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I could read it like the front page of a newspaper The headlines were in his eyes and on his brow "She's gone, isn't she? Where did she go?" I followed before he could even attempt to deny it

"Out with some old friends," he confessed

"Tonight? She buried her father this afternoon and she went out to party with soo?" I demanded

He shook his head

"I don't think I could have stopped her, Olivia She doesn't listen to me," he explained

"Well, why didn't you co?"

"I didn't want you disturbed any more than you are," he said "You're only ten days from your due date"

"She has no respect for her own family She doesn't have the smallest concern about what people here will think of us"

"Maybe shell just have a quiet dinner and coested I stared at hi his hopeful srimace of despair "Do you want me to try to find her?"

"Of course not Hoould that look and besides, she wouldn't coht aI should do," I muttered

"What?"

"Never ? Where are you going?"

"I'h so in the den"

"Just tellit up to you, Olivia"

"You don't knohere it is and it would take too long to explainI'll be all right," I snapped "Hand me my robe Please do as I ask, Samuel," I said when he hesitated "I won't sleep if I don't do this now"