“But no. I can’t think about that. Not right now. I won’t be. I won’t be convicted, because I’m innocent. I just have to make everyone understand that. Starting with you.”

This quote from the opening letter to Mr. Wrexham captures Rowan’s desperation regarding her pending murder trial. She reveals herself to be terrified but also resolutely determined to prove her innocence. She seems to feel that everyone—especially Mr. Wrexham—will be convinced that she is innocent once she can openly tell her side of the story.

“I felt, in some twisted way, like I was coming home.”

On the approach to Carn Bridge, Rowan starts to feel calm—as well as oddly hopeful. She does not consider herself to be an ambitious person, but she senses that the unprecedented effort she’s put into this job may actually pay off. Although she doesn’t have the job yet, Heatherbrae House already feels like home. However, her sense of security will turn out to be a false one and shows Rowan’s innocence and naivete.

“More than that, I wanted to be part of this family.”

When Rowan sees her bedroom at Heatherbrae House, she is overwhelmed by her desire to have the job. She knows it’s not about the money or the house, which she finds beautiful and warm, but the family. Without having met anyone besides Sandra, she is drawn to the Elincourts and wants to be a part of their world. She will stop at nothing to win them over.