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"Do you think we caused any real harh I was an anchor, all of it was still so new to me I wasn’t sure how the line normally felt Besides, the other anchors had ensured that I couldn’t draw on its power I realized that they were probably controllingthe anchors from the rebel families

"No, sweetheart It feels like it always has It’s holding just fine"

"But the fa with it," Oliver said "They will send someone around sooner rather than later to look into e naughty little Taylors have been up to"

"Well, before they co I need to do," I said "I have to talk to Peter I’ve got to try to set things right between us Now, in case the faive ersnap We will handle the faet over to that boy’s house and put him out of his misery"

"How do I know if he even still wants me?"

"An empty fifth of whiskey and a hole in the drywall toldI needed to know on that subject Go on now"

I showered and stood before h all the new maternity outfitsto theon him? I settled on the simplest of the dresses, a white sleeveless one with ascreams "I’m not a whore" like embroidered daisies

Peter’s house was in Sackville Before rab my bike and pedal over, but I’d already been forced to bid a temporary adieu to rown another inch since then I didn’t want to usefrom the more and more familiar sense of disorientation Instead, I called a taxi

I spent the ride trying to pull ether I couldn’t take the tack that Eether, at least physically Peter knew better; he knew that I had cheated In the bright light of day, I did too

We pulled up in front of the sh Peter only rented the place, he had recently given it a fresh coat of paint, a silvery gray color to offset the pewter shutters and door The house stood next to a towering live oak that hung over it as if it were trying to keep its companion safe Peter’s truck stood in the drive I knew he’d be hoain, not after what had happened I doubted that either of us would ever step foot near there again I paid the driver and got out Then I stood there and watched as he pulled away, trying to work up my nerve to clionna stand out there all day, or you co in?" Peter called from the doorway

"You sure you want me to?" I asked

He walked away from the door, but left it open I cli in the beat-up easy chair he’d bought at Goodwill the day he signed a lease on this place I stepped in and closed the door behind me, unable to read his expression becauseroom Almost as if I had asked the question, he reached out and flicked on a table lamp

Dark circles carried his reddened eyes, and sparks of fiery red whiskers lined his cheeks and chin He still wore the jeans he’d had on last night, but a different T-shirt Last night’s shirt lay on the floor, now a bloodied ball of rag "How’s your wound?"

"I can barely see where she stuck ood work"

I stepped up closer, ht "Peter, I am so sorry"

"For the injury?"

"Yes, and for everything else too"