led in my room, crying. Mike was back in fron

saw a flicker of con

wrong? Mike said you

he police came, and he...he talked his

Mike wouldn't hurt you. He just gets

nto my room. She sat on the edge of my bed, her usu

red. "And that tool shed...I don't know what he d

e ignited within me

e gesture of affection. "I believe you're

ice man, a dentist. I could...I could arrange for you to meet h

my eyes. "You'd

e to promise me, Ashley. No more talk about t

ered, clinging to th

t kept his distance. Susan was kinder than she'd been in years, talking about her

u," she said, a genuine smile on he

n's car gone. Mike was in the yard, ostensibly weeding th

ead seepe

er eyes were bright, too bright.

ful. "Guess what? I was just tidying up a bit, and

d. "You...you we

's just a messy old shed. All this fu

o the kitchen. I follo

about Richard?

wouldn't be interested in someone like you, Ashley. You're...troubled. Mike and I ha

ried. "You were going t

olding a hint of warmth, w

problems, upsetting your father." She picked up a cast iron ski

mirk on his face. "Havin

skillet raised. "She needs

had claimed her too. My last, most cherished ally, had become another tormento