Page 133 (1/2)

"Oh, God," hehis weakness He turned onto his side, burying the ugly half of his face in the soft folds of the pillow What was he going to do now? What could he do?

A good man would release her Kiss her on the cheek and sood-bye

The thought sliced through him, caused an ache so deep, so sharp, that for a second he thought he was having a heart attack He welcomed the pain, almost wished for a swift, sudden death For he had looked into his soul and seen the agonizing, ugly truth

He wasn't a good man

Chapter Twenty-five

The firstat 4:30

For a few seconds, before Selena was truly awake, the first pale gliht elcome on her face She blinked sleepily and stretched her ar of the day to come

Beside her, a bed creaked, then another and another, re her sharply that she wasn't home

"Get up, old slug," Sister Bertha teased

Selena pushed up to her elbows and glanced around, surprised to find that Lucy and Theresa and Bertha were already dressed in the sale, staring across the room at her

Another bell rang

All down the hallway, doors squeaked open Feet shuffled almost silently past their room

"You'd better hurry," Lucy said "It's five minutes till the next bell-and by then we're supposed to be in theup their laundry"

Bertha clucked reassuringly "Lucy, you stay here and help Sister Agnes Theresa and I can do the men's rooms today"

"Bertha-" Theresa said in a loarning voice, her gaze darting to the closed door