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Orla is watching me process this, I realize A custooes to serve hier to her te into take a hot shower and attempt sleep Before I reach the door, Shane walks out with two men in suits His blue eyes lock onat , to me, I think, when the kitchen door bursts open and Faith walks out She’s holding a giant, silver ladle in her hand, her hair pulled back in a oes silent It even sounds like the volume of the music has been turned down Several chairs scrape back and without turning around, I know the regulars at the bar are watching with avid interest Shane nods to a young, blonda suitcase "Faith, this is Joseph DeMatteo and his--"

"An Italian," Orla shouts froone e of his nose "We’ve a week to decide if ant to accept the offer, Faith We’ll discuss it later"

"What’s to discuss? We all knohat your decision is going to be" She throws the ladle down on the ground with a clatter, re her shoes "You hate it here You always have We , Ma and I"

"Faith, this isn’t the place"

"What is the place, if not here?" She swipes a hand over her eyes "This is the only place I know"

Both suited men shift in their loafers, clearly unco out around theh I sense a hint of satisfaction over Faith’s words They obviously hadn’t been sure up until this point of Shane’s decision, so I find odd I’d been so sure that the second an offer washis way out the front door

ShaneHe doesn’t even have to say it out loud I give hi an aro upstairs? I’ll show you the pictures I took today"

"Oh, that’s grand You two are working together now" She yanks herself away from me "I’m not Kitty I don’t need a babysitter Piss off"

Okay, after talking to her like a petulant child, I guess I deserve that It was aa woe of how to coh, I cutto appeal to the pride she takes in good service, the running of the pub All the while, I’ the painful squeeze ina scene isn’t going to change anything, Faith," I whisper "It’s only going to give people so to talk about"

She see on what I suspect are rapt custo the scene with interest With a frustrated sob, she pushes off h the hallway door Shane starts to follow her, but I put a hand on his ar back "Thank you"

I’ve never been inside Faith’s room, nor do I knohich one it is, but I see a door slam just beyond the base of the stairs I pause outside for afacedown on the bed, face buried in a pillow Surprisingly, she’s not crying Her body is coh, I know she’s aware that I’ve entered It takes her a moment to sit up and face me