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Since the cabin is effectively a crime scene, Silas books us a suite at the ski resort in Gatlinburg Normally, I’d be in awe of the enormous bed and e washed-up on the shore

Now that Silas knows I lied to hiain

We had to surrender our blood-stained clothes as evidence, but there’s still plenty of dried blood under our fingernails Silas runsthe water with a few drops of lavender oil, compliments of the resort I expect him to leave me to it, but instead, he sheds his clothes The involuntary ache between ret

What if this is the last tiet this close to him?

He undressesher own snowsuit, then helps ether in the war a washcloth, he bathes ernails Once I’ins to wash hi the paramedics applied to his temple

When he’s finished, he cradles me like a baby, and that’s exactly how I feel Small and helpless in my Daddy’s arms

“How long has your dad had the rifle you used tonight?” he asks

I clear the tightness fro as I can reh He said it belonged to a friend”

“What ht?”

I shrug one shoulder “It looked like it would do the job”

He chortles “You know, that rifle’s the same make and model as the one your dad took from me”

My tears join the bathwater “I guess you’ll be taking it back now”

He seeshis lap Even skin to skin, I’ve never felt farther away from him than I do at this moment

“It’s okay, Norah,” he says “It’s gonna be all right”

“No, it’s not,” I sob “I’ve ruined everything”