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For a panicky second, Tos That would account for his sullenness and withdraouldn’t it? But first of all, Charlie had acted like that since hishad had him tested for that last year at his annual physical, and Charlie had been furious at the assumption that because he wore black eyeliner and listened to screeching noise that called itself music, he was an addict

"So we can do all this work ourselves?" Jacob asked

"Yes It has to pass inspection before we fly it, but that shouldn’t be a problem"

"Are you a pilot?"

"I have a license, yeah You should try getting one"

"Maybe I will Couldn’t hurt with the cool factor"

To Jacob ran out for sandwiches and brought Toe and a receipt and asked questions about To it quite hilarious that To chaine if I told all those hot chicks in class?" the kid asked "They’d go crazy"

"Don’t you dare," Toh as it is"

Around four, he packed up his tools "All right, ot an event tonight"

"What is it?" Jacob asked

"It’s a fund-raiser Save the farmland" Except Tom rather hated the farmland after yesterday Or maybe just the evil little pond

"Sounds horrible," Jacob said "Got so that babe who sits next to me in your class"

"You probably shouldn’t tell entlerinned "And thanks for letting me help out, Dr B" The kid shook his hand, then trotted out to his car

Yes It would be incredible if he could get one-tenth of the friendliness from Charlie that Jacob showed so effortlessly Only at the self-defense class did Charlie seem to tolerate him, and only, perhaps, because Abby was around

He should be used to it by now Those ten o

On his way ho a bit idiotic, asked for a corsage "A corsage? How old is your date?" the florist asked, frowning

"Thirty-five," he said

"How about a wristlet instead?"

"What’s that?"

"Goes around your wrist Most woht Whatever you say"

"What color is her dress?"

"I don’t know Black or white, I’ hiive it a shot," she answered with a s, To, a rare occurrence Perhaps Honor needed hi "Tohed, "Walter and I need a break Charlie has been up randet hi to need a drink" There was a rattle of ice cubes Why wait?

"Sure, Janice I can get him"

"Oh, wait You have plans, I bet The Hollands are having their fancy party" Her voice oozed the sticky tones of martyrdom "Don’t worry We’ll be fine"

"No, Janice, I’d love to come around and pick him up He can come with us"

Another rattle "Well, Toreat It’s just endless, you knohat I mean? Same old shitty attitude"

There was a hint of Melissa in that voice, those words "I’d love to have hiht, okay? He has to go to church tomorrow You kno important church is to us"

Yes The better to revel intheir Christian duty and raising their no-good grandson "Eleven, it is I’ll be there in fifteen ot into the car wordlessly, ignoring Tom in his customary manner "Glad to see you, ht Hope you don’t

"It’s a ball We can both suffer"

And still nothing

"Charlie, is everything all right?" he asked

"Yes," Charlie grunted

To bullied?"

"No"

"If you are, you can come to me, you know"

"No, I can’t"

"Yes," Tom said, his voice s now You can protect yourself"

"It’s not like that!" Charlie said "It’s different"

"How? Tell me, mate"

Charlie just rolled his eyes

They pulled up to the house, Charlie getting out before the car had come to a complete stop "Careful," Tom said to his back, then rubbed his forehead, hard If anything happened to that boy, it would kill him And why he wouldn’t tell Tomah, damn it all to hell

He picked up the plastic box from the florist and followed the boy in

Honor was there, wrapped in a bathrobe "Hi," she said

"Hi How are you feeling?" The scrape on her right hand was still visible

"I’m fine" Her tone was careful "So Charlie’s here"

"Yeah, Janice called ht he could coht"

She nodded "Sure"

"If you’d rather not, we can stay here"