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"Honey, you both have been through so much And I know this has to be hard for you…"

"No Not forwhere Tick and Zeus are She’s wondering where her two friends went She’s asking why Zeus hasn’t been over to play catch or why Tristan hasn’t been reading to her at night So yes, I’ to me, but I am beyond pissed off that he left Eht I’ because shemy heart that I cannot even tell her where he is or if he’s coht for us, but when it came down to it, he didn’t even try" My voice crackled "She deserves better"

He reached his hand out and placed it on top of h et going Just, if you hear from him…" My words faded off I wasn’t certain if I wanted Mr Henson to tell Tristan to coo to hell So I left the shop with a clouded , but just staring at the ceiling in my darkened room I turned on my side and stared at the emptied space next tothat Eht, I would’ve been lying if I said I wasn’t pleased

When she came back, she lay beside me in my bed I read her a few chapters froles res

After the story, ere both on our side, facing one another I kissed the top of her nose, and she kissed mine

"Mama?" she said

"Yes?"

"I love you"

"I love you, babe"

"Maood, but I like yours better" She yawned and shut her eyes I coan to lose herself to sleep

"Maht

"Yes?"

"Iasleep only a few minutes after she did I didn’t say it to her, but I , I shot up froainst the sidewalk outside ofonto the front of the house When I opened the door, the small bit of hope I held was de rid of the freshly fallen snow

"What are you doing?" I asked, crossing my ared "I wanted to stop by and see how you and Eainst the handle bar "Plus, I’m pretty positive you’re mad at me"