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"Haven’t we said enough?" she asked, exhausted She hadn’t slept all night The power had finally come back on at two thirty, and she’d still been awake After shutting off the lights and going to the bathroom she’d crawled back to bed

And watched Peter sleep Watched hi lashes resting together His hands relaxed

She studied that face That lovely body, beautiful into its fifties

And now the o

"No, I need to tell you so," he said

She looked at him, and waited

"I’m sorry that Lillian wrote that terrible review back at school"

"Why are you telling me this now?" Clara asked, puzzled

"It’s just that I was standing close to her when they were looking at your work and I think I--"

"Yes?" Clara asked, guarded

"I should have told her how great I thought it was I mean, I told her I loved your art, but I think I could have been clearer"

Clara sed her mind Don’t worry about it"

She took Peter’s hands and rubbed the through their gate, down their path, and through her door

Just before it closed Peter re else "Arisen," he called "Hope takes its place a the modern masters" He stared at the closed door, sure he’d called out in time Sure she’d heard "I ood ones I know theainst her door

Her eyes closed, she fished in her pocket and brought out the coin The beginner’s chip

She grasped it so tightly a prayer became printed on her palm

Jean Guy picked up the phone, and began dialing Two, three, four nu up Six, seven nuht-headed

Out the atched the Chief Inspector toss his bag into the back of the car