Chapter 66

Ollie reached over and gently laid a hand on Rose’s arm. She flinched, but she let his hand remain where it was. In fact, after a minute or two, she reached up with one of her own hands and covered Ollie’s.

“We’ll get it packed up and send it to her.” Ollie very gently stroked Rose’s skin with the tip of his finger.

“Sure.”

Rose settled back, cradling the bear like a baby and allowed her head to settle on Ollie’s shoulder.

They sat like that for a long time, swaying gently. Ollie thought they were both watching for Hank to appear in the street, heading home.

But he never came.Chapter 18

Hank stood outside, smoking. It was that weird hour of the day, not quite light, but darkness was rapidly losing its hold. There was a grayish quality to the light and an expectancy to the air. Hank sat down on one of the porch steps, almost expecting Ollie to rush outside and rag on him about the cigarette, but the house, like their street, was dead quiet at this wee hour of the morning.