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They were in the fah the storm had passed, the roads weren’t close to cleared Rosalind had texted earlier that reed on keeping the store shut They didn’t have any appointh to Christmas that everyone would be focused on their holiday plans Isabel was staying ho and concerned husband

Which left Madeline staying with Jonny for yet another night So far they’d had breakfast, then he’d gone to work out in his superfancy gy, she’d refused She would have loved to watch hi like a ridiculous groupie And having hiraood time

They’d had lunch and he’d asked if she wanted to look at a script he was considering

“What’s it about?” she asked

“Read it and find out” He glanced away from her, then back “I’d like to knohat you think”

There was so in his tone She couldn’t define it exactly, but if she had to guess, she would say he was unsure About the project?

“Okay, sure I’ve never read a screenplay before”

“The fore directions Just read the dialogue Pretend it’s an audio book”

She nodded and settled on the sofa Within a couple of pages, she was caught up in the story of Dean Woodley, a guy fro side of toas deterh a series of unexpected events, Dean found hi three street kids ere desperate for connection and guidance, even as they stole fro

The story was gritty and funny and, when one of the boys was killed in a drive-by shooting, devastating Madeline read until the end, when the two reirl Then she went back to the beginning and read it all again When she’d finished for the second ti her from the other end of the sofa

“You’re crying,” he said as he handed her a tissue

“Am I?” She wiped away her tears “What time is it?”

“Nearly six”

“I read all afternoon? I’m sorry”

“Don’t be I asked you to read it What did you think?”