lucky I am to have been born to Dave and Judy Eulberg. And even though my siblings sometimes (wait, oftentimes) picked on their baby sister, I’m forever grateful to them: Eileen, Meg, and WJ. And then there are my nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins, who always make me feel like I have someplace I belong.

  I’m eternally thankful to my extended family at Bloomsbury, which keeps growing. Sarah Shumway not only came up with the perfect title, she also helped make this story stronger with her editorial insights. Huge thanks to the rest of the team: Diane Aronson, Erica Barmash, Hali Baumstein, Anna Bernard, Faye Bi, Frank Bumbalo, Liz Byer, Danielle Ceccolini, Phoebe Dyer, Beth Eller, Courtney Griffin, Melissa Kavonic, Erica Loberg, Cindy Loh, Donna Mark, Patricia McHugh, Brittany Mitchell, Valentina Rice, and Claire Stetzer.

  Friends are also family. Erin Malone, Tina McIntyre, and my sister Meg gave me invaluable insights when I needed fresh eyes. My other sister, Eileen, helped answer some questions about law enforcement. (Big families have their benefits!) Kirk Benshoff handles all the tech stuff so I can concentrate on writing. Alex London let me borrow his dog (good boy, Baxter). I owe so much to the countless number of friends I’ve talked about this book with over the years. So much gratitude to Rose Brock, Varian Johnson, Sarah Mlynowski, and Jennifer E. Smith, who have had to talk me down from the various ledges I stood on while writing this book.

  Finally, a writer would be nowhere without her readers. Thanks to every person who has picked up one of my books. Thank you to every bookseller, librarian, and educator who has placed one in the hands of a reader. And of course, to all the bloggers and book lovers who give authors the best gift there is—­telling people about a book they love. You’re all family to me.

  BLOOMSBURY YA

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  BLOOMSBURY and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

  First published in the United States of America in July 2019

  by Bloomsbury YA

  Text copyright © 2019 by Elizabeth Eulberg

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

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Eulberg, Elizabeth, author.

  Title: Past perfect life / by Elizabeth Eulberg.

  Description: New York : Bloomsbury, 2019.

  Summary: Seventeen-year-old Ally is focused on college scholarship applications, spending time with her widowed father, friends, and possible boyfriend, when she learns that everything she knows about herself is a lie.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2018045380 (print) | LCCN 2018051377 (e-book)

  ISBN 978-1-5476-0092-2 (hardcover) • ISBN 978-1-5476-0093-9 (e-book)

  Subjects: | CYAC: Secrets—Fiction. | Identity—Fiction. | Fathers and daughters—Fiction. | Single-parent families—Fiction. | High schools—Fiction. | Schools—Fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.E8685 Pas 2019 (print) | LCC PZ7.E8685 (e-book) | DDC [Fic]—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018045380

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