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"You care about her," she said with surprise

"What did you think?"

"I wasn't sure I thought it was an obligation, or that you were doing it because it annoyed people"

"I'h opinion of me"

She waved her hand at him "Don't be that way You knohat I meant But it's more than that You really love her"

He shifted on his chair, but didn't deny her statement "Bonnie's easy to love," he said "She doesn't care about who my parents are or aren't When she does find out, it will just bring us closer She doesn't care about the town, or what it thinks She gives with her whole heart There's no holding back No lies"

Megan raised her hand to her cheek as if she could feel the physical imprint of his verbal slap Bonnie was easy to love for all the reasons she, Megan, had left him Bonnie was honest, Bonnie didn't care about the town, Bonnie didn't he Bonnie gave without question

Megan walked to theand stared out onto the street She recognized ons She knew the sounds of Landing, the seasons, the changes Justin was right She'd loved her position, her reputation and good name more than she'd ever loved him

Loving hi she'd ever done, and the hardest No htness or freedom In the deepest part of her heart, she'd known it wasn't e to walk away froh The fear had been bigger and stronger than both of them

Those idyllic irl who'd proone Only the fear re the wood and the cool panes of glass She sed against the tightness in her throat

Justin's Bride 153

What would happen if she let go of the fear? What would happen if she gave in and did exactly what she wanted to do? She closed her eyes and thought about what had happened to herColleen and herself that their mother was dead She'd known it was a lie, but she'd been too afraid to say anything