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Sounds were clearer here by the water as well Maple leaves turned color and fell fro like quickened footsteps on the round; squirrels scurried fro their food for a cold they sensed was drawing near, and as always there was the tide, ainst the shore with a rhythm connected to the faraway ed, and each gave the landscape an a new look

Only a few feet behind her, through an antique wooden door, the changes cahter was sprouting like a tree, bloo every day into another variation of who she would so soirl whod just washed up onshore, unable to quite remember who she was and who she wanted to be

Kates baby boys were growing up, too Kindergartners now, they were beginning to make their own friends and choose their own clothes and selectively answer her questions In the blink of an eye, they, too, would be approaching adolescence, pinningprivacy

So fast

She stood on the porch a few ray and the stars appeared above the distant city, then she went back inside, locking the door behind her

The house was quiet, e room, she picked up several toy dinosaurs that lay scattered in front of the TV

Upstairs, she turned the doorknob quietly, opening the door to the boys roo What she saas a tent of sheets on Willia through the red and blue Star Wars ies

"I knoo little boys who are supposed to be asleep "

Giggles erupted from the makeshift tent

Lucas was the first to erin, he looked like Peter Pan being caught by Wendy "Hi, Mommy "

"Lucas," Willia "

Kate went to the bed and gently pulled the sheets back

Williaray plastic T rex in the other "Oops," he said, then laughed

Kate opened her ar "

They launched thehtly, s the sweet, fauys need another bedtime story?"