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“You didn’t do anything to feel guilty for, honey,” Mom said quietly and I looked at her

“I know that Mouilty,” I returned, she bit her lip and I sucked in another painful breath and snatched back that thread, holding onto it for dear life

Then I said gently, “I’uys I loved you before you went all out to helpabout me I’ll always love you, no matter what happens But can I just have an hour to try to forget? Can I just have an hour alone? And then we can all go back to worrying”

And, for h the pain never left

Ever

They all stared at me

“Just an hour,” I whispered “Please?”

Mom looked at Dad Dad looked at Mom Phoebe studied me

Then Dad’s eyes came to ainst the doorjamb such was my relief “Thanks, Dad”

He came forward, wrapped a hand around the back of my head, pulled me to him and kissed my forehead Mom came forward, squeezed ave

Then they left and they did this withoutthe doorway

After I heard the door close, I stared for a long time atthery but I was pregnant so I was eating for our child But Tor bought so fking ainst the rabbed the remote, turned on my stereo and did what I’d done what had to be a million times since he was torn away from me

I played “Crash into Me” which was already queued up and ready to go

When it was done, I played it again

And when it was done, I played it again

And again

“Baby,” I whispered to the ceiling, the tears strea my hair, “come back to me Find some way to come back to me I swear, swear, swear, if you coain I won’t be overly friendly to people who are common and I won’t save half-dead birds and I won’t sneak apples to Saleh I don’t think you knew I did that… and I won’t rumple children’s hair I’ll be the perfect princess I’ll be your perfect princess I’ll live every second doing everything I can tobut happiness, tobut smile your beautiful, beautiful sh my blocked throat “Just coged, there ca at my door and I juh, I rolled off the couch, moved to the door and looked out the peephole

Oh my God!

My heart flew intomyself in Tor’s arms

“Baby,” I whispered, my ar into his as I felt his hands, his big, strong fingers close around my hips “Honey, oh God, I missed you God, baby,” I moaned in his throat

“Cora?” his beautiful voice sounded, I pulled my face from his neck, moved my hands to either side of his head and then pulled hiue inside and I kissed hiht, I kissed hi I had