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About half an hour later . . .

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Tara had already changed into her nightshirt and had just opened up the book she was reading when Keira came in the door. "There you are. Shit girl, you scared the crap out of me. Why didn't you tell me you was leavin'?"

"Sorry," Tara replied, glancing down at her book. "I wasn't feeling well and I was tired, so I just . . ." She knew without looking that Keira was staring at her. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye as the older woman sat at the foot of the bed.

"Now that...