59 pages • 1 hour read
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Valerie is dividing plants in her garden and thinking about Chris moving to the city soon. She does not want to leave her home, but she also is uncomfortable with the idea of Chris living in her and Tom’s house. Chris calls, and she tells him that she got threatening calls from Brad’s and the builder’s lawyers. She invites Chris to come to town, and he accepts.
The oak tree has continued to decline, and it reminds Valerie of watching her father’s health deteriorate. She has mixed feelings about her father. She loved him, but he also brought Ray, the man who molested her, into her life and laughed as Ray touched her, believing it to be a game. She did not tell anyone, either. She pushes away the thoughts and goes in search of Xavier, whom she finds hiding in the yard with Juniper. Valerie decides to leave the teenagers alone because she understands that she needs to let him make his own decisions.
Brad shoots a new commercial for his business at his house, and it catches the attention of the neighbors. His goal with the commercial is to attract business from building companies and to bother Valerie.
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