He picked out the casket. H

rged from her room

ick with fake sleepiness. "I'm so sorry. T

ect, a faint, expensive perfume clinging to her. It was a s

her. Repulsion cra

ssica," he said,

mance of shock. "What? Oh m

er. He just wa

tried to embrace hi

ls," he said, turni

is teachers, a few neighbors. Michael stood

k, dabbing her eyes with a lace handkerchief

e looked at her. Just

lent house, he found her in th

overhear. He was

her voice low and urgent. "What do you mean Ryan

pa

it. I' ll be there as so

d grabbed her

g?" Michael asked.

With work," she stammered, not

s," he r

He heard her SUV' s tires

he wasn' t going t