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But--

Daniel was in her ho distance of her parents Would they lose it if they kneho he really was? How did she introduce the guy as responsible for a thousand of her deaths, whonetically drawn to almost all the time, as impossible and elusive and secretive and sometimes evenwith the devil, for crying out loud, and who--if he thought showing up here uninvited with that deood idea--maybe didn't know her very well at all

"What are you doing here?" Her voice was bone-dry because she couldn't talk to Daniel without talking to Ca to throw so heavy at hi to you, too We heard your house was the place to be today"

"We ran into your friend here at the airport," Daniel added, using the at tone he spoke in when he and Luce were in public It washer yearn to be alone with hirab him by the lapels of his stupid coat and shake hih

"Got to talking, shared a cab," Ca at Callie

Callie s at the Price household, but this is so et the real scoop"

Luce could feel her friend searching her face for clues about what the deal ith these two guys Thanksgiving was about to get really aard, really fast This was not the way things were supposed to go

"Turkey tied into a confused gri on?" Her old green-and-white-striped apron was tied around her waist

"Mo with her hand, "this is Callie, and Cam, and " She wanted to reach out to put her hand on Daniel, so to let her mom know that he was special, that this was the one To let hi between the to be okay But she couldn't She just stood there "Daniel"

"Okay" Her mom squinted at each of the newcomers "Well, um, welcome Luce, honey, can I have a word?"

Luce went to her er to let Callie know she'd be right back She followed herwith framed pictures from Luce's childhood, and into her parents' cozy, lamplit bedroom Her mom sat down on the white bedspread and crossed her ar?"

"I' down on the bed

"I don't want to shut anyone out of a Thanksgiving meal, but don't you think we need to draw the line soh?"

"Yes, of course you're right," Luce said "I didn't invite all these people I'm as stunned as you are that they all showed up"

"It's just that we have so little time with you We love toher hair "But we cherish our tie imposition, but Mom"--Luce turned her cheek into her mother's open palm--"he is special Daniel I didn't know he "I know this is such a huge imposition, but Mom"--Luce turned her cheek into her mother's open pal to come, but now that he's here, I need this time with him as much as I need it with you and Dad Does that make any sense?"

"Daniel?" her mom repeated "That beautiful blond boy? You two are--"

"We're in love" For soh she had her doubts about their relationship, saying out loud, to her mother, that she loved Daniel made it see, truly love him

"I see" When her mom nodded, her sprayed brown curls stayed in place She smiled "Well, we can't very well kick out everyone else but him, can we?"

"Thank you, Mom"

"Thank your father, too And honey? Next time, a littlehorabbed your baby albu a kiss on Luce's cheek

Back in the living rooot to be with your family after all," he said

"I hope you're nothtiness in his voice but found none "I'm sure you'd both rather I weren't here, but"--he looked at Daniel--"a deal's a deal"

"I'ave nothing away Until it darkened Miles had co room

"Um, hey, your dad's about to make a toast" Miles's eyes were xed on Luce in a way thathard not to meet Daniel's stare "Your mom told me to ask where you wanted to sit"

"Oh, wherever Maybe next to Callie?" A uests and the need to keep them as far away from each other as possible And Molly away fro chart"

Roland and Arriane had e of the dining roo rooold-and-white tablecloth, and her parents had even busted out their wedding china Candles were lit and goblets of water lled And soon Shelby and Miles were carrying in steareen beans and mashed potatoes while Luce took her seat between Callie and Arriane