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"What are you doing here?" Madison deue She was not so much surprised by the hour of his appearance as by the fact that he was there at all These were the hours Seph liked to keep He was a city boy who ca the boundary?"
"Nick’s in charge tonight Get dressed Let’s go out"
"It’s three o’clock in the ," she protested "I have an exam tomor…today"
"It’s only for a little while Jason’s back"
Madison stopped fussing with her hair and stared at Seph "What’s he doing back? I thought he was gone for good I ht so We’re supposed to meet him to look the stuff over Please co for hopeful signs
Madison wavered It wasn’t like she’d be any use when it cah, and it was hard to say no to Seph for reasons that had nothing to do izardry Plus she couldn’t help wondering what had brought Jason ho up her clothes from the chair beside her bed, she carried thehtgown, she pulled her jeans on, folloith a sweatshirt, heavy socks, and her red boots Ar herself for the personal battle ahead
When she caly loud in the quiet inn Madison ignored it, shrugging on her barn coat and tying a handwoven scarf around her neck
"Aren’t you going to get that?" Seph asked, nodding toward the phone
"The machine’ll pick up It’s Mama She’s the only one besides you who callsmachine clicked on "You’ve reached Maddie Moss Leave a e" There was a beep and then her irl, I know you’re there I need to talk to you It’s about Grace and John Robert Pick up the phone!" There was a long pause, and then, "Fine! Go to hell!" And the phone banged down
Madison jao"
"Why won’t you talk to her?" Seph asked, as they passed through the dark hall-way and descended the stairs
Madison put her finger to her lips "Shhh I do talk to her Just not every time she calls"
They slipped out the front door, crossed the porch, and turned down Lakeside It was very cold, despite the proximity of the lake The snow crunched under their feet like shards of glass
"What does she want?" Seph asked "Your mother, I mean"
"She wants me to come home and watch uess what?--she can’t find anyone else who’ll work for free and keep her hours and is available at a moment’s notice"
Seph looked at her quizzically "But you’re in school She knows that, right?"
This was so far off Seph’s experience, he couldn’t possibly understand "She knows that, but she doesn’t specially care She’d understand if I were studying dental hygiene or coe at home As far as she’s concerned, I already kno to paint pretty pictures I always take the ribbon at the county fair" Madison shrugged "She also ht need money"
"But you don’t make that much," Seph replied, the understatement of the year He steered her south on Church Street with a hand on her elbow She relaxed fractionally It seeh three layers of wool
"Ma with Rachel for free She doesn’t understand that my books cost a hundred and fifty dollars apiece"
Madison wanted to change the subject She wasn’t like Carlene, as always just about to as or Paris, France, or join up with a country band, and somehow believed every story she told Madison wouldn’t pretend she had a different kind of fas could ever work out between her and Seph But that didn’tJason?" Madison asked, knowing nothing was open in Trinity, Ohio, at three in theon a Tuesday
"St Catherine’s"
Madison ht her about the waist She pulled free quickly, feeling his hot fingers through her coat, feeling the wicked power inside her respond "We’re ht? Who picked that?"
"Jason did" Seph shrugged "I don’t knohy, but I guess we’ll find out" Seph attended Mass at St Catherine’s regularly He wore a Celtic cross on a chain around his neck, alongside the dyrne sefa His Catholic faith was the rock he’d stood upon through a lonely lifetiht I wish I belonged somewhere
The church stood arade school and high school, along with a small cemetery Seph had keys to the side door of the church
The sanctuary was chilly and dark, lit only by the sconces along the walls The light that usually poured through the great as hours away Madison flinched when soures materialized and came toward them Jack and Ellen