them；　you　should've　just　told　me　so！”

His　hands　fell　to　his　sides　and　he　shook　his　head　as　he　said；　“Eggs？　Poisoned？　Julianna；　I

have　no　idea　what　you're　talking　about。”

Inside　I　was　so　angry　and　hurt　and　embarrassed　that　I　didn't　even　feel　like　me。　“I'm　talking

about　the　eggs　that　I've　been　bringing　over　to　your

house　for　more　than　two　years—　eggs　that　my　chickens　laid　that　I　could've　sold！　Eggs　that

your　family　has　been　throwing　away！”　I　was　shouting　at

him。　Shouting　at　an　adult；　like　I'd　never　shouted　at　anyone　in　my　entire　life。

His　voice　got　very　quiet。　“I'm　sorry。　I　don't　know　about　any　eggs。　Who　did　you　give　them　to？”

“Bryce！”　My　throat　choked　closed　as　I　said　his　name　again。　“Bryce。”

Mr。　Duncan　nodded　slowly　and　said；　“Well；”　then　went　back　to　pruning　his　bush。　“That

probably　explains　it。”

“What　do　you　mean？”

He　sighed。　“The　boy　still　has　a　ways　to　go。”

I　just　stared　at　him；　not　trusting　myself　with　the　words　sizzling　on　my　tongue。

“Oh；　he's　a　very　handsome　boy；　there's　no　denying　that；”　he　said　with　a　frown。　Then　he

snapped　a　branch　and　added；　“The　spitting　image　of　his

father。”

I　shook　my　head。　“Why　are　you　over　here；　Mr。　Duncan？　If　you　don't　think　I　need　the　help　and

you're　not　feeling　bad　about　the　eggs；　then　why　would

you　do　this？”

“Honestly？”

I　just　looked　at　him；　straight　in　the　eye。

He　nodded；　then　said；　“Because　you　remind　me　of　my　wife。”

“Your　wife？”

“That's　right。”　He　gave　me　a　little　smile　and　said；　“Renée　would've　sat　up　in　that　tree　with　you。

She　would've　sat　there　all　night。”

And　with　those　two　sentences；　my　anger　vanished。　“Really？”

“Absolutely。”