ssed, grabbing Sarah's arm. "Com

ase-assigned duplex. Bren

e let him lead her and a stunned

em water, her eyes full of triumphant pity. Kevin loung

eetly withdrawn to the kitchen, "what i

arded to him. For his grades, his e

through his hair. "Look, Sar

ted? Or c

orially. "His father, my squad mate, died serving this country. Brenda.

t? His father abandoned him for another woman and

t's... reallocating resources. Kevin will make better use

r a while. My CO, the guys in my unit... they all support Brenda. My reputation, my career... it

r? Let you destroy David' s

nsisted. "Don't make this h

e a mask of pain, suddenly spoke. "

. David had spent months, years, painstakingly assembling and painting it. It was his

the car. Mark must have

a malicious grin on his face. In his hand

dropping the pieces on the floor. "It w

eces were blac

cinerator in the garage," Kevin added

s, trying to salvage what he could. He yelped as hi

ng his hand. A small, angry

u okay,

d you bring that junk here? It just

. No anger at Kevin'

filled with a chilling adultness

th rage. He raised his ha

front of her son. "Do

t out a shriek from

her arm, hot coffee splashing from an

ears welling in her eyes. "Sara

was already visible. It looked like she'

! You see what you do? You come here, cause trou

t's it! Kevin gets the scholarship! Consid

forgotten, his face a study i

her first life, the despair, the helplessness, they were

. The lies, the manipula

this