eft　her；　but　like　someone　died。〃　His

voice　cracked。

It　was　like　someone　had　died—like　I　had　died。　Because　it　had　been　more　than

just　losing　the　truest　of

true　loves；　as　if　that　were　not　enough　to　kill　anyone。　It　was　also　losing　a

whole　future；　a　whole

family—the　whole　life　that　I'd　chosen

Charlie　went　on　in　a　hopeless　tone。　〃I　don't　know　if　she's　going　to　get　over

it—I'm　not　sure　if　it's　in　her

nature　to　heal　from　something　like　this。　She's　always　been　such　a　constant

little　thing。　She　doesn't　get　past

things；　change　her　mind。〃

〃She's　one　of　a　kind；〃　Alice　agreed　in　a　dry　voice。

〃And　Alice〃　Charlie　hesitated。　〃Now；　you　know　how　fond　I　am　of　you；　and　I

can　tell　that　she's　happy

to　see　you；　but　I'm　a　little　worried　about　what　your　visit　will　do　to　her。〃

〃So　am　I；　Charlie；　so　am　I。　I　wouldn't　have　e　if　I'd　had　any　idea。　I'm

sorry。〃

〃Don't　apologize；　honey。　Who　knows？　Maybe　it　will　be　good　for　her。〃

〃I　hope　you're　right。〃

There　was　a　long　break　while　forks　scraped　plates　and　Charlie　chewed。　I

wondered　where　Alice　was

hiding　the　food。

〃Alice；　I　have　to　ask　you　something；〃　Charlie　said　awkwardly。

Alice　was　calm。　〃Go　ahead。〃

〃He's　not　ing　back　to　visit；　too；　is　he？〃　I　could　hear　the　suppressed　anger

in　Charlie's　voice。

Alice　answered　in　a　soft；　reassuring　tone。　〃He　doesn't　even　know　I'm　here。　The

last　time　I　spoke　with

him；　he　was　in　South　America。〃

I　stiffened　as　I　heard　this　new　information；　and　listened　harder。

〃That's　something；　at　least。〃　Charlie　snorted。　〃Well；　I　hope　he's　enjoying

himself。〃

For　the　first　time；　Alice's　voice　had　a　bit　of　steel