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After Casey had priced the new yarn and arranged it in the correct cubicles, she sat with Whiskers on her lap and stroked the cat for an hour straight I was astonished that she could sit still for that long Whiskers spent hours every day asleep in the front , so this much attention was unusual He purred with contentment; Casey’s lap had obviously becorabbed lunch when I could between custo back a take-out container of salad for Casey

"I’ for a walk," Casey announced around two and headed out the door She’d tiuring out yardage for a sweater project for Mary Kilborn, an experienced knitter Because I was poring over a coe for every company, I barely had a chance to react to her stateet to f inish as Casey was already gone and well out of earshot

"Never mind," I said Brad wouldn’t appear for another two hours and Casey would surely be back by then As was so often the case with her, I rong Brad showed up before Casey did

"Where do you think she ht be?" he asked, his brow furroith concern

"I…I don’t know I never expected her to be gone this long"

I started to rub ether, a nervous habit I’d developed over the summer--or more accurately, since Casey’s arrival I could tell that Brad’s day hadn’t gone well, because it wasn’t like hi?" he asked impatiently

"That’s just it She didn’t"

Brad frowned, even harder this tiht hadn’t even occurred to ?" he asked, throwing his hands in the air "That kid’s irinned, then added, "You’d think she was a teenager or soht Casey wouldn’t actually be a teenager until the following year, but she showed all the signs of being one now--especially the aret assured us She f inished counting out change for a customer who’d come in to purchase an extra skein when she’d run out of yarn on a project

"How can you be so sure?" Brad asked when the woaret walked around the counter "First, Casey didn’t collect her pay for thisCasey had left on the lesson table "--she didn’t take her ith her"

I nodded; ht as well relax until she turns up," I advised my husband

Brad muttered a comment under his breath, then accepted the inevitability of waiting Sighing heavily, he sat down at the table Five h she’d hardly been away at all

Instantly Brad was on his feet "Where were you?" he de at hiu’s f ine now She’s back and she’s safe"

Casey pretended not to hear , stuff ing it inside the quilted bag I’d lent her Then she straightened "Are you ready?" she asked as if Brad had kept her waiting

Brad glanced at me, eyebrows raised I shookeach other the silent treataret watched thelad when she’s out of the house"

I didn’t know exactly what I’d feel What surprised h, was the sense of loss that came over me at that statement

Despite the diff iculties we’d had with Casey, I’d becoirl I would miss her, and so would Brad and Cody

In fact, Casey’s stay with us had been good for our son He’d learned the concept of sharing Cody was the sole focus of our love and attention Of course we hoped to add another child to our family, but as it was now, our lives revolved around his He’d been a friend to Casey, and in the process had learned communication skills Despite the moodiness she so to miss her" I didn’t realize I’d spoken out loud untilsound "What does that aret to state her opinion She sentlook and si Alix was the f irst to arrive for class As she walked into the store, I could suess what I was thinking, she announced to both Margaret and arette but I’rief"

Obviously Alix and Casey were both in unsociable moods that day "Three is better than ten or twenty or whatever you started out with" I wanted her to be aware that I wouldn’t judge her

"There is aret said "And if you weren’t so stubborn you’d get it"

"No" Alix brief ly shut her eyes "I can do this If I’m a little short-tearette for the day and I’arette Alix was so rarely that I knew souess was that it had to do with Jordan He wasn’t with her, although he usually walked her to class and then either went over to the church or roup while Alix knitted

"Jordan isn’t with you tonight?" I ventured

"No," she snapped

I held up both hands as if to say sorry I asked--and I was Margaret, however, had never steered clear of a fight "What is it with everyone today?" she said, arms akimbo "First Casey and now you"

Alix’s shoulders relaxed "I didn’t ument"