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“We wanted her to stay with us,” Iris said, scowling “She insisted on getting her own place”

“I still think it’s a good thing”

“It’s on the edge of town It’s a fifteen-minute drive”

“That’s not too far”

“At least you’re here, Dahlia” Ira pinned me with his concerned dad stare “You’ll watch out for her, won’t you?”

“Of course,” I responded, even though I was intimidated by the level of depressed Ivy seemed to have reached It reot However, Bailey would be ecstatic that her old friend was living in , so I’d do what I could For Iris, Ira, and for Bailey “I’ll watch out for her”

“Thanks, sweetheart” Ira gave enuine smile “You off to the carnival?”

“Yes Will I see you there?”

“If we talk the Walking Dead into co with us,” Iris quipped

“Iris,” Ira admonished

His wife pulled a face and stepped into the apartoodbye over her shoulder

“She’s just worried,” Ira said “Honest”

“Ira, I’ve known Iris a long ti soet better Ivy will come out of this”

He nodded, but there was a bleakness in his eyes I hated to see I sucked in a breath and released it shakily as I opted to share soh soht I’d never come out of it But I did It takes time”

He gave rateful nod “Thank you, sweetheart”