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Katie blushed furiously and disappeared again

"And who diapered him?" Tess asked

Savannah chewed on her lower lip "I?I did But if you want, I can do it a?"

33

"You did a perfect job Thank you"

Blood rushed to Savannah'squickly, she raced out of the room, with Katie fast on her heels

Jack stared at Tess with an inscrutable expression She couldn't tell if he was pleased or angry Time stretched out, turned thick and uneasy She wanted to speak, but couldn't think of what to say The fiasco of the finger pointing had proved to Tess what an emotional

and get her head blown off

The silence made Tess distinctly unco silence It was soain

"Jack, I?"

"Don't worry, I'" He spun on his heels and barreled for the door

It slammed shut just as Tess said, "?think we should

talk"

She stared at the door for a while, feeling strangely betrayed Then, with a resigned sigh, she melted deeper into the pillows and closed her eyes The unfamiliar scents of weathered wood, hand-washed cotton, and burning oil wreathed her senses Sounds reached her ears and made her smile; soft, quiet noises thatboards, wind tapping against the pane, Caleb's steady breathing To Tess, deaf since the age of seven, these sounds were a glorious explosion A gift from God

"Okay, Carol," she said quietly "I'm here I accept that But what the hell am I supposed to do?"