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"Just try," Deana said "It’s Diane’s," she lilted "God, I miss her I think she could’ve cheered you up"

"She could’ve," Jim said with a short chuckle His smile faded "She’s with Tommy, now"

We finished dinner, and I served dessert--just a si The kids made the few pieces that were left disappear

The front door swung open "Hi, Maddoxes!" Olive said, appearing at the ht s her teeth appear whiter and her freckles blend in Her hair was even blonder than before, and Falyn beamed theover to hug her tight She held her out at ar Hoas vacation?"

"It was good Sort of sad Mo her we’ll have plenty, but she’s a wreck" Olive pulled at the frayed edges of her shorts She earing a white tank top and a flowing, short-sleeved ki worown into Woe to boys at Eastern who paid any attention to her--the Maddoxes would eat the hoh school He was just too scary for any teenage boy to handle

The twins and their wives had just finished cleaning off the table, and Jessica, Ja the dishwasher when everyone grew silent The younger kids were just bugging us to play outside in the sprinkler when Wren began looking out theand speaking in hushed tones into his earpiece

"Keep the kids inside for now," Wren said to Shepley

I helped hi the street

"Has Trenton changed his ain, and then set it on the counter

A car engine grew louder outside, and I pulled Eli and Emerson closer

"I’ve been instructed to ask you all to relanced at Jessica and Ja"

"What the hell does that mean?" Shepley asked

"Travis and Liis are in the drive," Wren said, irritated that he’d had to explain that nal fro on, but ere so used to being kept in the dark, it didn’t see to happen

The front door opened, and Travis, Abby, and Liis walked in, followed by Agent Hyde and Val The door closed, and the

"Just, please hearto be difficult, and at first, you won’t understand, but you will"

"What’s going on, Trav--" Shepley began, and then Thoasp filled the rooan to whi into Thoing his Papa and Uncle Thomas Ellie and Falyn both covered their mouths, their cheeks ith tears

"You lied?" Shepley cried, consoling his parents

"Why?" Tyler choked out