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So Tressa was the one who’d had it right? All of thisuncertaintystemmed from Lacey’s first visit?

But Levi had said she was nice So “Who told you that?”

“I can’t” Levi looked at hi instead to pull the little guy onto his lap and shield hieyman ever, Jem took a sip of his coffee

And then, keeping a hold on the fingers sticking out of the little cast, he nodded toward Levi, who took a sip of milk

Okay Normality

“Tell ht of the dream, buddy”

“Do I have to?”

“Yes” He held on to those fingers Not coddling But loving And doing everything he could to let Levi know that while he had to man up, his dad had his back

“I waked up with Mo me She was mad”

He held on to those fingers Maybe for himself now

“Why was she mad?”

“I hit her in the face” Levi started to cry again “I’o away?”

What the hell?

“You hit your mother?”

He shrugged