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her parents had taken Alice and Helen's life along with their own.
"What are you thinking," Lindsay asked curiously, noting the look of quiet speculation and
anger on Ginny's face.
For a split second Ginny was tempted to say nothing.But she was too tired to hold it
inside."I'm thinking about how angry I am with my parents for letting the fireÉ" She
swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat."For letting the fire claim Alice and Helen."Her
eyes lifted and met Lindsay's and in that instant she could see that her friend ached for
her as though the pain was her own.She reached out for Lindsay's hand, squeezing it to
show her thanks when words seemed inadequate.
"Why, Lindsay?" she continued as her anger bubbling to the surface."Why didn't Alice
come with me?She was always stronger, smarter, faster. She could have made it!Why
didn't Mama send them out of the building when she had the chance?"
"Oh, Ginny." Lindsay shook her head sadly, wondering what exactly it was in people that
forever compelled them to try and make sense out of the senseless.She got up from her
seat across from Ginny and sat down alongside her."I'm sure she tried to get out.She was
your big sister, right?She wouldn't have left you all alone to deal with all this if she'd had
any other choice."I wouldn't have.
But Ginny's rational mind wasn't ready to accept that yet."If she had, she'd be alive now!"
"No.You don't know that."
Ginny's eyes darted back and forth as her mind raced.Something could have made this all
turn out differently.Her heart twisted in her chest.Or someone."I shouldn't have listened.If
I'd only stayed to help, maybe I could-"
"Stop it, Ginny."
"No!If I'd-"
"Stop it!"
The clerk looked up from her work but Lindsay lifted her hand, acknowledging that,
despite appearances to the contrary, everything was all right.
Ginny's mouth snapped shut at the harsh words.
Now it was Lindsay's turn to lose her temper.She leaned forward and lowered her voice,
speaking with an almost savage intensity."For Christ's sake, listen to what you're saying.If
you'd stayed, you probably be dead too.You said yourself that no one made it out of the
building after you did.You couldn't have done anything else that night other than stay
behind and die."Believe what I'm saying, she willed the younger woman.
"I know. I know," Ginny whispered, squeezing her eyes tightly shut.Her anger melted
away as suddenly as it had flared.She felt like a wrung-out dishcloth. "It's not fair.They
had their entire lives ahead of them, Lindsay."
Lindsay's dark eyes softened."So do you."
Ginny gave her a watery grin."I guess I do." A thoughtful pause."What would I have done
without you these past weeks?It makes me sick to even think of it."
And that caught Lindsay so flat-footed that her mouth worked for several seconds but she
couldn't manage a single sound.
"Don't be embarrassed," Ginny insisted in a low voice, not quite able to meet Lindsay's
flabbergasted stare."I don't expect you to say anything.IÉ well, I just wanted you to
know."Her eyes lifted to meet Lindsay's and she could see that she was making her
uncomfortable.She smiled what she hoped was a reassuring smile and bumped shoulders
with Lindsay. "Go on.Go see if they have some day-old bread or something they'd be
willing to part with.We can save it for breakfast." She gestured with her chin towards the
clerk, who was working diligently slicing a large slab of ham.
"AhhÉ Ginny." Lindsay let out a shaky breath."YouÉ well, it hasn't been any trouble or
anything.I-"
"It's okay," Ginny assured her. "Really.Now go be charming and get us some breakfast."
Lindsay's eyebrows shot skywards and her mouth curled into a wry grin."Have you ever
seen me be charming?" she asked bluntly.
Ginny laughed, her spirits rising merely from the expression on Lindsay's face."WellÉ I
have faith in you."
"Well, then, stand back." Lindsay wiped an imaginary piece of lint from the front of her
dark woolen coat.Then she smoothed her lapels with exaggerated care."I have people to
influence."
Ginny watched fondly as Lindsay strolled up to the counter and leaned against the glass,
then casually struck up a conversation with the clerk.Her friend was probably the least
charming person she'd ever known. Ginny still found Lindsay brash, crude, and
impatient.But she also found LindsayÉ she didn't know exactly what. Captivating,
maybe.Or perhaps compelling.There was simply something indefinable about her that
made Ginny want to stare into those pretty brown eyes and get lost.The mere thought
made her stomach flop and she sighed, giving up on any form of introspection tonight.She
was just too tired.
The wind had begun to howl and the snow had turned to sleet.Ginny could see a layer of
ice forming on the metal lamppost across the street.God, being outside is not going to be
fun.For the last few nights they'd managed to avoid sleeping outside, always finding a
church or shelter willing to let them curl up on the floor somewhere.Please let us be that
lucky tonight.
"Ginny?"
Light blue eyes flicked sideways at the sound of Lindsay's voice.Next to her stood the
clerk.Lindsay had a strange look on her face and Ginny quickly pushed herself to her
feet."What's wrong?What is it?"
"Nothing. Nothing," Lindsay promised her quickly."I just thought you should hear this."She
turned to the clerk."Ester, can you tell my friend here what you told me?"
The middle-aged woman nodded dumbly, her confusion evident from the scowl on her
face.
"Look, if this is about the bread, we were just askingÉ. You don't-"
"I can't give you any bread."The woman shrugged."Sorry."
Ginny shot Lindsay a meaningful look that said Ôyou brought her over here to tell me
that?'
Lindsay shifted impatiently from one foot to the other."Tell her why you can't."
Ginny looked expectantly at Ester, who wiped her greasy fingers on her stained white
apron.
"Well, I can't give it to you because I give it to charity."
Ginny's gaze went back to Lindsay."That's nice?" she hazarded.
Lindsay rubbed her temples."Tell her more about the charity, Ester. Everything you told
me."
"Is this some kind of game?" The woman scowled again.
Lindsay bared her eyeteeth in what Ginny most certainly considered a snarl.
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