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What could they say? There was soSaun the process of withdrawing e hurt Not only had she been handed unexpected and painful info r By the faht, they'd re info rced her biggest insecurity— that she wasn't wanted here, anyway

And Zoe feared that reaching past Sam's defenses this time would be not just difficult, but ione home, while her mother and father had retreated to their bedroom to discuss and absorb the news Zoe had heard her o away she'd received in response She guessed Elena hadn't pushed the issue because she wanted to let Saured she'd try and see Saht She paused outside her closed door and knocked lightly "Sa in," she warned She knew better than to leave Sa With her active adolescent mind, she'd conjure up all sorts of proof that the Costases wanted her gone, anyway

No, Salanced around, taking in the touches Sam had added that marked the room as hers The Orlando Bloom stand-up poster from the party, the stuffed animals and the typical clutter accumulated over tiathered over the short period during which she'd lived with Zoe's parents

She'd arrived from her last foster home with little in the way of personal items except for the keys around her neck and she seemed surprised each time someone— Ari, Zoe, Elena, Nicholas or even one of the aunts— bought her so just because they wanted to see her smile

Sam sat on her bed

Zoe joined her "You can't keep your feelings inside" Counseling was Ari's forte, but Zoe tried, anyway, for Sam's sake

Saainst the headboard "I'm not Ryan Baldwin is a liar and I don't want to be related to hi hiet me out of your house and have your parents back all to yourself"

Zoe rolled her eyes "I'm thirty years old What makes you think I want , but I thought you'd coed Sa half smile in return "Okay, then why did you lie?" Sam asked

"Because I needed ti the truth I wanted to knohat kind ofeveryone's lives upside down Can you try to understand?"

Sa valiantly to show no fear, but Zoe saw her treirl beneath the facade

Since nothing could o away, Zoe opted to try and make it easier "And maybe you can find out a little about your uncle? Maybe Ryan can tell you so Sa Ryan in her life

Sa

Zoe tilted her head and scooted a little closer "You never talked about her Do you want to? With o to sleep" A single tear dripped down her cheek She ignored it, didn't bother to wipe it away

Zoe desperately wanted to pull Sam into her arms, but she sensed how e, Sa up in foster homes with no one who truly cared