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“She’s not that stupid, Maddy She’s a garden-variety teenager,on hormones”

“No, it’s not like that She’s like … him You know she is”

Francis wished he could lie, but Madelaine was right; Lina was just like her father Rebellious, wild, free-spirited The kind of person who lived life recklessly—and sometimes hit brick walls The kind of person who could walk away fro at seventeen and never look back

“No She’s s to believe his oords “And she ht be mad now, but she loves you Otherwise, she wouldn’t try so hard to get your attention” He stared down into her huge, pain-darkened eyes and felt as if he were drowning in the need to hold her God, he wished this were his , he leaned down and pulled her toward hi her softly, slowly, on the forehead Sensations swirled through hione too far, kissed her too long…

She drew back “Francis? What was—”

“She loves you, Madelaine,” he whispered against her skin, “like I do” The words slipped out, words he’d never had the courage to say before, but now see in the world

She drew back and stared up at him

He leaned forward, wanting to kiss her again, waiting breathlessly for her to speak

Suddenly she smiled “Oh, Francis, I love you, too I don’t knohat I’d do without your friendship”

The words plunged into his gut He stroked her silky hair and held her Tears stung his eyes He was such a coward—a man whose two loves couldn’t possibly coexist, and bethich he could never choose A priest in love with a woman; a man in love with God

But never before had his love for Madelaine compromised his vows—he’d loved her with a purity that didn’t taint his priesthood Or at least, those were the pretty lies he told hi of her

Until no he’d kissed her—and not as her priest or as her friend, but as the man who loved her He’d let the words slip out into the harsh light of day, and God help him, he’d waited breathlessly for her answer

And that wasn’t even his greatest sin He’d told her—begged her—to keep the truth from Lina

Lina, the daughter as and wasn’t his, whom he loved more than his own life He’d furthered the lie that would break her heart

Angel was back in Seattle He stared out the cheesy littlein his hospital roolass Of all the places to be, a hospital rooht they’d flown hiht, strapped like a slab of urney, his face masked, his name hidden