, asking me to

d never shown any interest in me. Now, she sudde

think she coul

he mentioned it concerned my fathe

a taxi to the Spence

now. Was she going to clarify something? Maybe there was more to my

ind my grandmother, who should have been at o

, still tagged with the

ed over me. I instantly thought

being responsible for my father's accident, Maren approached m

me with such kindness. This softness had pr

nd the questions about my father's accide

e even found you a great family to c

erienced before. My grandmother's words took me

hand once more. "Sarah, you're all grown up now. There's

ed a fifty-year-old man, recently widowed

my grandmother so thrilled she couldn't stop smiling

he's such a catch, why not suggest him to my sister? S

se woman, being choosy? Do you really think you're in a position to be so pic

up and stirring things only made it

e sex for a bit of chocolate from the boys in school? Everyone back hom

p for good!" Caught off guard and seething from my revelations abo

oss my skin, leavin

ised my hand

a sharp agony surged through my scalp

head, trying to find solace near my mother to ease the discomfort. But in a twist of fate, my move

o strike her? You ungrateful bastard! Did your father not teach you better?" Mar

ing to my feet. Maren's grip on my hair was unyieldi

pe, I sunk my teeth

!" Her grip weakened i

, a brutal kick from behind sent m

ce who had

corner, the fear of going blin

ashed into a sturdy chest, and the comfort

face in the faint light, a