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There, on the floor by the toilet was a azine Travel and Leisure

When she picked it up, it fell open to a two-page, dog-eared spread on Costa Rica There was an advertisement for an adventure camp on the Caribbean coast Soe

Theres a place in Costa Rica, sugar beet, called Cloud Mountain--or soht to m heart

The azine fell to the floor and hit with a thump She cried at last, for all the times shed had been with her father and all the times she hadnt, and for all the times she never would be

When the tears had worn theot unsteadily to her feet

She splashed cool water on her face, then smoothed her hair back and returned to the fray As she ile If anyone noticed hoful she looked, no one commented

She checked on the food and opened bottles of wine, then headed for the library, where her fa out

Stephanie and Tiether on the sofa As usual, Stephanie was the picture of decoru to her lithe body There were red streaks on her porcelain cheeks, and her gray eyes showed the residue of tears Ti her hand They looked like a couple frorief well

Ja She sat slouched on an ottoled mass that covered half of her face Her navy blue dress was already wrinkled Her pale blue eyes were swollen and red

"I cant listen to anyup

Elizabeth understood It was difficult out there Everyone had loved him so much and they wanted to share their favorite story, but every word lodged in your heart like a shard of glass

Jack rose fro chair and walked toward Elizabeth, never taking his gaze

from her face

He pulled her into his arms She held herself back, afraid that if she relaxed, shed break

"He loved you," Jack whispered against her ear, too softly for the children to hear "The first time I met him, he told me hed kill me if I ever hurt you He reminded e His exact words were: You hurt ar beet, Jackson Shore, and Ill whoop you s hard youll see the Milky Way "