s from the bookstore, heart poun

er bracelet around her wrist lik

, eyes pleading. "Nathan was hurting. I was

r arms. "It st

you still... ca

bitter. "I didn't kn

's not just about him. It's about you and me. You knew ho

I was scared to tell you.

did," Joan

between th

n the porch. He looked up as Joan appr

it go?"

Instead, she stepped closer, v

. "Yeah. E

en start drawing

ned. "What

alf-smile on her lips.

nged-cautious hope

," he

d left unfinished began to write it