Part 233 (2/2)

He wished that he could stir his heart, feel some regret for the girl he

had known once. The desperate, eager girl who had claimed to love him

above all else. But there was nothing to feel. The girl, and the boy

he had been, had been dead a long time.

So he would call Emma. It was best that she hear it from him, though he

doubted she would feel any true griel When he had called her, and made

certain she didn't need him, he would go to Ireland. To Darren. And

spend some quiet days sitting in the tall green gra.s.s.

ARE YOU SURE you're going to be all right?”

”Yes.” Emma gave Marianne's hand a squeeze as they walked toward the

gate at LAX. ”I'm going to be fine. I'm just going to take a few more

days to, well, let myself settle.”

”You know I'd stay.”

”I know.” This time the squeeze of a hand wasn't enough. Emma turned

and hugged her. ”I wouldn't have been able to go through with this on

my own.”

”Yes, you would have. You're stronger than you think. Didn't you

cancel the credit cards, close the bank accounts, and have the

accountant play hide the money?”

”Your ideas.”

”That's only because you weren't thinking of practical matters. I

wasn't going to see that b.a.s.t.a.r.d get a penny. I still think you should

talk to the police.”

Emma only shook her head. She was just beginning to believe she might

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