A Welcome Reunion
At eighteen, Janie has reinvented herself with a bestselling memoir and a fresh start. But for Hannah and Christopher Bauer-the parents she once destroyed-her return is anything but welcome. When Janie pushes for a reunion, dark secrets and old wounds resurface, and the Bauers realize too late that some threats never stay buried.
- Janie - Adopted daughter
- Christopher - Adoptive father
- Hannah - Adoptive mother
- Piper - Social worker and friend of Christopher and Hannah
- Janie was severely abused before being adopted by Christopher and Hannah.
- Piper was the social worker on Janie's case and failed to properly follow up on reports of abuse before Janie was eventually abandoned and taken in by Christopher and Hannah.
- While living with them, Hannah was terrified of Janie and would lock her in her room during the day to keep her away from herself and Cole.
- Hannah once attempted to drown Janie in the bathtub.
- At six years old, Janie pushed Hannah's sister Allison down the stairs, killing her. She was then sent to juvenile detention until she turned eighteen.
- After her release, Janie and Cole had been secretly video chatting and making plans together.
- Hannah and Christopher find out Janie and Cole are planning on running away.
- Hannah tracks down Janie, stabs her and waits for her to die.
- Piper arrives, urges Hannah to go home, and says she will take the blame for Janie's murder-driven by guilt over mishandling her case years earlier.
- The story cuts off here, leaving the fallout unresolved.
- Janie - Dead - Stabbed to death by Hannah
- Allison - Dead - Pushed down the stairs by Janie
- Christopher - Alive - No further details
- Hannah - Alive - No further details
- Piper - Alive - No further details
- Murder
- Child abuse
- Death
- Gaslighting
- Abandonment
- Rape
- Alcohol
- Infertility
Cliffhanger
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
ISBN: 9781662516689
Publish Date: August 15, 2023
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.