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who was practically cowering. Did he specifically tell you he wanted us to stay
out of Essex?
I& I didn t say that, Katie. Please, please try to calm down.
I ll calm down after I knock some sense into him, she snapped. I m so
fucking sick of his homophobic bullshit! She jumped up and headed for the
door, grabbing her keys as she went. Erin stood to follow her just as Katie hit the
front door. Your car s in my way, she hissed. Give me your keys! Her laser-like
blue eyes scanned the table near the entry, and she found Gail s key fob. Without
another word, she grabbed it and took off.
Erin was so shocked it took her a moment to get her feet to obey the orders
her brain was giving them. By the time she got to the door, Katie was in Gail s
car, and the engine was roaring to life. Katie! she screamed, running after her.
But her lover relentlessly drove down the street, leaving a sputtering Erin in her
wake.
d
Katie jumped out of the car while it was still rolling. She d turned off the
ignition, but didn t bother to put it in park. Luckily, the driveway was long and
flat and the car came to rest just a few feet away. She burst in through the back
door, stormed up to her father who was just getting to his feet, and slapped his
chest with both hands, pushing the stunned man back onto the sofa. What did
you tell her? Her eyes were wild, and she was panting.
About the
How did you convince her to do your dirty work? How did you manipulate
her into telling us to stay out of Essex?
What? I don t know what you re talk
Stop lying to me! she screamed at the top of her lungs. I can t stand it
anymore! If you want me out of your fucking life, just tell me! I can t stand to be
pulled back in and then shut out again. It s killing me! She sank to the floor, her
anger completely played out. It s killing me, she sobbed piteously.
Katie, Katie. He got up and went to her just as Erin and Gail stormed in
through the door.
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The Lies That Bind
What did you do to her? Erin screamed, rushing into the room and pushing
him aside with surprising force. Katie! She knelt next to her and gathered her
in her arms. Are you all right? Did he hit you?
Hit her? Why in the hell would I hit her? What in the holy Christ is going
on around here? He searched each face, but got nothing in reply.
He didn t hit me, Katie said through her sobs. He just wants me as far away
as possible.
What? Dan cried. That s bullshit! Gail! Haven t I been telling you how nice
it s been to see Katie more often?
She stared at him, not saying a word.
Goddamn it, I have! Just the other day, I said I thought it would be great if
Katie could manage to live in Essex. I think it d be damned good for her to get
away from some of those friends of hers.
Erin stared at him. What s wrong with her friends? She shook her head,
trying to order her thoughts. Did you really say that? Did you mean it?
Hell yes, I said it. I said it to your mother, who s standing over there acting
like she s lost her tongue. Gail, tell Katie what I said.
Looking as though all of the blood had been drained from her, Gail mumbled,
I don t remember.
What do you mean you don t remember? You didn t agree with me, but that
shouldn t make you forget.
Surprising everyone, Gail turned and ran from the house. Erin helped Katie
to her feet, and the three of them stood there for a moment, staring at each other
blankly.
Finally, Erin spoke. Her words were soft, and she looked a little ill, but she
spoke with certainty. I think I see what s going on. She took Katie s hand and
said, We should go home.
Dan s voice boomed out. Oh, no, you don t! Don t you dare leave if you know
what in the holy hell is going on around here.
I think you d better ask my mother. She s the one who doesn t want us here.
Katie stared at Erin, dumbfounded. Honey, why would you think that? Your
mom loves you.
I know she does, Erin said quietly. You can love someone and not want to
share your town with her. She looked at Katie, pleadingly. Can we please go
home?
Katie turned and met her father s eyes, and in the second that followed Erin
spoke again. I changed my mind. I have to talk to her.
I ll go find her, Dan said. With that, he went to the back door and exited.
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Susan X Meagher
Katie put her arms around Erin and squeezed her hard. Are you sure? Are you
sure it s your mom who doesn t want us here?
I am. And I m just as sure that your dad does want us here. He loves you, Katie.
I m sure of it. He just doesn t know how to express it. He s a big chicken.
Smiling gently, Katie said, If he heard you say that, he d flatten you. She
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