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"Hmm," Brenda said finally "I'm afraid I don't think that will be possible"

"Is he going to Kuala Lu He hasn't seen Maureen and Chris for weeks"

"No," Brenda said "He's not going Maureen wants him to stay in town in case she flies in for the weekend"

"Oh," I said, frowning "But it's not certain she will?"

"No She's thinking she ht fly back to Manhattan for a few days so she can see Lia on and she has to stay"

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"Huh," I said, frowning "I could always book a roo back, he could fly with us We won't be leaving until the day before anyway"

I heard her exhale like she was frustrated "Look, Drake, I'o anywhere with you at the moment"

"Why?" I tried to dareed that Liam would spend time with me on weekends when he was off school"

"Maureen thinks that with all the publicity around the trial, especially given the recent, uh, videos that have been released, it would be harmful to Liam"

"What?"

"I don't agree with her, but she's the mother She wants you to wait until the trial publicity blows over"

I feltto not let Maureen's unreasonableness get the better ofI had to testify in the afternoon

"Whatever," I said and exhaled, trying to let it go "I'll still book a rooe of heart by then The trial will be over so I hope the publicity will have died down”

"I wouldn't waste your e her mind She was pretty clear on this"