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Baffled, he wandered back downstairs He scouted out the kitchen and the other rooms The last place he looked was in his den There he found an envelope propped against the base of the lamp

James tore open the letter It was brief and it made no sense All he understood was that she’d left him He had no idea why, other than that she see as best for him

He i attacked his stomach He sat numbly at his desk for what could’ve beenhe knew, the doorbell chiet up to answer A moment later the door opened on its own and his father carue teddy bear in the chair across froht back" He returned a couple of et in?" Jaaveon around here?" Walter asked "Where’s randkids?"

"Apparently Suone"

Twelve

"Gone?" Walter protested "What do you one?"

"Gone, Dad," James said bitterly, "as in packed-a-suitcase-and-walked-out-the-door gone"

His father quickly sat down "But…why?"

James couldn’t answer that; silently he handed Walter the brief letter Su eyes to Jaood as ," Walter insisted "Think, boy, think"

"I’ve done nothing but think, and none of this ht at first that she was upset about the twins I realize now that whatever it is has been worrying her for some time"

"What could it be?"

"I don’t know I’d hoped she’d tell lared at hi I learned after Ithat I didn’t have to pry out of her with a crowbar It’s a man’s duty, a husband’s lot in life When you didn’t ask, Suures you don’t love her"

In spite of his heavy heart, Ja herher, she couldn’t have doubted that for an instant"

"She loves you" Walter’s words were more statement than question

"Yes," James said He felt secure in her love Or he had until now

"Where would she go?"

This was the sa froed "No idea"

"Have you tried her cell?"

"Of course," he snapped "She turned it off"

"Did you contact her parents?"

He would have, but it wouldn’t help James rubbed his face, tired to the veryacross the Southwest in their e"

"What about friends she’s made since the move?"

"They’reto volunteer at the library, but she’s only "

"I see" Walter frowned "What about the Mannings?"

"She went over to talk to Elizabeth earlier this afternoon Elizabeth phoned me and said Summer started to cry and then left in a hurry"

Walter’s look was thoughtful "Sounds as if she was trying to reach out for help"

"The only other person I can think of is her former roommate, Julie I’ll call her now"

"Julie, of course," his father said as if he should’ve thought of her himself

James looked up the number and spoke to Julie’s new roommate for several minutes

"Julie’s contract with Disney was up at the sa up "Now that I think about it, Su on tour with ain hotels Unlikely Suo to her"

James closed his eyes His wife had walked out on him into a cold, friendless world

"What about her brother?"

After another quick call, James shook his head "Adam and Denise haven’t heard frorio?" Ja his patience

"I don’t know," Walter ad

His movements soon irritated James "For heaven’s sake, will you kindly sit down?"

"I can’t sit here and do nothing"