Page 116 (1/2)

He sed hard "I'm sorry, Lara"

She blinked at him "Sorry about what?"

Socaress that wiped the moisture from her full check At the touch, he felt her raw,uish and confusion and loss

It shamed him to the core What could he say? How could he atone for the pain he'd so blindly ignored, even fostered?

271

There was nothing, no words

"I'll be different," he said quietly

She frowned "Dr Carrick?"

He knew she didn't understand, and it didn'tin life The future hat counted, the choices that were ave Lara a suy? Maybe we could even "

"Truly?"

"Truly" S, he stood up "Come on"

She grabbed her doll to her chest and got to her feet She started to take a step toward the house, then stopped Without looking up, she reached for his hand He saw the contact co, and for once in his life, accepted it, even welcomed it

The vision, when it hit, was couish, the pain, the confusion, were gone Her mind was filled with childish excitement-I hope I find the first wormHold on, birdie, I'll take care of you

He had done that, he realized suddenly With nothing more than a fairy tale and a few iven her a moment of hope

He looked down at her ser one, and for a second his heart was achingly full