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“No,” said Dad

“Dad—”

“You cannot trust thatthat’s happened”

“It’s hardly all his fault I played my part in this” The whole situation e was not the answer “I need to fix it”

“No,” he repeated, laying down the law

The probleirl any that our back yard was too small for a pony “I’m sorry, Dad But I’ve made my decision”

His face pinked, eyes incredulous Previously, on the rare occasions he’d taken a hard stance, I’d buckled (Or quietly gone about my business behind his back) But this time … I was not convinced For once my father seemed old to me, unsure More than that, this problem was mine, all mine

“Please, trust me,” I said

“Ev, honey, you don’t have to do this,” said Dad, trying a different tack “We can figure soot lawyers on the job already This is for the best”

“Won’t you need your oyer?” he asked There were new lines on his face, as if just this one day had aged hih me

“I’ll ask around, find soe of here,” he continued “Someone must know a decent divorce lawyer”

“Dad, it’s not like I have any htforward as possible,” I said with a forced smile “It’s okay We’ll take care of it and then I’ll be back”

“We? Honey, you barely know this guy You cannot trust hi What’s the worst that can happen?” I sent a silent prayer to the heavens that I’d never find out the answer to that

“This is a hed “I know you’re as disappointed over the internship as I aht about it I need to get this circus away froaze went to the darkened hallway heading tohere Mo I wanted was for my father to feel torn between the two of us

“It’ll be okay,” I said, willing it to be true “Really”

He hung his head at last “I think you’re doing the wrong thing But call anize a flight for you straight away”

I nodded

“I’”

“Yes I will” I wouldn’t

I picked up as No chance to refresh my wardrobe All of my clothes were at the apart it neatly behindto make myself look a little less like a train wreck