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Snorts of laughter came from all three, and that propelled Bailey onward to my mortification “It was a rare day off, we’d been on the beach in our bikinis—stop leering at one to the Ice Creaainst the wall as aited for our ice creaht in an old picture hook on Mr Shickle’s wall Instead of patiently trying to untie it, she yanked it” Her laughter-filled eyes came to me “Bikini top came off, and Mr Shickle was rushed to the hospital with a suspected heart attack In the end, it was only arrhythmia, and he survived, but there left no doubt in the ht of Dahlia McGuire naked was too much for old Mr Shickle to cope with”

My cheeks burned with mortification as my dad and brothers veered between

horror that their daughter/sister had flashed her boobs in public, and hilarity that I had, indeed, sent an old man to the hospital

“I cannot believe you told that story!”

“What story?” Krista asked as she wandered into the kitchen

So I had to endure another retelling E And Bailey succeeded in doing what she’d set out to do

To take our minds off my mom

To h

Even if it was at my expense

The following night athered at Rosie’s Levi had woken up sick that hout the day, Darragh and Krista didn’t think it was a good idea for hio out for dinner Ultimately, they decided both boys should stay home since they’d have to leave after dinner with Krista anyway, so Darragh had come alone I was disappointed Krista and h to go to Dad’s steak dinner toht in Boston

“I will miss the hell out of you,” Davina said as we stood at the bar to order drinks We’d already all eaten and were nowWell, they were I was sticking to soda water and lime

I leaned into her “I’ to miss you too But I’ll be back before you know it”

She see out, “If Moain and I wanted to see if that could work, would you hate me?”

Of course not “God, no, Davina Look, I understand why things are the way they are between Mom and me, and as much as it hurts, I’ve found more peace about that than I could have hoped for a o I kno she and I will probably never have a relationship and I’ to terms with that But I wouldn’t wish that on any of you Or her So if she makes steps to mend fences, I’d be happy for you, Davi Honestly”

She gave me a tremulous smile “I love you, kiddo”