e was a retired miner, tough as leather but with a deep well of kindness in his eyes

he said, looking at me over his c

I'm just excited about

looking convince

gling. The place was the nerve center of our community, where n

ica was dabbing at her eyes with a napkin, her face a perfect mask of delicate sorrow. Ethan was p

turned and fled, my heart achin

alked straight

, my voice plea

flushed with guilt. Jessica quickly rearrange

oing here?" Ethan aske

eyes were red-rimmed, but I saw the flicker of triumph in them. "I hea

action she expected. She wanted a confrontatio

. "I feel so terrible. Taking it from you.

in your position needs all the help she can get. It must

The couple in the next booth stop

rrowed. "It has be

e out in public at all. Most women would be at home, grieving the end of their marria

and forth between us, his brow furrowed in confusion. He wasn't smart

r," he stammered. "I'm

ping the needy." I turned my gaze back to Jessica, whose face was now a tight mask of fu

ly noticeable. I could feel every eye in the diner on me. I had no

er, the facts were damning. The noble hero and the poo

r, and walked out into the sunshine, le