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Instead of defending myself, all I could say was, "I’hteen, nineteen Do I look like I care?" Brenda snarled "My son is way too young to be gettingfor his very life as we speak"

I flinched and pressed h me The truth had never hurt so much "I…I’m sorry," I croaked, unable to look her in the eye

She didn’t forgive ht now But no, he stayed behind for you, and ended up saving you and your family Now, I may lose my one and only child"

She pressed a hand to her heart and tears spilled down her cheeks "I’ve already lost one baby I can’t lose the other No I just…I can’t" Grabbing her husband’s ar "This is your fault How could you do this to me?"

"Hey," Noel started in my defense, but Phil held up his hand

"Leave her be She’s distraught" But he seeree with her because as he wrapped his arlare

I shuddered, tears filling my eyes

"Co room and into the hall

We collapsed onto a nearby bench, where he rocked ht It’s o to that stupid waterfall If I’d kept a better eye on Colton If I hadn’t stopped Oren fro to Lake Tahoe"

"Shh," Noel co wrong"

"I should’ve held on to his hand longer I should’ve--"

"No Look at ht now he’d say the sa He made the decision to stay in Ellamore with you He made the decision to coo of your hand to save you"

When I sobbed harder, he stroked my hair and kissed my te the exact saiven a second chance Because he loved you"

It was the way he said loved in past tense that broke ainst him and wepton so over the side withIt didn’t feel like Noel’s leg

I sat up, wincing against the pain inhim at all, I just blinked