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Zoe nodded "I know" Sam's happy mood made it clear she hadn't been the recipient of Ryan's news But that wasn't the only reason Zoe was sure Sauess I trust you a little," she admitted

He raised an eyebrow "I can tell by the way you ca out of the house that you weren't at all concerned about hed at being caught red-handed "Yeah, well, I think I decided I trusted you about the tis"

"If she wants to keep a pet, she should learn how to care for it properly"

Zoe had a hunch she knehere this was heading "You mean she should follow the rules"

He nodded "Exactly"

Zoe dug her sneakered toe into the rass he'd excavated and searched for a diplomatic reply "Look, Ryan, I realize you , but you should know, the chances of that pig being well trained while living in this house are slio into a long-terative note"

"I'm not It's just that to train an animal, you need consistency Everyone who has daily contact with the pig has to do the sa and in this insane asylum, it's better not to hold out false hope" She shook her head and laughed at herself, realizing she was beating around the point she wanted to make "Look at it this way Ari and I turned out just fine Iave hi about Ima"

He ured that"

"You need to know that Sam's not a follow-the-rules type of kid And you need to respect who she is as a person" At thatRyan in case he should end up with Sa with a gaping hole she couldn't cope with right now But she'd be doing a disservice to both Sa her

He walked over to a bench and sat down, leaning back against the white iron "Five minutes alone with her and I knew she was azed up at the sky as if there were answers and explanations there "My family stifled Faith"

Zoe had suspected as much "And that can't happen to Sam"

Ryan nodded "I know" He understood what Zoe meant, so much more than she realized

His sister had stepped out of the bounds of what his family considered proper and she'd paid for her so-called cri disowned Often he had wondered if his father had been glad Faith had disappeared because that way he wouldn't have to acknowledge her problems and addiction But then he'd heard hisand known he didn't co cut off from the only life and fa after Faith had gone Though his sister had been weak and an addict, she'd had the strength to stand on her own until the end In an absurd way, he admired her for it

"Ryan?" Zoe's hand on his arm and her soft voice called to him

He knew he shouldn't be affected by her, kneas lying to her fa to take his sister's child aith him He didn't want to want her, yet he did He couldn't deny the attraction and had a hunch he couldn't avoid acting on it, either