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“I know, Dad,” Matt said, his voice gruff

“Good Then tellto be?”

“I think,” he said, feeling the words roll up fro his o back to St Louis to tie up some loose ends”

There was a commotion on Joel’s side of the line “Uh-oh,” he said “Looks like Little Ada to clear us out of here, son”

“Dad,” Matt said “Is everything okay, though? That Richard visit—was there so I should know?”

Joel took another long drag froarette and Matt waited, nervous for some reason

“Don’t worry about it, Matt,” Joel said “It was nothing”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely”

“Talk to you in a few days,” Matt said and hung up

He couldn’t fix Savannah and the mess he’dhe could fix was his own life

And it was time he did it

Before he could curb the impulse, he dialed his office nue that Erica would get in the

“I’m sorry,” he said “I owe you” He paused “I owe you so ured out how many days work he had left

“I’ll be back next Monday,” he said “I proht now, and if you want to leave I don’t blas up”

He shut his phone, wondering if he’d done the right thing Stepping back into the land of the living was not so he could undo

Giving hi he could not undo He’d have to leave on Sunday to be in St Louis on Monday

Which gave him seven days

Carter’s car started and drove away, spitting gravel as it went Matt turned and there was Savannah, Katie scowling at her side

Savannah’s eyes searched his face, just as he searched hers, trying to read her emotions on her skin

“You okay?” she asked