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Calvin met Terry's plane at 8:30 P.M. |
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Her call that morning had taken him by surprise. When he had put her on the plane yesterday, her sole intent was to get out of Carleton. And her sister's place was the necessary sanctuary. The plan had been that Calvin would drive up Monday. When he announced that he might be held up until Tuesday or Wednesday, she agreed, seeing the delay as that much more private healing time. Then, out of the blue, she announced her return. He tried to convince her to stay, but conceded when his protests somehow became suspect. |
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Terry arrived with only a carry-on bag. She wore jeans and a blue denim shirt. She looked tired but in control. Maybe she had taken the Valium Mitch had given her. |
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When she emerged from the secured area, they embraced for a long moment. ''I love you very much," he whispered. And as he held her, he thought how their love was the ballast of his sanity. That now she was the central condition of his life. |
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Yet as they drove in silence, guilt roared inside him. |
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"Is something wrong?" Terry asked. |
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"No, I'm fine. You know . . ." |
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"You seem somewhere else." |
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"I'm just dead tired," he said, and turned on the radio. |
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Since the morning, he had unreeled his plan to tell her how he had bought Matty's death. In the hotel, with some wine to soften the blow. He would be straight with her: that he had laid down the deposit in a careless rush at a good buy, all but dismissing the liability. Yes, he should have checked it out. Especially after the |
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