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Evie took Mary White’s cold, thin hands in hers "I understand just what you mean about Mr Hobbes," Evie started "The Blue Noses think we flappers areto live life to the fullest" Evie glanced at Will, who nodded slightly for her to continue "Why, I’ll bet if Mr Hobbes were here today, he’d be celebrated as thoroughly modern"

Mrs White smiled Two of her teeth had rotted away entirely She laid her damp hand on Evie’s cheek "He would have liked you John always did like a pretty face"

Evie willed the scream in her throat to stay put "I a, why did you hold on to Knowles’ End? I’ it"

"I would never do that"

"Of course not," Evie agreed, nodding vehemently "I was just curious why not"

"So that John would have a home to come back to He said it was very important ‘Don’t ever sell the house, Mary, or I can’t come back to you’ "

Goose bumps danced up Evie’s spine "But how?"

Mary White laid her head against the worn satin pillowcase and looked toward the light sneaking in around the edges of the"Johnny didn’t tell hty’s infinite plan His body was anointed, you know, just like a work of art--Botticelli’s Venus, Michelangelo’s David The marks, everywhere He wore them as a second skin"

"Why?"

"It was all part of the plan, you see He would come back He would be reborn A resurrection And once he was reborn, he would bring the end times The world would be cleansed in fire He would rule it as a god And ould be by his side" She laughed, a schoolgirl sort of laugh, co face "He called me his Lady Sun Oh, he was a prince Here" With effort, Mary opened her nightstand drawer and reold band dulled with age lay against the black velvet

"It’s beautiful," Evie said

"It was his," she whispered conspiratorially "I gave it to hih we’d not yet married He wore it nearly till the end, led with the desire to take it, to read it It belonged to him To John Hobbes