【】heuldsay.then,abeingput</p>

onthedefensivehereoeverystory,heheldupa</p>

hand.”yknootheriskindofhardon,</p>

too.iastthepointofbeingtiredrightnoidlikeisa</p>

littlesilence.”</p>

”didyoucallgraoutadefeatedbreath.incredibly,he</p>

hadntthoughtaboutvictoriakeats.butthen,notincrediblyat</p>

all.</p>

victoriasentlavishgiftsbutrarelyvisitedintheflesh.sihe</p>

giftsedandunused,herpreseheir</p>

livesinil.thereore</p>

tryingthannot.</p>

”nope,”hesaidasgentlyasheuld.”haventcalledgrand.</p>

thinkilloch</p>

need.</p>

”heakithehell,hehadenough</p>

elsetodealhhoutthat.</p>

hefelthopeevenbeforeshespoke,atiny,tidthbyhis</p>

shoulder.”llwedofordinner”sheasked.</p>

jackthoughtofblacktieandtails,beefodang</p>

atthefairntatichehad</p>

heardearlierranginhisearsagain.dinner,shopping,doctor,</p>

dentist,piicithaglintofpanic,hehe</p>

taskrachelhadsethi</p>

ething,”heansweredgruflfly.</p>

”.”</p>

”areyougoingtofallasleepatthewheel</p>

”santhaasked,butthequestionhtehansnide.</p>

”tellyouakesureidont.ch</p>

fae.okay”therestoftheridewas</p>

acplishedinsilenkhattheskyhata</p>

loesunskippedovertheotogildthehills,thatitwas</p>

springandnoter.butheootiredtoabsorbdetails,too</p>

nutoseelor.</p>

thespoteandhout</p>

nt.</p>

theyreaailboxes,leftthehighway,</p>

andersedintheyonsgroreesthiingas</p>

theyclied.theinstanttheypulledupatthe,hopesaid</p>

sothingaboutseeingguinevereandraantha</p>

follentphonecalls.</p>

jackstraightenedandardoor,thenstoodrootedtothe</p>

spotchashehadbeenearlierthatday.sothingabouttheair</p>

heldhiaptive,sothingaboutthelateafteoonshade,the</p>

grandeuroftheredell.</p>

thesll.that.itrangelys,unique.he</p>

inhaled,exhaled.</p>

andthesilence.listeningtoit,herealizedthatthestatihis</p>

headhadcleared.hestoodabitlonger,savthey.</p>

then,havinggottenasendintoseeaboutdinner.</p>

chapterfive.</p>

hopeoaball,shehadbarely</p>

pulledtheforteroverherheadaohatrachelwas</p>

thereeoforterback</p>

andant.guineverehewoodfloor,</p>

eyeingherbeseeheriddleofthenight</p>

act.</p>

”ooooh,baby,itsokay,itsokay,”hopeoed,gentlyliftingthe</p>

,noprobletall.i</p>

ituprightahexquisite</p>