Page 19 (1/2)

“For a year Third grade I knew everyone was scared— me to doctors for tests, and she cried all the time—but I just couldn’t find my voice”

“What happened?”

“I got over it, I guess One day I just looked at my mom across the dinner table and said, ‘Pass the potatoes, please’ ”

She looked at hi how keen the loss of a parent could feel It made her ache for the little boy he’d been, and she wanted to reach out and touch him, maybe say how alike they were Instead, she looked away before he recognized the longing in her gaze “What did Vivi Ann say when you told her about your dad?”

“Oh, Vivi and I don’t talk about things like that”

“Why not?”

“You know Vivi Ann She just wants to have fun That’s what I love about her There are enough serious people in the world”

Winona felt as if he’d just cut her down, even if that wasn’t what he’d intended Here she was, right beside hi to his secrets, and still he didn’t see her

Men only cared about physical beauty Hermore of him

“Can I tell you a secret?” he asked

She couldn’t smile The irony poked at her “Of course Secrets are always safe with a lawyer”

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a s box

Winona wasn’t exactly sure how she made herself move, how she reached out and took it fro so loudly she couldn’t hear the rising tide any inside Moonlight caught its light, ainst the blue velvet For a terrible ht be sick

“I’ to ask her to marry me,” he said

“Butit’s only been three months”