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He thought it a good idea to go ahead now and call Lacey and ask if he could drop by a fewto the airport purchasing a ticket and then getting rid of the car He wanted to tell Lacey in person he was leaving town to go on assignment to do a story in another part of Australia

He called Lacey and apologized for disturbing her on Sunday, but it was very important he speak to her in person

"Please don't think you are ever disturbing me You can come over anytime you like I will be ho up the phone Arflin wasted no ti to drink?" Lacey asked as she welcolass of water would be just fine," he replied as he took a seat on the sofa

Lacey returned a few lass of ice water and handed it to him He took 2 small sips, but even that seemed hard to s as he searched for a way to break the news about his leaving to Lacey

"I caazine is sending nment, Arflin said as he took another sip of water and waited for Lacey's reaction

This was exactly the same story he told Sarah Marston He wanted to be sure he told the same story just incase Lacey and Sarah Marston should happen to run in to one another

"Well Jock Farton I shallAlthough we have only known each other a short period of tirown quite fond of you, " Lacey said as tears were now for in her eyes

"I feel the sa by here I knoill be gone a couple of et a chance to coan to choke up

They talked awhile about how much they enjoyed the opera house and dinner froht Finally Arflin told Lacey he still had a lot of things to do before he left for Alice Springs the next ood-bye and left

For the first time in his adult life Arflin felt loved He couldn't re was so he could not explain It see let down after another He now felt his life had a purpose, but he realized it was just too late He would have to find away to cope with this newfound feeling He believed putting as many miles as possible between him and Australia would be the only reasonable solution