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"Would you rather have an appointment?"

"No," was Maureen’s automatic response She couldn’t afford the time off work or the additional attorney’s fees Not once had she been in the law firm’s office when it hadn’t cost her two hundred dollars orto do with the divorce settlement"

"Hold, please"

Maureen was left to twiddle her thuated seconds before the receptionist returned "Glenn Crest can speak to you now"

"Thank you," she said, and waited for the senior partner to pick up the receiver It see Glenn early on in her divorce proceedings He was older, well established, and knowledgeable She trusted hiood to hear froreeted her in a smooth voice "How hter"

"Yes"

Maureen could hear hi papers and hoped he had her file in front of hi the case Since she owed her soul to legal fees, she sincerely hoped Glenn could help her "My ex-husband’s attorney sent me a letter Brian wants Karen to spend Christ to the terreement--"

"I know all about the ter him off "But he owes me months of back child support"

"I’ late child support and visitation rights"

Maureen already knew that, but she still hoped "You don’t understand," she said, the frustration getting the better of her "I’m afraid…I’m afraid" The words skidded to a halt in her mind as she stepped directly in front of her worst fear

"Yes, Ms Woods?"

"I’ to ask for full custody of Karen"

Paul woke to the sound of birds chirping It a could be and that he could be a part of that beauty

He dressed, climbed out of the tent, and brewed coffee in a blue ena coffee in his hands, he sat on the edge of the picnic table and o on a hike, the same one he’d taken with Joe several years back The five-mile trek was sure to tire him out, so when he returned to his campsite, he’d take a leisurely nap and soak in the sun

He’d worry later on about what he’d pack for the hike Breakfast had never excited hiranola bar

His plans ed into his hiking boots He was about to start on the hike when He heard the sound of another ca

Paul could see the tent, which was several spaces down froet much business in the winter hbor were the only two carounds Of course, with Christmas less than a week away, business was probably off Not reat outdoors this time of the year

Paul loaded his backpack, settled it in thestick He started down the dirt road past the occupied campsite, just as the tent flap opened and a burly h above his head and yawned loudly

Paul hesitated

It couldn’t be If he hadn’t known better, he’d think the camper was none other than Steve Tenny

The two men eyed each other suspiciously

"Paul?"

"Steve?"

"What are you doing here?" Paul de his letter of resignation and following hi," Steve answered

"By yourself?"

Steve nodded "The city gets to ain, and I need to escape for a few days It see a number of times"

Paul nodded "I’ to tell his friend the whole truth Although he wasn’t entirely sure what the whole truth was

"We’re going to have to go a lot farther than this for some fresh air," Steve coree with hi was better in the winter months, but it had followed him a hundred miles or more

"Actually, I came here to clear my head," Paul announced to his friend

"Clear your head?"

Paul’s hand tightened around the walking stick "I wrote out nation," he announced Folks would find out soon enough Steve would discover the envelope waiting for him when he arrived home anyway There wasn’t any need to keep it a secret

"Resigned?" Steve echoed, the word low and stunned "You?" He wandered around the campsite as if he’d lost his sense of direction He looked at Paul and shook his head slowly, as if he were having trouble taking it in "This is going to take so used to, I’m afraid Sit down a minute, will you? I need a cup of coffee"

Paul had half atrail, but it was clear the church elder was shaken by his news It didn’t seem fair to announce his intentions and then casually walk away

As it turned out, Paul brewed the coffee while Steve aain

"You’re sure about this?" he asked at one point

"Sure Ihis friend’s question "Yes"