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As if he can feel my presence, he turns and stares atis wrong He’s most definitely upset He waves and I liftback Macy turns and her eyes widen and a huge grin appears on her face She starts talking quickly, waving her little hand I can’t hear a word she’s saying because I’ on Nate’s face He crooks his finger, encouraging me in I hesitate I’m not sure it’s the best idea but he looks troubled, and I’m not the kind of person who can just walk away

So I walk around the corner, pull the door open and walk over to their booth Macy leaps out of her chair and rushes over, throwing herself at s I sirl," I say

"Hi Avie!"

She takes my hand and pulls me over to Nate He sry and his face is tired

"Hey Dancer," he says, his voice lacking e down

He looks atthe concern for hi toI did the washing up all on my own"

I tilthappen at home? Is that why he’s upset?

"You’re a very big girl," I say, turning to Macy, "doing the washing up all on your own"

She set reat ice creao?"

"Do they have strawberry?"

"They certainly do"

"Yippee!"

I turn to Nate "Want to take a walk?"

He nods stiffly and stands Macy runs out the door and we follow her quickly I take her hand when she reaches the road

"Make sure you don’t cross without a grown-up," I say to her "We wouldn’t want you to get squashed Look left and right"

She sli er seems to have vanished, but his troubled expression reht with lanterns that run down the long, stone path We begin down that path to the ice crea all the flowers she passes

"You okay?" I ask Nate as alk

"Yeah," he h

"Okay," I whisper