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That night, Meredith couldn’t sleep She heard the clicking of digital minutes into one another as she lay in bed

Everything about her decision felt wrong Selfish And that hat it was in the end: her decision

She stayed in bed as long as she could, trying to relax; at two o’clock, she dropped the pretense and got up

Downstairs, she roa to help her sleep or to occupy her mind while she ake: TV, a book, a cup of tea

Then she saw the telephone and knew exactly what she needed: Nina’s co houilt

She dialed her sister’s international cell phone number and sat down on the sofa

“Hello?” said a heavily accented voice Irish, Meredith thought Or Scottish

“Hello? I’ number?”

“No This is her phone Who am I speakin’ to?”

“Meredith Cooper I’m Nina’s sister ”

“Ah, brilliant I’m Daniel Flynn I suppose you’ve heard of me ”

“No ”

“That’s disappointing, isn’t it? I’ood friend of your sister’s ”

“How good a friend are you, Daniel Flynn?”

His laugh was low and ru Sexy as hell “Daniel’s me old man, and a mean son of a bitch he was Call me Danny ”