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The implication that she was the idiot reot dirty in it, too

She paused "It doesn’t have to be this way between us"

I stared at the dragonfly, still buiven up by now

"Yes, it does Maybe you should call Dad Maybe he’ll accidentally pick up, and you can try to weasel the answer out of him"

I knew she’d already tried The Poe inforrease the wheel, and when she hadn’t gotten anything fro Dad and I could always see her co up on me, Hallie" It was said in a definite " the parent discipline card And I know that didn’t just happen" My grip on the phone was deathly I breathed in through ht ers "Can we be done now?"

"Did you tell your father that you were seeing ripples?"

How did she know?

"I’m not a traveler," I said cautiously "Why would I see rips?"

"You aren’t the only one So aene Poe, too"

Theher the satisfaction of knowing how ed me would burn me from the inside out I wanted to ask her where he was, but held back on that, too It wasn’t like I could trust her answer, anyway

"I talked to Amelia and Zooey," she continued, and I could swear I heard a tinge of s "They both tell me the usual rules don’t apply anymore They used to be able to talk to a rip when they saw one, singular Now they see e theet on the horn and tell A and Z to keep their traps shut when it caiving her anything in exchange, she’d cracked "I’ll take it under consideration"

"Seeing rips isn’t all that’s happening to you, is it, Hallie?"

So sly Trepidation coiled in ut "What do youas she considered what to say, looking out aonto an unknown city

"Your cells are regenerating faster and faster All your faculties now operate at optier every day"

I sniffed "I hope it’s after five wherever you are, because you sound like you’re three sheets to the wind"

"You aren’t sleeping Your mouth can’t keep up with your brain I can help you, Hallie" Her voice was soft, but there was nothing gentle about it "I’h

"Say the word All you have to do is say the word and I’ll be there"

"Here’s a word Good-bye"

"Re up

I stilled, ain She was persistent I’d give her that

"The ones I used to tell you about an object with abilities that couldn’t be ie worlds You used to believe in that power"

Our bedtime ritual had been my one constant when Mom lived with us Froht, I had my bath, a cup of chamomile tea, and story time with my ave me a stomachache

"Turns out it wasn’t an object, Hallie It was a person You understand what I’, don’t you? You can feel it"