rain upon the floor-to-ceiling,

p

anxiety. She hadn't slept. Not one wink. How was she supposed

ok from a vi

te

wasn't read

e voice was male.

e blockage in he

d your presence in t

st

d still have people re

ders. This wasn't perso

on over the tank top, and twisted up her hair into a sloppy

opened

n she remembered. Maybe

d out. Each shad

se was n

a tastefully

She On

dy sitting whe

glass of something dark and pricey, the o

ked. T

deathbed. Not like a man who had j

t annoy

king this early?" sh

ot even look up. "You

hard. Good God,

to see me?"

n he lo

d that her b

had that ability

setting the file down with i

't part of

is n

azed. "I swear

somethi

ered. "Ex

asing a slow breath. For the

t in a way that seemed

al, Clara. I want s

rashed off

N

la

ng her head. "You don't have the r

new what he r

ed artw

heart painte

n't do that a

ened, but he

t

his drink instead. "Fin

ext to his words that ind

n you

per of

r reached

d room. Bre

pelled her towar

her refuge

ver the threshold, h

like tha

d been wilting

life. Full. It now r

petal with a fingertip, som

Alex had ever

isn'

d, turning t

the doorway, arms cr

's s

ho had li

blood

ed herself

la

silence dropp

d have anti

di

k," Olivia

row. "Didn't know I

ps. "Oh, you didn't. But I wa

wrist, turning once more to examine the flowers.

s smile

," she said, h

hich she said it caused Cl

ng the other wom

aw it

a's posture. The war

ng suddenly

ow did you?" C

ace set. "

. About his

was si

h

itted. "But no. He neve

wed. Of cour

equired assistance. Nev

en his

t

e was he

think the worst

Man's

e, his hands curled over th

htly smudged, but th

er's dyi

ad kept to him

are now

Clara Monroe again, tell

jagged breath,

la

ready kil