saustralianaeofdeaaledtoeback”heannounced,andeveryouedtostareatciaratoseeshewouldsay.

herlobleandsherahepedontohisaroundhisneck.

hollyeotionandtearsansheloved.degrabbedhiscaraandbeganfilng.

danielaroundhollysshouldersandgaveheranenuragingsqueeze.“iorry,daniel,”hollysaid,ped.”

“nottoixbusinessedrelieved.

hollyntios.

“oh,getaroodeyelledhdisgust,andeveryonelaughed.

hollysledatthejazzbandasshepassedandlookedaroundthebarfordeheyhadarraoetupinthegirlsfavoritebar,juiusianddeniserageveryoneagain.

“sorryiate,”hollyapologized,approagherfriends.“ijusteout.”

“youreniven,”danielsaidquietlyintoherearashegaveherainghugandkiss.

deniselookedupathollyaoyauedtheirattentiontoeachother.

“idontknoakeyoufeellikeyouveinterruptedthefyoustrikeupaion.ithinktheyvegotsohisglass.hedeafaceatthestaste.“andireallyneedabeer.”

hollylaughed.“oh,soallrounditsoundslikeyouvebeenhavingafantastiight.”

“sorry,”danielapologized.“itsjustbeensolongsinanbeing,ivefottennners.”

hollygiggled.“etoresenuandsurveyedtheeofdrinksbeforeher.shechoseadrinkarked,snugglingfurtherdoothechair.

danielraisedhiseyebroakeitpersonally.”

“dont.“so,.nnelly,youkonightianassiontofindoutaboutyou,sobepreparedforinterrogation.”

danielsled.“ok,ieady.”

hollythoughtaboutherfirstquestion.“”

“boandrearedindubliookasipoftheredcktailandedrinkingthisstuffandlisteningtojazz,idbeintrouble.”

hollygiggled.

“afterifinishedsy,”hentinued.

hollyraisedhereyes,iressed.“odothat”

hedidhinkaboutit.“becauseihadntaclueylife,andtheneywasgood.”

“sochforsavingilives,”hollylaughed.

“ionlystayedyforafewyears.”

“eflavoreddrink.

“beusidtheyititinthearbarracks,”heexplained.

hollygiggled.“really,daniel.”

hesled.“sorry,itjuste.parentshadveddoe.soiveddoypareired,itookoverthepub,deoookoutthebiggestrtgageeveraalkingtoyou.”

hollysled.“hatsaory,daniel.”

“nothingspecial,butalifeallthesa.”heretuedhersle.

“soeintoallthis”hollyasked.

“shesrightiodublin.”

“ah...isee,”hollynodded,uanding.shedrainedherglassandpickedupthenuagain.“ithinkillhavesexonthebeach.”

“eased.

hollythuedhilayfullyonthearnotinallionyears.

tysix

“rhollydays”thegirlssangihelasttishehadtrulyfeltsoexodationuntiltheearlyhoursoftheing.

theyreachedtheairportandpiledoutofthecarthededforsharon,oherhusband.

“youllbecarefulnoyou”heaskedherbedoinganythingstupidoverthere.”

“john,ofurseillbecareful.”

johnessingaroundoverhere,butyoutactlikethatinary,youknow.”

“john,”sharonsaid,saroundhisneck,“iustgoingforanicerelaxingholiday;youdooe.”

heethinginherearandshenodded,“iknow,iknow.”

theygaveeagerry.sheoopenitinafeheb

...