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“Did you ever get the letter I sent you?” she asked “I was hoping to meet you and finally learn about thison his face because she quickly added, “I doubt it would have stood out I’et letters like that all the time”

“Actually, I wouldn’t know I never read any of them” He didn’t bother to tell her all his actual mail was sent to a PO box under a different name to avoid the crazies

Her smile was brittle “I see”

John tried to set a hold of you, I could always call Del likes taking matters into her own hands sometimes”

Da to play nice But if it helped JohnHe turned his body toward Delilah, although he avoided eye contact “It’s not that I don’t appreciate the sentiment I just don’t consider myself a hero and try to avoid all the publicity I want a normal life”

“I hear you,” John said

“Well, is there a better way of contacting you than through John?” Delilah asked “If we need to send you any letters sometime soon?”

He understood the implication, but didn’t rise to the bait “Line’s always open for John’s call That’s enough”

Delilah pouted at that Before she could say anything else, John took her elbow and drew her to the side, his voice a lowseveral of the other diners looking his way after Delilah's less-than-subtle co to each other, probably trying to figure out why he looked fa John happy, he couldn't handle this

Vivian's hand slipped into his She squeezed gently and he took a breath, focusing on her war, didn't ask any questions—though God only knew she had a ave him her silent support

It helped

They stood together until John turned back and pulled out Delilah's chair, getting her to sit down before co around the table to Zeke "I'm sorry," his friend whispered "I swear, sometimes it's like she doesn't even listen to me when I tell her the subject's off limits"

Zeke squeezed Vivian's hand "It's okay Look, can we just have a nice, quiet dinner and catch up?"

John nodded Zeke helped Vivian into her chair and sat beside her, ignoring Delilah while he tried to pull hi He wanted to see John, to catch up with one of the people who could understand what he'd been through, but he dreaded having to explain himself to Viv She'd said she felt safe with hiht of him as her friend Once she heard about his past, there was no way she'd ever feel that way about hi to occur sooner than he'd expected