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There had been cards from Mac, boxes of cookies from Rachel and funny pictures froe to Mac

He’d opened all letters that weren’t addressed in Rachel’s handwriting The rest he sent back or burned Except the cookies—a man could only be so mad

But he’d never responded to Mac’s letters, and only once to A him stuff But they had

The whole family was just so stubborn

“We’re hoping you ain and Mac can’t wait” She s off her

“I didn’t read your letters, Rachel”

“Jesse” She reached out to hih to touch his arm, and he stepped out of the way His eyes ht that it killed in her eyes

Let it go, Rachel, he urged silently You keep coet hurt

Her hand curled into a fist and fell to her side “I know you’re mad But I tried—”

“Stop it” Jesse struggled to find that cold dark center of hined “I was a kid when you left You don’t know me and I don’t want to know you Just leave it alone” He watched all that hope crumple in her, like wadded-up paper

Good Now, stay away

He moved past her to his beat-up Jeep and she didn’t try to stop him

“Where are you going?” she asked

“San Diego,” he told her He winced as he swung his aching leg into the vehicle Damn bum knee “After I take care of Mom’s house”

“So you’re just gonna run again?”

Everything in him went still

“Running’s your deal, not mine I stayed until the old man died What did you do?”