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I think I can handle this

I had an a with Cheryl and Martin They may be possibly two of the coolest people I've ever met Cal is the perfect combination of theenerosity from his father

I thought the

se people ht be an oddity to me, since I don't really understand the concept of what normal parents should be, but instead, I findme off, Cheryl'sMartin's wit and humor put me completely at ease

I love it here

But I et back

Love,

Macy

Chapter 12

As I drive down the dirt lane toShe has on deniray, athletic t-shirt Her hair is in a ponytail, no , she has one foot planted on the seat, raising one knee up in front of her, while she pushes the other foot against the wooden porch to swing back and forth She has a book resting against her knee that she's reading, and she actually looks relaxed

When she hears ine, her face tilts toward me

Instant recognition

Welco smile

Warm eyes

As if the only care in the world she has at this moment is that I've come back to her I only hope she'll feel that way after we talk

I bring the car to a stop, put it in park, and cut the engine Macy closes the book, stands fro, and arches her back a little, as if to crack her spine Sucking a deep breath in, I watch as she steps into a pair of flip-flops sitting there before walking to the edge of the steps where she halts and waits for me I let the air out slowly, and I pray I can keep a level head I' inside with the need to do violence to those people who hurt Macy

My heart is shredded I've never in rieving for the loss of Macy's innocence For the horrid family she was born into In this moment, I can almost understand Macy's disbelief in a God How could He do this to her?

I get out of the car and walk around it right up to the botto a smile on my face, I try to mask my haunted eyes

"What's that you're reading?" I ask as I give a nod toward the book in her hand Now that I'm closer, I can see it's a leather-bound journal of some sorts

Macy looks down at it briefly, and then back up to me "My diary"

I can only begin to ies are tearstained I wonder if I'm in there, and what exactly my role is

"Want to go for a walk?" I ask her, holding out my hand

"Sure," she says as she trots down the stairs, her flip-flops slapping against the wooden boards Her fingers link with mine while her other hand carries her diary

We head toward the orchard, the edge of it sitting only about a hundred yards from my parents' house It's hot out today, and I wore jeans and a button down forwith Dee Not ideal for a walk outside on a suive us a little shade

"I was out here earlier this ht down under a tree and just relaxed Do you know I don't think I've ever done anything like that before?"

I squeeze her hand in reflex, but I don't say anything Mythis subject up to Macy I need to talk to her about it because, as her attorney, I have to let her know I can get the forfeiture rescinded I have to talk to her about the repercussions of ill happen if she talks to the prosecutor again

And that means I have to make Macy confront her dark secrets, which is not hoanted this to happen I wanted Macy to one day trust h with her story I didn't want to have to find it out from someone else, and then force her to deal with the fallout It uy here, and I' to see me

I fear it ht just be the end of us

"What's wrong?" she asks, her voice worried She co on my hand in a silent indication she wants me to look at her

It's a brutal struggle to bring my eyes up to aze

Blue eyes, clear and cogent Brow creased a little, yet her head tilted to the side in curiosity She looks concerned for me

"I went back to the city to see Dee Switzer this ," I tell her

"Why?"

"She said she could o away" My voice cracks I drop her hand and lift , yet still not as painful as looking at Macy "I wanted to know exactly what she wanted from you, and why she wanted it"

It's silent just for a moment, and then she murmurs "You know, don't you?"

I close ht from the sun "Yeah"

"I told you to run I told you I was no good for you," Macy chokes out