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"Well, for one thing, I heard fro Monday hed heavily upon her She seemed to take the news personally "Did he really?"

"I realize she probably shouldn’t have been so free with his personal information I feel terrible about that" Sondra had been less upset about her diso," Sunshine whispered, "but I didn’t actually think he’d go that far"

"Sondra worked part-time and is semi-retired She says she’s fine with it What bothersher job"

Sunshine set aside the same brush she had picked up only a few nized him as the man I once knew"

"Sondra said he’s difficult"

Sunshine smiled "What Peter doesn’t realize is that e fail to be kind and loving, then we fail to be wise I fear his life hasn’t gone the way he expected or wanted I wish hiht in a net of self-pity and resentht have said would have reached him" She paused and sadness leaked into her eyes "He doesn’t understand that in his effort to penalize your friend, he has hurt himself even more"

Her aunt ise and beautiful It stunned Beth that Peter didn’t recognize that in her She was right, he was to be pitied "Did Peter … blame you for what’s happened in his life?"

"He said he didn’t, claimed he accepts full responsibility The sad part is he resents hest-priced attorneys in the city, Peter views himself as a failure"

"But why?" This made no sense to Beth

Her aunt reached out and cupped Beth’s cheek "I read once that one of the saddest things in life is to die with the music still inside us There’s tre denied When I knew hie His as praised by staff and students alike His potential was breathtaking"

"And he gave it up?"

"He did He walked away from it all"

"But why? Why would he do that?"

Sunshine mulled over the question "That isn’t easy to answer He would like to blame outside factors, but I believe deep down Peter had a terrible fear of failure His talent came easy for hihtest criticisuh"

"Yes, I won’t deny that" She turned back to her painting, but not before Beth saw the sheen in her aunt’s eyes

Iuilt "I’ies They aren’t necessary You acted in love, and how could I ever fault that?"

"But--"

"I don’t want you to feel bad that the o well I’, I’ht?"

"Oh yes, very sure"

Beth stood to leave "I better head to the store so I can get what I need for our dinner" Then, to lighten the mood, she said, "Sam wants to help me with the preparation"

"Does he cook?"

"Not that I’ve seen"

"This should be interesting," Sunshine said, s better than she had when she’d arrived She had a renewed appreciation of this wonderful, o about Peter, she felt a terrible sadness for him, much as her aunt did

She couldn’t let her h Sa ti else, this should be one interesting Thanksgiving Day

Chapter 32

Sa dinner, Beth’s aze narrowed in on him like the laser frorace and style of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and possessed the eyes of a olf Staking his claim, he walked directly to Beth, wrapped his ar