Summary

The story opens in the section titled “A Hot Spell: 1984.” The first chapter is “June 30.” Holly Sykes wakes in her bedroom in Kent. Her first thoughts are of her boyfriend, Vincent Costello. She hears her mother, Kath, and wonders if she somehow knows about Vincent. Downstairs, she encounters her younger siblings, Jacko and Sharon. She hears her dad, Dave, dealing with a delivery to their pub, The Captain Marlow. Kath confronts Holly about Vincent and the argument culminates with Kath slapping Holly. Holly walks out of the room.

Jacko stops her as she's leaving the house. He's drawn a maze and pleads with her to memorize every bit of it. Holly is taken aback by his plea and by his statement that he knows she's leaving home to move in with Vincent.

On the way to Vincent's house, Holly sees...