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"Good, I’--just eat! Of course, chee don’t want you choking or anything," Morwenna said

"Look, here co," Joseph muttered "You’d think they’d let you eat"

"It’s all right," Megan said, junized the person in the shredded dark robes and zombie mask, but she did It was Darren Menteith

"Darren! It’s great to see you," she said, reaching out a hand as he came forward

He stopped in his tracks "You know it’s me?" he said, tremendously disappointed

"Yeah Sorry"

Finn had risen as well

"They are trying to have dinner," Joseph an, finish I’ll take Darren over for a CD And be right back"

Megan sat back down "Finn, I can go--"

"I can wolf down a rare steak in two seconds," Finn told her "You take your time"

"Hey, I am sorry, I should have waited to say hello," Darren said

"No problelad to see you," Finn told hiive you a disc"

As the talked away, Megan noted uneasily that both Joseph and Morwenna watched theo

"I didn’t realize that you knew Darren," Morwenna said, realizing that Megan was staring at her

"We don’t really know him We met hian said

She shrugged "Small town, that’s all Hey, come on, eat up By the way, honey, that one number you two did--dynamite"

"Thanks"

"It’s just too bad that…" Morwenna began, then broke off with a shrug, looking at Joseph

Joseph cleared his throat "Great nuan set her fork down "Both of you! Pay attention I respect everything about you I love you both

But I don’t believe that Finn is dangerous to me I do not believe that he is evil in any way Get this straight--I had a night And I made him look really, really, bad--especially with the way rumor seems to travel around here And he’s taken it really, really well So don’t go acting as if we’re not a steady tjing, as if ourto work Got it?"

Morwenna looked down at the table

"I didn’t say a thing, Megan I know you love hireed

She wanted to hit them both There was pity in their voices They both believed there was so with Finn, that it would come out--that she would see there was evil in him, or that he couldn’t really be decent, and that in a one

Maybe it wasn’t just pity It ht have been one, or…

You’ll be dead

Neither of the They were just looking at her And yet she felt as if someone had shouted the words in her head

An uncomfortable silence fell between the three of thean cut her meat, but was afraid she wouldn’t be able to chew

"Hey, it’s gone," Joseph said

He was frowning, looking toward the stage

"What’s gone?"

"That stupid an looked around It was true Soers

"Good riddance," Morwenna said

"I’ll have to agree," Megan said, glad that the silence had been broken "I think I have a bald patch on the back of hed softy "I don’t see any bald spots, but I’erous You got caught in it, and Finn got caught in it Better check hiht--he may have a bald spot"

"The man has no patience," Joseph told her "He didn’t wait for any detangling assistance, just ripped right away"

"I’ll check hian said She could chew and s The world was seeain

Finn came back to the table and sat "Steaks are delicious," she said

"And here’sone around her at the table, and lifting the bottle of Michelob in front him in the air toward Joseph "Thanks"