ist

to make it feel like home for Olin. I wanted the transition to be as easy as possible, i

pt the new life he’d been forced into. I was going to start that life by making h

hired put the dishes. It was a little strange to feel like a guest in my own h

r massive backyard with the lake in the distance. It was spectacular. If I were the agent selli

eces from my plate and putting them on Olin’s. I wasn’t a young kid anymore. I had to watch my c

en, but I knew the smell of the bacon would bring him in eventually. I heard shuff

the breakfast nook bathed in sunlight. I sat do

ugged.

could unload some o

gue

warm it is

outside. “

high fifties today. That’s

te a piece of bacon. “I’m

to the ma

elf. I don’t nee

be we can driv

just buy me that c

you could prove you were responsible enough to handle one. Your behavior back in M

his eyes.

to neutral ground. “So, I was thinking about picking up a hobby or somethin

e a look.

I was thinking about

coll

“Yes, like

you a little old t

on my hands. That is something new for me.

ting up from the table and

isappointed that I wasn’t making much headway with the kid, but knowing it was going to

uldn’t resist the allure of the backyard and headed out, following the path past the row of ta

water smooth as glass. I mulled over the college thing. What did I want to study? I had never really had dreams

lk with an advisor and see what my options were. I had done a little research last night an

and knocked on the door

inside. “I’m going over to the univ

N

ance to check out th

t to go. I’m

n pushing the matter. “All right, put

d pushing him to the point he really hated me and stormed out. Carlie had been an expert at kee