| 8:08a |
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“Stop hurting her!” Jamie howled
There was
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“Stop hurting her!” Jamie howled
There was a sharp crack, and someone gasped
I struggled to pull myself out from under the heavy carton, rising up on my elbows dizzily
Jared had one hand over his nose, and something dark was oozing down over his lipsHis eyes
were wide with surpriseJamie stood in front of him with both hands clenched into fists, a
furious scowl on his face
Jamie's scowl melted slowly while Jared stared at him in shockHurt took its place–hurt and a
betrayal so deep that it rivaled Jared's expression in the kitchen
“You aren't the man I thought you were,” Jamie whisperedHe looked at Jared as though Jared
were very far away, as if there were a wall between them and Jamie was utterly isolated on his
side
Jamie's eyes started to swim, and he turned his head, ashamed of showing weakness in front of
JaredHe walked away with quick, jerky movements
We tried,Melanie thought sadlyHer heart ached after the child, even as she longed for me to
return my eyes to the manI gave her what she wanted
Jared wasn't looking at meHe was staring at the blackness into which Jamie had disappeared,
his hand still covering his nose
“Aw,damn it! ” he suddenly shouted“Jamie! Get back here!”
There was no answer
Jared threw one bleak glance in my direction–I cringed away, though his fury seemed to have
faded–then scooped up the flashlight and stomped after Jamie, kicking a box out of his way
“I'm sorry, okay? Don't cry, kid!” He called out more angry apologies as he turned the corner
and left me lying in the darkness
For a long moment, it was all I could do to breatheI concentrated on the air flowing in, then
out, then inAfter I felt I had that part mastered, I worked on getting up off the floorIt took a
few seconds to remember how to move my legs, and even then they were shaky and threatened
to collapse under me, so I sat against the wall again, sliding over till I found my rice-filled
pillow |