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“I guess Penelope called both her parents last night” Maisie’s eyes saddened, and her voice softened “They didn’t even want to talk to her”

Darryl’s chest tightened He wasn’t surprised She’dhome “I’m sorry to say it, Maisie, but your aunt and uncle are assholes”

“Don’t be sorry, you’re right They’re a bunch of dicks,” Maisie agreed with a fired fro, she alsobad with her this week, but she’s not someone that you could really want That you deserve better than her And that just made her sad”

His gut twisted and his hands fisted in his pockets “I wish she’d toldabout it

Maisie gave a long knowing look “Yeah, well, would you speak about feelings if you were her?”

He didn’t even have to think about it “No, I wouldn’t” How could she? The people who should listen to her, didn’t “All right, and what’s the second thing that you’d never do?”

She reached into her back pocket, and her boot crunched against the snow on the driveway as she handed hi when I realized she had left, I found this in the garbage bin by her bed”

Darryl Wilson and his old address ritten on the front He’d been through enough investigations to know the ink was old And that told him in his hands he had the letter that she’d told him she’d written when she was seventeen “It’s opened”

Maisie’s shoulders curled and cheeks blushed “Don’t look atco it to you” She couldn’t even look him in the eyes “Okay, so I’ve done my part Bye” She turned to hurry away

Darryl peeled his eyes off the envelope, noting the shaking of his hand “Maisie”

“Yeah?” She turned back to him

It occurred to hi here went against everything she believed in That stood for soet it either “Thanks”

Maisie gave him a sweet smile “Welcome”

He watched her jump into her car and drive off, then he turned his attention to the letter inside the envelope

Darryl,