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For a while, Christie believed she’d found that same kind of happiness with Ja He was like every other er to reveal his true nature

As if her sister had been reading her thoughts, Teri glanced speculatively at Christie "James--"

"Don’t even start," Christie warned Teri seemed convinced that Christie could be as fortunate, as contented, as she was; Christie knew better She poured the herbal tea, and handed Teri a cup

Her sister gratefully accepted it "You can’t ignore Ja over the other and swung her foot to hide her nervousness

Teri’s eyes grew sad "You love him and you know it I had no idea you could be so stubborn"

"Sure you did," Christie returned, re their youth Her sister was more familiar with her character flaws than anyone "You want to defend James and that’s your choice, but I’ve made my decision"

"James loves you!"

"Sure he does That’s why he walked out onhi to do with you"

"Uh-huh" That just proved her point; when he was in trouble, when he’d needed help, it hadn’t occurred to him to confide in her--the woue with her sister They’d done enough of that through the years "Would you mind if we didn’t discuss James?" she asked instead

One look told her how disappointed Teri was

"Let me tell you about my classes," Christie said To her own surprise she liked her courses The photography was an interesting challenge, and she’dwith a camera provided by the school but planned to buy her own She’d met Jon Bowman, Grace Sher to reco her own business, she knew she needed soht, she’d discovered that she thoroughly enjoyed the classes and had no problem with the homework

Even as a kid Christie had always had a head forphone nu theures was one of the reasons she’dher bank account had never been a probleenerally hovered around zero

"You sent back his Valentine gift" She paused "The floere gorgeous--I know because he ended up giving them to me"

Christie forcefully expelled her breath "Are you back to Jaaze pleaded with hers "Explain it toWhy can’t you accept the fact that once the news story broke, James felt he had no option but to run Surely you can put yourself in his position"

"No," she snapped "I can’t"

"I don’t believe that," Teri said "Poor James, he--"

"He walked out on you and Bobby, and he walked out on me, just like every other ot to know James isn’t like anyone else He’s James His childhood was hell His parents drove him to mental collapse, to the point that he ended up in a psych ward Once it was obvious that he couldn’t play chess anymore, they turned their backs on him--their own son! If it wasn’t for Bobby, I don’t knoould’ve happened to hirateful to Bobby--or at least that’s how it looks fro," Christie said "When Bobby needed him, James left"

"You mean when you needed hiht Jaht I could trust him What an idiot I was"

"He came back because of you," Teri said quietly

"Too bad I’m not interested"

Teri pretended not to hear "Jaly sensationalis"

She paused as though she expected Christie to appreciate how hard it’d been for James to confront his past Okay, Christie could understand his fears; still, that didn’t justify the way he’d abandoned her

"Can’t you iine what it must have been like for him?" Teri asked rhetorically "He’s stayed in the shadows all these years and then to be thrust into the lihtmare Instinct took over, and he ran Who’s to say what either of us would’ve done in the same situation? But once his head cleared, he came back, and the first person he asked to see was you"

Christie’s resolve re ih all of this," she said "I don’t need a ht After each breakup, she’d instantly gone in search of a new relationship, afraid to be alone Afraid that on her own she hadn’t been enough All those associations had been with a certain type--drunks, drug addicts, assorted losers Men she felt she could rescue with sufficient love, sy Not to mention money…

In the dark, lonely hours after James’s defection, Christie had arrived at soh--and no man would ever make her feel whole or complete That had to come from within herself Second, she had an excessive need to be needed She recognized that about herself now and wasn’t about to fall back into the same patterns

While she enjoyed her job, she wanted raphy and business classes, Christie was going to establish a career Initially, she’d take photographic assignments on her off-hours, while she still had the protection of a steady paycheck Noit took, she wasn’t about to let a man, any man, ruin her chances or stand in her way

"I know you’re feeling hurt," Teri said, "but I wish you’d give Ja to bend, Christie shook her head