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Isabelle’s eyes seemed to soften further “Yes, but at first, you must have—”

“No” I turned “It didn’t bring up any meot to the door “Do you want so with the tea”

“No I’ll eat when I get up”

I nodded, opening the door, and glancing back Her expression was full of concern—for me I supposed—and I didn’t want that She was the one who’d been hurt This wasn’t about me “I’ll be back to check on you in a bit”

“Okay,” she said as I closed the door behind , so h my body, I didn’t kno to separate them all, much less identify them

I walked to the office on wooden legs, shutting the door behindonto the couch

I heard my father enter the house and stomp to the kitchen, heard his voice as it rose and fell, and May’s tone as she obviously attempted to soothe him It seemed to work—his voice quieted, and then both their footsteps moved toward my room

I thought about getting up and joining the under ish as if it was exhausted from the mini heart attack I’d had when Mick had told me Isabelle was hurt

The picture came to me then, unbidden, the way the air had been steaht red For a , and I’d frozen in horror I’d frozen Just a second, maybe two, before my father had burst into the room, but maybe those seconds could have saved hermaybe

Seconds

Moments

Such se everything Vast enough to unravel an entire life

Christ

I propelledsound,as I poured a drink from the bar cart on the other side of the rooular basis, and I was surprised she hadn’t rerateful she hadn’t

I downed one shot then another, the shaking inht of that in years, hadn’t relived it like that since I’d been a teenager