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Outside, it’s quiet except for the soft rush of traffic a few streets over and the chatter of birds nesting in the ruins of the train station a hundred yards away

It’s a beautiful day and I’m alive to walk around in it No matter how foul I feel, no matter how miserable I am over what happened with Lark, I’ to be grateful for, but it isn’t simple, not really There are soback when they should reach out, who sit out when they should join in, who hang on when they should let go, and I don’t want to be one of them

It took years of hard work on oing to give up on that because a dream has died

Even if it is the brightest drea I most want in the world

I’et up, brush myself off, and move on

Even if I have to do it with a broken heart

Chapter 25

Lark

Two months later

There’s nothing ia afternoon in late July

All day it’s been as hot as Satan’s kitchen The bugs waged war against the appetizers (and nearly won) and the hu’s hot, damp breath

The bride spent half the reception rushing to the bathroom to spray more hairspray on her up-do in a vain atteuests consu out on the dance floor

“Thank goodness that’s over” Melody du trays in the back of our new Ever After Catering van, the one we bought after booking four ust, and two in September

Business is good Very good

I can’t coree heat

“Why any woman would plan an outdoor reception in July is beyond rass by the truck and shrugging out of her tuxedo vest