Page 20 (1/2)

NICOLE CAME HOME fro specific had gone wrong--she just felt out of sorts with the world

She knew the cause was her stupid fight with Hahich bugged her It wasn’t like they’d gotten really angry with each other They’d just disagreed So what? People did that all the time Why would she care more when the other party was hied her even h the back door and heard the sound of voices and laughter Raoul was there with his friends

In her present ers, but she’d given hi wrong

She debated a glass of wine to help her relax, but it was too early and she didn’t want to drink in front of the teenagers So she settled on chocolate, always a good soother She poured M&Ms into a bowl and grabbed a diet soda After all, balance was important

The mail was on the kitchen table She sat doith her snack and flipped through thea very pregnant celebrity looking happy and radiant

Nicole ignored the flashy headline and stared at the picture Her nant but her? Was everyone in a real relationship and happy and starting a family?

Okay, Jesse probably wasn’t happy or in a relationship, but she was going to have a baby and wasn’t that a lossy photo and felt a deep, powerful longing inside Nothing had turned out the way it was supposed to Where had she gone so wrong with everything? What had she--

"Um, Nicole?"

She looked up and saw one of Raoul’s friends, this one a girl, standing in the kitchen "Hi," she said, trying to reirl, pretty, blond and a cheerleader, sht Finn How can I help you?"

Finn had several papers in her hand She crossed to the table and sat down "I’e entrance essays I wondered if maybe you could read them over and tell me what you think My counselor said I shouldn’t use the sae That I should try to rinned and Nicole found herself s back "I don’t know, either, if that’s what you were hoping for"

Finn laughed "It would be nice, but I thought estions on how to make them better"

Nicole was flattered, but surprised "I’ether and cool and stuff Not like s anymore"

Nicole felt a flash of sympathy for Finn’s hter, only to be dismissed

"I’d be happy to" She pushed the bowl of M&Ms toward Finn "Help yourself"

"Thanks"

Over the next hour, Nicole and Finn talked about her essays They were variations on a the about the su accident and how that had changed her faeneral and her specifically

"I haven’t done reat job with these"

Finn bea on theo to Stanford as a biochemistry major, then become a doctor"

Nicole eyed the cheerleader unifor things "Good luck with that And for what it’s worth, your ive her credit for You should try to talk to her more"

"Really?"

"Uh-huh Give it a try"

Finn looked doubtful, but she murmured, "Okay," as she left the kitchen

Nicole returned to her azine and M&Ms, only to have Claire walk into the kitchen a few ers in your house," she said, sounding beyond surprised

"I know"

"A lot of theout They’re Raoul’s friends They sees in the basement and they clean up after theers in your house"

"You said that already"

"This is very strange"

Nicole pulled out a chair "Want anything? Water? Juice?"

"A latte with an extra shot," Claire said, then shook her head "Sorry Morabbed so on here?"

"I told you about Raoul How I’ve taken him in"

"I heard the words but I didn’t actually understand theuest roo is he staying?"

"I have no idea Possibly through June"

Claire’s eyes widened "And you’re okay with that?"

"I like having hiood kid and he deserves a break Drew came back and Raoul protected hed "Does Drew still have a scar?"

"Oh, yeah"

They smiled at each other

Claire sorted her candy by colors and ate the green ones first "Nicole, you know I love you, but you’re the least easygoing person I know You take charge of things, you’re not especially patient So how can you be so laid-back and casual about what’s happening with Raoul?"

Nicole considered the question "I don’t know I just a"

"Maybe this is easy because it’s fa about Jesse She’s gone and that’s a good thing" She spoke fir at all

"Doesn’t anything about this strike you as faer"

"Raoul doesn’t need raising He needs a place to stay That’s all I’"

"But there are similarities You’ve traded one responsibility for another"

"Maybe" Nicole hadn’t thought of it in those terms, but so what?

"You miss her," Claire said softly

"She’s my sister I’ was right with Jesse gone

"So let’s go find her and bring her back"

Nicole stood and leaned against the counter "To what end? She needs to learn her lesson"

"Which lesson is that?"

"The one about taking responsibility The one that forces her to grow up She’s needed to grow up for a long time She has to learn to make it on her own"