words from the villa –

t, dull ache ben

maged goods, a

xpressed, was a deeper wou

d, the future I envisioned,

their integrity, he pl

Baxter who had always

ent party w

at the historic

. Chad' s father, Chad Ba

two powerfu

they t

s, still playing

his, Ava? It' s going to be a big crowd. You kno

ast aversion to public

Chad," I said

That's my gi

d no

elf in the mirr

I' d lost, what he' d

ed Chad Baxter Jr

back. No recovery

for

solidified in my mind, h

had was preening in

unced, adjusting his bowtie. "Make sure

eek, a dry, mea

, you know, if you're not feel

y. That the "snake-skin" girl wou

n for a

it for the worl

ile touche

f something – confusion? – i

See yo

ompletely unaware that his

d up th

's Ava. Are