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And, in the back offor Jesse to coirl he would have fallen in love with She’s beautiful; I’m sure of it

I’m also sure that I’ain

The round white-wicker table is already set for two, the cutlery and glasses lined up tidily on either side

"I hope you like chicken" Ginny slaps a rectangular casserole dish in the center of the table The dog, as lying on the old ashed porch floor with its eyes closed and seely not a care in the world when I first arrived, leaps to its haunches, its nose twitching at the scent ofthe zipper on my fleece jacket all the way up It’s April and, with the sun well on its way behind theoutside on the porch, screened in or not "Can I help you with--"

"Nope" She waves an oven-mitted hand my way as she passes irl" When I reach for the closest chair, she quickly adds, "Not that one"

Of course I take the other seat as she disappears into the house, the door slapping shut with a clatter so quickly that I can’t even sneak a glance inside It’s as if she intentionally re down, I snap ers twice to catch its attention "What’s your nas its head toward my hand and I see its nostrils twitch a second before it leans in and places a wet-tongued kiss onits back intos twice, as if it knohat I’

Ginny returns with two more dishes--one full of mashed potatoes and the other filled with brown beans--and the dog instantly forgetsGinny "It’s nothing special, but I’ve never beenthe wood boards as she takes her seat Pushing the dishes forward, she ushers, "Wellgo on, then!"

"This isup ht for ht stature That was ained soo "I saw the quilt on the bed, by the way It’s beautiful You’re very talented"

I get a grunt in response

I don’t let that dissuadea hobby Maybe you could teachthis new, "fresh" person I’ve beco anyone anything," Ginny gru her chicken with her fork as she saay at it with her butter knife

Anotherin the field with his--I et eaten by coyotes"

That stallsa deep breath, I do what Meredith said to do and just ignore it "Tent running into the Welleses’ garage I can ask Jesse to fish the them over if you think--"

"That damn boy isn’t to step so much as a pinky toe on my property, do you hear e in her eyes "He’s a bad egg" She waves her fork at onna chatter h dinner?"

An unco of our h the quiet evening That and the dog cho at pieces of chicken that Ginny tosses its way It has yet to catch one, too blind to see the flying meat before it bounces off its nose

The terees by the ti o back to e and start a fire in that woodstove My instincts drivethem to the sink, which I start to do But then I look at that door and the metal bars across the s and I stall I’ht answer is here A it up? Do I--

"Just leave it be"

"I’d like to clean--"

"I’’s head, she tempers her tone "Me and Felix have been on our own for years now Haven’t we, boy?"

I frown "I thought Felix was your cat"

"What’s your point?" She swipes the plates from my hand to stack on top of hers "I like the na your pets by the same name if you like it"

"But" I feel uish the when I call theree, slowly, pressingtells

Narrow eyes size e, don’t you?"

I blush, afraid to say anything to offend her She may banish me from her property yet "I thinkyou’re very kind"

Her mouth twists up, like she doesn’t believe me "Well, Felix is better than Jane Doe, I’ll tell you thatto that ridiculous naue with her on that It’s the first time anyone has even asked what I think about the naue," I ad else if I want a new ID" Sheriff Gabe already has the judge and paperwork lined up

"Well, then, give yourself a new name! It’s not hard I don’t knohy you haven’t done it already"

She doesn’t get it I don’t just want a new naetting it anytio of that idea" She outright glares at et to be whoever you want to be, without the burden of your past"