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Heaven knows, she needs people to help her negotiate life You‘re probably not aware but before Turing, she hadwell, problems and--‖

No, please, don’t say it I sawover the sudden thump of my pulse I wanted to melt into the carpet The earth shifted, a dark chasht, Good, fine, s ot so ―After her hospitalization, we‘d hoped that Turing would be a way for her to start fresh‖

―This has nothing to do with any of that,‖ said Mr Anderson ―We‘re talking about this guy hter Jesus, are you blind, or just stupid? Look at her blouse

Look at her‖

―That does it I‘ve had enough‖ Dr Kirby grunted his way to his feet ―Elliot, I‘ll ad, but that‘s all Now I‘ to sleep late, read the paper, drink coffee, and forget about this I‘ll see you in the office‖ He nodded at one, Mr Anderson looked at hter‖

―Yes, she is‖ My father stood and leaned across his desk to offer his hand ―I can‘t tell you how grateful I ah teachers spare the time these days‖

Mr Anderson didn‘t hter‖

―Yes Well‖ My father‘s sood night‖

Mr Anderson asked me to walk him to his car My father opened his mouth to say no, but then he looked at Mr Anderson just daring him to do it and so my father, for once, shut up

Our feet stirred stone as we crunched down the gravel drive toward the road The night was side It was also colder than I remembered, and an easterly breeze ed my arms

―Cold?‖ Mr Anderson asked

―I‘m okay‖

―You say that too much‖ I heard a soft shoosh of fabric and then Mr Anderson was draping his jacket around my shoulders

The leather arm from his body heat ―I can‘t I‘ll be fine It‘s not that far It‘s your jacket‖

―Yes, it is If it‘ll ive it back at the car and then shiver all the way back to the house, okay?

Now be gracious and say thank you‖

―Thank you‖

―You‘re welcome‖ Then: ―I‘nawed on my already-raer lip At this rate, I wouldn‘t have any skin left ―You didn‘t do anything I should be apologizing to you‖

―No,‖ he said, his voice rough ―Don‘t ever say that You‘ve got nothing to apologize for I‘ youyour father said ht? You‘re still the same person you were before‖

―I should explain about what happened last year--‖

―No‖ His hand reached out of the darkness and touched my shoulder ―Listen to me, Jenna What happened doesn‘t matter It‘s past I don‘t need to know All that matters is here and now, you understand? Soht up in looking behind you forget to look ahead‖

We started walking again I could feel the words bunching up in my throat What Mr Anderson didn‘t understand wasall of a sudden, I wanted to tell him I wanted him to know ht of his knife now squirreled in et at that way and I could keep it close

I liked the feel of that secret in my hands, and I wanted to confess that, too