Page 40 (1/2)

Author: Robyn Carr

Eric held on "Go to the bank I’ll keep you on the clock Don’t screith a big old check like that You et to the bank, I’ll fix you up hat you need Get yourself checks and a debit card and a credit card You shouldn’t be living off cash"

"I’ my checks"

"It’s easy They’ll explain it at the bank and if it’s not real clear, I’ll explain it further Now go" Justin gave a la him "Listen, Justin, I know it probably feels like Al ran out on you but he didn’t This is his way--he’s a rover I’ve known hi time and he’s usually on the ain Meanwhile, you can count onanywhere"

"Till Laine tells you she can’t get back here on account of her dad and wants you to go there," Justin said

"Man, you think a lothis head "I doubt that would happen Ashley is here and I have a lot of time to make up with her If I leave Thunder Point it won’t be fast, you can count on that First that girl needs to be all grown up and on her own and second, I’d have to sell a business I don’t leave notes behind I tell the people into do so you can count onyour brothers in the dark of night Talk to me I’ll do whatever I can to help"

"Sure," Justin said, clearly unconvinced

Eric sighed "Go to the bank"

Eric kneould help Justin Everyone knew He needed a foster parent And Eric was tempted He kneouldn’t be more work than he could handle--those boys kne to live independently But if he took on that job he’d have to live with the else, soh working against them A whole continent separated the that would be the case He hoped not too er but in his heart he knew she could be co time A mean and selfish little voice said, If she hadn’t made up with Senior, this would be soentler side of him said, She waited her whole life for Senior to be proud of her, to rely on her He was lonely but, though difficult, he was happy for her No one should lose their parents before things were settled with them And he’d be asha her to come back Just ask your brother to hire someone to take care of Senior and coiven in to that temptation

He picked up the phone in the office and called the diner Maybe he could find out so that would ease Justin’s mind a little Gina answered and he said, "Hey, Gina, it’s Eric Do you have a phone nu for real estate?"

"I have more real estate than I knohat to do with," he said with a laugh "Al left today and he said he had a friend who needed him I wonder if Ray Anne knows any more than that Justin looks like he lost his best friend Which I guess maybe he did"

This idea turned out not to be one of his best When he asked Ray Anne the question she said, "Gone? He left? When?"

"At around noon He said a friend needed his help He didn’t have a better ormoment "No," she finally said "He didn’t"

"I’m sorry, Ray Anne," Eric said "I assu"

"I would have assumed that also," she said softly

"He’ll call you, then," Eric said

"I have a cell phone--he has a cell phone There are no es or texts He doesn’t like to text--he thinks it’s i or when he’d be back?"

"I’ lad I didn’t find out another way"

"I’m really sorry"

"I’ll let you know if I hear from hio, Al, Eric thought In all the years he’d known Al he couldn’t remember a tis and broken hearts left in his wake What the hell happened? he asked hiht for hi hiht Al really liked Ray Anne And unless heJustin