
    ,,n9e
  ,tgr ,ag
  ,x 0 well pa/ d>k1 & ,vicki _h be5 sleep+ on h} back = m ?an n9e h|rs1 h} feet flat on ! floor at ! 5d (! b$4 ,h} eyes popp$ op51 & %e />$ at ! ceil+1 wond}+ ": %e was4 ,x came 6h} qkly4
  ,h} m|? felt ?ick & dryy1 h} eyes / h1vy1 & yet %e felt re/$4 ,a deep empti;s borne ( loss & sorrrr{ ov}took h}1 yet %e 0 -=t$ z well 0h} new fai?4
  ,f ! liv+ room came ! s.d (! televi.n4 ,judd m/ 2 up4 ,%e tipto$ |1 only 6f9d hm curl$ up on ! c|*1 / sleep+4 ,s1 %e ?"|1 bo? ( !m _h slept ": !y plann$4 ,%e g5tly pull$ ! remote 3trol f 8 h&s & turn$ (f ! ,,tv4 ,judd did n /ir4 ,%e wd take advantage (!  "t 6get cl1n$ up & *ang$4
  ,! hot %{} felt s gd %e cd h>dly pull h}f away f x4 ,%e didn't "k if hot wat} 0 limit$ 9 a big h|se l ? ! way x 0 9 a trail} ": family memb}s _h 6s*$ule _! %{}s c>e;lly4 ,%e hop$ %e'd sav$ 5 hot wat} = ,judd4
  ,vicki put on "o ( ,mrs4 ,?ompson's silky robes & sat dry+ h} hair1 !n bru%+ x4 ,%e felt s m* bett} ?an %e _h1 & %e _h 6admit %e look$ bett} too4 ,x 0 "t =a new look4 ,all h} {n clo!s _h be5 lo/ 9 ! fire1 & t 0 =! be/4 ,:ile %e didn't c>e 6look l a "m ( te5ag}s1 z ,mrs4 ,?ompson was1 nei did %e "e want 6g back 6h} old look4
  ,vicki 0 grate;l 6f9d t h} feet 7 r|<ly ! same size z ,mrs4 ,?ompson's _h be54 ,%e hung up ! pantsuit t _h s}v$ z h} blanket :5 %e fell asleep4 ,& %e f.d a sw1t}1 j1ns1 :ite socks1 & t5nis %oes4 ,vicki _h no idea :e!r %e & ,judd wd 2 go+ any": t ev5+ b ~! 7 gd hang+->.d-!-h|se clo!s too4 ,%e _h n dress$ ? way s9ce %e 0 a ll girl4 ,n s _m h|rs ago %e wd h 3sid}$ ? h} l1/ likely *oice = an |tfit4 ,yet z %e look$ 9 ! mirror n{1 %e felt x 0 a gd look = h}4
  ,vicki knew %e & ,judd mi<t bo? regret hav+ cau<t up on _! sleep dur+ ! "d4 ,no way wd !y 2 tir$ at a normal b$"t4 ,b he _h sd "s?+ e>li} ab try+ 6hook up ) ,bruce ,b>nes ag t ev5+4
  ,%e wd l t4 ,bruce 0 an 9t}e/+ guy4 ,he seem$ 6c>e ab !m s m*1 & yet he h>dly knew !m4 ,%e want$ 6see 8 reac;n :5 he f.d | t n j "o1 b bo? ( !m _h 2come 2liev}s4 ,& :at ab ~? two "y} kids1 ,lionel & ,ryan8 ,lionel _h alr 2come a ,*ri/ian1 b ! o!r "o1 ! ll blond kid1 _h run (f angry4 ,vicki cdn't blame hm4 ,h{ wd %e h felt 9 8 situ,n1 los+ bo? p>5ts & "k+ !y probably w}5't 9 h1v58
  ,vicki hop$ ,lionel _h f.d ,ryan & _h _h "s 9flu;e on hm4 ,%e _h be5 acqua9t$ ) ,judd & ,lionel & ,ryan = s* a %ort "t1 & yet %e f.d h}f alr c>+ ab :at wd 2come ( !m4 ,~! 7 all new emo;ns & feel+s = h}4
  ,vicki 0 hungry ag4 ,%e mov$ 96! liv+ room 6see if ,judd 0 / asleep4 ,he 0 g"o1 & %e he>d wat} runn+ up/airs4 ,if 8 %{} felt z gd z h}s1 he wd feel a lot bett}4 ,%e rummag$ 9 ! kit*5 =a snack =! two ( !m1 set x up 9 front (! ,,tv1 & sat wat*+ ! news :ile wait+ = hm4
  ,lionel & ,ryan _h 6/ay on ! o!r side (! /reet f ! ,/eeles 2c a c> 0 -+ ! o!r way & ,lionel didn't want 6risk cross+ 9 front ( x4 ,he knew if he didn't1 ,ryan wdn't4 ,lionel didn't "u/& :y ,ryan seem$ s m* "y} :5 ! di6};e 9 _! ages 0 b>ely a ye>4 ,b1 if x 0 wor? -p>+ _! predica;ts1 he _h 6admit t ,ryan 0 worse (f ?an he was4
  ,! h1dli<ts -+ ! o!r way did n pass ! boys1 h{"e4 ,!y /opp$ 9 front (! ,/eele home1 & ,lionel notic$ t ! c> 0 a cab4 8,t's ,raymie's si/}1 ,*loe10 ,ryan sd z a "y woman em}g$ f ! backs1t4 ,! ca2y jump$ | & pull$ h} huge suitcase f ! trunk4 ,he set x next 6h} z %e dug 9 h} purse =! f>e4 ,%e 0 pay+ hm :5 ! front door (! h|se bur/ op5 &a tall d>k man ran | 9 8 /ock+ feet4 ,z ! ca2y pull$ away1 ,ray=d ,/eele ga!r$ 8 dau<t} 96his >ms4 8,oh1 ,da4y60 %e wail$4 8,h{'s "eybody80
  ,he back$ away f h} 5 t %e cd see hm %ak+ 8 h1d sadly4
  8,i don't want 6he> ?10 %e sd1 pull+ away f hm & look+ 6! h|se z if expect+ 6see h} "m or bro!r4 8,x's j y & me1 ,*loe10 ,mr4 ,/eele sd1 & !y /ood tgr 9 ! d>k;s1 cry+4
  ,lionel s5s$ ,ryan gett+ r1dy 6cross ! /reet & greet !m4 8,n n{10 ,lionel ,:isp}$4 8,"!'ll 2 pl5ty ( "t 6talk 6!m4 ,b n n{40
  ,z "f & dau<t} made _! way 9side ,ryan sd1 8,b ,i'm n r1dy 6g back home yet40
  8,y wanna g 6! *ur*80 ,lionel ask$4
  8,:at =80
  8,6see if ,bruce ,b>nes is / "!40
  8,:y wd ,i want 6d t8 ,i don't 2lieve all t /uff he's say+1 & ev5 if x is true1 x 0 m1n ( ,god 6d t 6u kids40
  8,we _h |r *.es10 ,lionel sd4
  8,i didn't40
  8,y sd ,raymie ,/eele told y ab ? a :ile ago40
  8,y1h1 well--0
  8,y1h1 well1 ,i want 6g see ,bruce4 ,y c wait "h1 g home al"o1 or :at"e y want40
  ,i'll g1 b ,i'm n -+ in40
  8,:at"e40
  ,vicki felt a /range reac;n :5 ,judd came d{n/airs1 cl1n$ up & dress$4 ,he _h %av$ (f 8 goatee1 & he look$ m* "y}4 ,%e / _h no idea :at %e ?"| ( hm z a p}son4 ,%e 0 glad !y mi<t 2come frs1 2c %e ne$$ "o & he seem$ 6"k a lot ab ,god &! ,bi# 2c ( h{ he _h be5 rais$4 ,vicki _h no feel+s = hm or romantic 9t}e/ 9 hm4 ,x 0 way too e>ly = t1 & 2c ( :at %e _h be5 "?1 %e wasn't ev5 ?9k+ t way4
  ,b ,judd seem$ s impress$ ) h} new look t %e wond}$ if he 0 all{+ hmf 6become 9t}e/$ 9 h}4 ,%e talk$ h}f | ( x1 h{"e4 ,x 0 impossi#4 ,he _h be5 "? z grt a trauma z %e _h1 & he _h 6be su6}+ privately z m* z %e4 ,anyway1 he _h se5 ": %e liv$4 ,no way a guy l hm wd 2 9t}e/$ 9 h}4 8,oh1 gd10 he sd4 8,food4 ,:at's on ,,tv80
  8,same z :at's be5 on ! :ole "t s9ce ! 4appe>.es4 ,news1 news1 & m news4
  ,judd ask$ if %e _h se5 ! /range videotapes he _h se5 on ! news e>li}4 ,s f> %e _hn't4 8,all !y're talk+ ab n{10 %e sd1 8is ? guy )a funny "n f "s c.try 9 ea/}n ,europe4 ,he 2came presid5t ( 8 c.try rec5tly &--0
  8,& n{ he's -+ 6sp1k at ! ,,un1 "r8 ,y1h1 ,i he>d ab hm4 ,ni*olas "s?+4 ,& 8 la/ "n s.ds l a m.ta9 range40
  8,nicolae1 ,i ?9k10 ,vicki sd4 ,%e _hn't pick$ up ! la/ "n ei1 b j !n ! "y l1d}'s picture came on ! news ag4 ,%e turn$ x up4 ,! ann|nc} ref}r$ 6hm z ,nicolae ,c>pa?ia1 ! new presid5t ( ,romania4
  8,y're "r10 ,judd sd4 8,nicolae4 ,& he m/ h be5 "nd af ! ,c>pa?ian ,m.ta9s40
  8,hey10 ,vicki sd1 8,i ?"| y sd y didn't d well 9 s*ool4 ,h{ d y "k ab ~? m.ta9s80
  ,judd look$ emb>rass$4 8,t's ab all ,i "k10 he sd4 8,re,y1 y j r1*$ ! 5d ( my 9=m,n40
  ,!y ate & wat*$ ! news = s"eal m9utes4 ,f9,y ,vicki ask$ if he 0 / ?9k+ ab try+ 6see ,bruce t ni<t4 8,y1h1 ,i was10 he sd4 8,y want to80
  8,sure40
  8,i'll call & make sure he's "!40
  ,lionel & ,ryan dra7$ _! bikes 9side ! *ur* & f.d ,judd's bike "! too4 ,!y pok$ >.d look+ = ,bruce1 ,lionel wond}+ if ,judd 0 "! or if he _h j n"e tak5 8 bike home4 ,lionel & ,ryan f.d ,bruce f9i%+ up a ses.n ) s"eal old} p1 b 2f he cd greet !m1 ,ryan sd1 8,i'll 2 wait+ 0! bikes4 ,i've he>d all ? 2f40
  8,c'mon1 ,ryan60
  8,no60
  ,lionel look$ apologetic,y at ,bruce :5 he approa*$4
  8,gd 6see y ag1 ,lionel4 ,let me 9troduce y 6~! folks40 ,lionel cdn't keep track (! "ns except = "o1 ,bruce's secret>y1 ,loretta4 ,%e 0 old1 _h a s|!rn a35t1 & seem$ classy4 ,lionel knew if he 0 go+ 6sp5d m* "t at ? *ur*1 he "| 6get 6"k h}4 ,bruce :isp}$1 8,ask h} "s"t 6tell y h} {n /ory4 ,if ,i amaze y40
  ,lionel _h be5 wond}+ h{ ? h&;l ( old p _h be5 left 2h4 ,he figur$ anybody :o _h be5 >.d t l;g1 especi,y *ur*go}s1 wd h le>n$ ! tru? l;g ago4 ,b !n he _h _h "t too & knew ! tru?4 ,l hm1 maybe1 !y simply didn't respond 6x4
  8,well1 ,i f.d ,ryan1 z y c see40
  8,y1h4 ,don't worry ab hm hang+ back =a :ile4 ,i'm sure he's emb>rass$ ab bolt+ on u4 ,if we don't sc>e hm (f1 he'll -e >.d & get curi|s & ev5tu,y jo9 u ag40
  ,lionel's look ( d|bt m/ h 2tray$ hm4 8,y don't agree80 ,bruce sd4
  8,i've be5 "w+ on hm10 ,lionel sd4 8,& ,i "k h{ important y say x is = hm n 6put ? (f40
  8,x is40
  8,b x's n l he's putt+ x (f4 ,x's m l he re,y doesn't "u/& or doesn't want to4 ,"s"ts ,i ?9k he "u/&s f9e b j doesn't 2lieve 9 ,god40
  ,bruce %ook 8 h1d & pull$ up a *air = ,lionel4 ,bruce sat on ! corn} (a ta#1 took (f 8 wire-rimm$ glasses1 & ran 8 h& "? 8 curly hair4 8,he'll 2lieve 9 ,god 2f l;g1 if "!'s any tru? 6:at ,i've be5 /udy+4 ,"eybody is go+ 6"k ,god is 9 ? :5 ! sev5-ye> tribul,n 2g9s4 ,p >e go+ 6be dy+ "r & left1 & we'd bett} 2 prep>$4 ,i'm s glad y made yr deci.n "r away1 l ,i did4 ,i "k y're sorry y miss$ | on ! ,rapture1 b "! 0 sure no s5se 9 wait+ once we knew :at happ5$1 "r80
  ,lionel no4$4 8,i saw ,judd's bike | "!4 ,did he -e back80
  8,no4 ,he left t "h4 ,b ,i did j get a call f hm4 ,he & ,vicki >e -+ by ? ev5+4 ,he s.d$ a ll m upb1t4 ,i didn't talk 6h}1 b ,i'm sure worri$ ab !m4 ,bo? ( !m >e ": y & ,i w}e1 & ,i don't want !m 6keep f9d+ r1sons 6put (f -+ 6,*ri/40
  ,lionel told ,bruce ab 8 & ,ryan's "d4 ,he 0 impress$ t ,bruce1 z tir$ z he _h 6be1 seem$ 9t}e/$ 9 e detail4 ,bruce (f}$ 6drive ,lionel back 6! morgue 9 ,*icago s he cd id5tify 8 uncle's body4 ,he sd he wd call ! police ab ! 9trud}s 9 8 h|se & ask !m 6*eck ,ryan's h|se too4
  8,i don't want y 6h 6worry ab all t /uff10 ,lionel sd4 8,"eybody y "k is go+ 6h a lot ( ? k9d ( /uff go+ on1 & y c't d ? = !m all40
  8,s1 y cau<t me 9 a g5}|g mood4 ,take advantage ( x4 ,i ne$ 6/ay busy4 ,= "o ?+1 ,i'm mak+ up = lo/ "t4 ,b y m/ "k ,i've got r1sons 6n want 6g home too40
  ,lionel no4$4 ,:o 0 suppos$ 6take c>e ( ,bruce :5 ,bruce 0 tak+ c>e ( "eybody else8 ,bruce told hm "! 7 s"eal small gr|ps he 0 meet+ )4 ,i c tell adults a ll m ( :at ,i'm go+ "?1 & !y're support+ me z m* z ,i'm support+ !m4 ,we're gett+ m & m calls e "d f p :o h _h "s 3tact ) ? *ur* 9 ! pa/4 ,i ?9k we're go+ 6h q a cr{d "h ,sun"d4 ,p >e desp}ate = answ}s4 ,& we h !m40
  ,lionel sat wi%+ ,ryan wd -e 9 f ! foy}4 ,he kept look+ back t way4 8,was "! "s?+ specific y want$1 ,lionel80 ,bruce ask$4
  8,me8 ,no4 ,i j want$ 6*eck 9 ) y4 ,i've be5 wond}+ ab ~? o!r two1 too1 & ,i 0 hop+ we cd "w on !m & ,ryan40
  8,ryan's go+ 6be ! t|<e/10 ,bruce sd4 8,? is new} 6hm1 & 8 p>5ts >e d1d40
  ,ryan trad$ (f sitt+ on ! floor & mosey+ >.d ! front (! *ur*1 idly look+ at lit}ature 9 !   foy}4 ,he 0 bor$1 b he _h no 9t}e/ 9 meet+ ) ,bruce ag4 ,he _h j pull$ a tract (f a ta# & 2gan r1d+ x1 n "u/&+ a bit ( x1 :5 ,judd & ,vicki came in4 ,he look$ at !m & !n look$ away1 emb>rass$4 ,he hop$ !y wdn't say any?+ ab 8 cry+ & runn+ |4
  8,hey1 ,ryan60 ,vicki sd4 8,glad y came back4 ,":'s ,bruce80
  ,ryan %ru7$4 8,"s": ) ,lionel40
  8,is x private or c we jo9 !m80
  ,ryan %ru7$ ag1 wi%+ %e wd /op ask+ hm "qs4 ,he didn't "k & he didn't c>e4
  8,hey10 ,judd sd1 8": >e y guys /ay+80
  ,n{ "! 0 a "q ,ryan want$ 6answ}4 ,he gu%$ ! :ole /ory ab 2+ sc>$ 6g 9 8 {n h|se & h{ ,lionel's place _h be5 tak5 ov} 0guys :o mi<t h murd}$ ,lionel's uncle4 ,he told !m "s"o _h brok5 96his h|se1 j 2f he _h alm talk$ hmf 96agree+ ) ,lionel t !y %d /ay "!4
  8,i've got pl5ty ( room at my h|se10 ,judd sd4 8,9 fact--0
  8,y d80 ,ryan sd qkly4 8,t wd 2 grt4 ,c ,i /ay ) y ev5 if ,lionel doesn't want to80
  8,sl{ d{n "!1 ll man10 ,judd sd4 8,we c all talk ab ? tgr & see :at ,bruce ?9ks ab x4 ,vicki & ,i h "s news = all ( y anyway4 ,-e on1 let's f9d ,lionel & ,bruce40
  8,i don't want to40
  8,:y n80
  8,same r1son z ! o!r ni<t4 ,i don't 2lieve ? /uff40
  8,well1 y probably w40
  8,no1 ,i won't40
  8,ev5 if y don't1 we're all 9 ? ?+ tgr4 ,we h 6wat* | = ea* o!r4 ,we ne$ ea* o!r40
  8,y j want 6talk me 96?40
  8,nobody c d t1 ll man4 ,x m1ns no?+ anyway un.s y decide on yr {n40
  8,i want 6/ay | "h40
  ,ryan 0 worri$ t he _h 4appo9t$ ,judd1 :o look$ peev$4 8,:at if ,i sd y cd only /ay ) me if y -e 9 & see ,bruce8'0
  8,i guess ,i'd h 6!n10 ,ryan mutt}$4 8,y're probably go+ 6=ce me 6become a ,*ri/ian too40
  8,no1 ,i won't d t4 ,nobody c d t40
  8,:at ab y guys8 ,>e y ,*ri/ians n{ too1 l ,lionel80
  ,judd appe>$ 6be ab 6answ} :5 ,vicki 9t}rupt$4 8,he c f9d | at |r meet+ ) ,bruce1 ,judd4 ,i m1n1 if he'd re,y r /ay "h1 he c j wait 6see :at we talk$ ab40
  8,gd idea10 ,judd sd4 8,:at's x go+ 6be1 ,ryan80
  8,d y promise 6quit call+ me 8ll man80
  8,sure4 ,n{ quit /all+40
  8,i want 6/ay "h10 he sd4
  8,x's yr call10 ,judd sd1 turn+ 6h1d 96! sanctu>y4
  8,i hope y don't regret x10 ,vicki sd1 n 9 a m1n way4 ,9 fact1 ,ryan ?"| %e seem$ s nice1 he wdn't h m9d$ go+ 9 ) !m4
  ,!y 7 alm | ( si<t :5 he mutt}$1 8,wait up4 ,i'm -+40
