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Sustained Emma Chase 14190K 2023-09-01

She gets louder "Hi!"

I nod back "Hey"

Her face scrunches, her voice drops lower, and she leans forward like she’s about to tellserious But all that co with her?" I ask

"No," Chelsea answers, sounding slightly affronted "There’s nothing wrong with Regan She’s two"

And Regan is back to s at me "Hi"

"Doesn’t she know any other words?"

"No She’s only two"

"Hi, hi, hi, hi!"

I give up and walk away

"So, how can I reach Rory’s parents? It’s iht Pained "You can’t Theymy brother and his ere in a car accident alo They passed away"

And all the pieces fall into place The coer at the entire world But it’s the name that stands out ently "Robert McQuaid was your brother? The environmental lobbyist?"

She smiles, small and sad, and nods her head "Did you know Robbie? DC’s such a busy city, but I’ve gotten the impression it’s like a small town too Everybody knows everybody"

When it coal ones, it’s exactly like that

"No, I didn’t know his That he was honest, sincere That’s a rare thing around here"

And suddenly she seeer somehow Se house with the kids? Just her, Rory, One Word, and Baby Boy?

Chelsea looks up fro to say to my brother and his wife, you can say to ht I drove Rory hoet the chance to finish the sentence Because the rumble of feet, like a sta --like it’s about to fall down on us--as the sound travels, getting closer

And there’s screa

"I’onna kill you!"

"I didn’t do it!"

"Get back here!"

"It wasn’t me!"

Even the two-year-old looks concerned