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A small cry of happiness escaped as she wrapped her arht

"I’ to be fine" That hen she told hihtened and his eyes narrowed, she knew Seth wasn’t pleased But once the truth was out, Justine felt as if a backpack loaded with rocks had been reain," she said She gave hi, involved kiss

"You promise?" Seth asked

"I promise"

Then she told hi the following Monday

His eyes revealed his astonish

"A week ago"

"You want to work?"

She did--for a dozen different reasons She needed the escape into another world She needed so to do; like him she’d been at loose ends When they’d had the restaurant, she’d worked nearly every day and now there was a void The money would come in handy, too "Just a few hours a day Do you mind?" If he did, she’d tell the bank she couldn’t do it

"No--it’s totally up to you"

Although Justine hated to bring up the subject of the restaurant, she felt it was necessary "What about The Lighthouse?"

A pained look ca about it distressed hiaze held hers as he used his index finger to outline the shape of her lips His touch was gentle and his eyes filled with tenderness "Whatever we decide, it doesn’t need to be this very s one day at a tihed and rubbed her bare foot along the outside of his leg "I was so afraid I was going to lose you"

"Never," he whispered "I would never have let that happen"

And yet Justine feared it almost had

Fifteen

Allison Cox checked the address and space nuht trailer house Anson had never told her which one he and his er, the wo, "Cherry’s at the end Space fifteen When you see her, tell her the rent payment’s past due, would ya?"

"Ah…"

The woet it, kid I’ll deal with her myself"

With more than a little trepidation, Allison walked up the rickety steps of nu in this poor excuse for a home nearly broke her heart After a brief hesitation, she knocked at the thin door

"Who is it?" the woman inside shouted

"Allison Cox" She spoke as loudly as she could without yelling

The door slowly opened Dressed in a housecoat, Anson’sa cigarette Her hair was lank and dirty, and it looked as if she hadn’t been out for a while

"Who are you and what do you want?" she demanded One arm was tucked around her waist; ash fell to the floor when she flicked her cigarette with the other hand

"I’m a friend of Anson’s," Allison explained "I…" She lowered her voice in case soht want to hear how he’s doing"

Anson’s h the state the screen "Come on in and tell me what you know about the little bastard"

Allison flinched at the word and resisted the urge to retaliate If Anson was a bastard, then that woue, Allison stepped inside The trailer was in shocking disarray The kitchen sink was piled with dirty dishes and the countertops covered with junk The living room obviously hadn’t been picked up in months

There was a stale,by the rye bottle lying on its side, and just…dirt The smell of squalor "Excuse the place," Cherry said with a disesture "It’s the maid’s day off"

Allison smiled weakly at the woman’s atterocery storeAllison should sit there "Where’s he at?" she demanded before even Allison had a chance to sit down

"He, uh, didn’t say"

"Did you tell hi for him?"

"Well, no…He already seeoin’ to prison this time"

"Mrs Butler, Anson didn’t set that fire"

The woman snickered "First off, I ain’t never been a Mrs anybody, and second you and I both know Anson did it You don’t need to pretend for my sake, sweetie My son likes fires He nearly burned the house dohen he was six years old playin’ with roup of his little friends started a brush fire that gotI knew, Child Protective Services are all over my ass like I was the one who lit that arette, then s with ashes and cruets hi down that toolshed in the park Far as I’er fires It started when he was a kid and it hasn’t stopped" When she finished, she walked over to the refrigerator and opened it "Want a beer?"

Allison slowly exhaled "No, thanks"

Anson’s"Proble at Allison, "I never was , although she definitely agreed

"You say he called you?"