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She stood and leaned in to kiss my cheek “When you do want to talk about it, I’m here”

“Thank you” I glanced at theThe snoas still co, fat flakes Jesus, I didn’t even have a winter coat or boots

“I better go wash this off my hands” She flashed her palms at me

“Good call” I followed her into the bathroootten the concept of privacy, I relieved myself while she was at the sink She hurried out and closed the door behind her

I met her in the hallway “Is , not wear it again, but I didn’t have anything else

She frowned and shook her head “That’s not warh to shovel snow”

I shrugged “It’s all I got”

“Don’t think this is…weird But Mrs Shields still had a lot of her husband’s clothes” Juliet ran her gaze over uy Really tall” She flashed a pained smile “I think that’s why Mrs Shields liked you so much”

I let out a bittersweet laugh “She was a nice wo to…foster ot to thank her”

Her eyes filled with tears but she held them back “I told her Many times”

She sniffled once, then cleared her throat “There are a couple of winter coats of her husband’s in the closet downstairs Boots too She told me once, she used to leave them on the front porch to scare would-be intruders away So I’m not sure what condition they’re in…”

“Anything will be better than what I’ve got”

I followed her to the end of the hallhere she pushed open a door

“I haven’t had the heart to clean out her things yet,” Juliet explained, leading me to one of the closets She slid the door open “This ”

It’s not like I wasn’t used to hand-rave robber ru of asoft toward the back of the long metal rod Plaid flannel Two different patterns They both appeared to be neith tags still attached I pulled those forward They were a size ss had clearance stickers on them from LL Bean

I threw hed “Oh, shit Eraser would be so jealous I wish I could tell him this”

“Who?”

“One of my roos were going okay for Eraser with his uncle “I hope I can find him now that we’re both out I really want you to meet him”

She didn’t say anything I unhooked the two flannels fro-sleeved thermal shirts in a dresser and a pair of jeans that would work if I cinched theht unused scent clinging to them It didn’t matter I certainly wasn’t fussy about my wardrobe

Juliet followed me back to our bedroom