The Girl Who Wouldn't Leave

nto a routine of SAT prep

ark and Dave,

sked, poking his head into my room.

not looking up fro

e you sick?" Dave chim

t understand the ghost of a s

er, was equally per

iously, son," he said one evening at dinner.

mashed potatoes. If he on

hool was due to start

for dinner next Saturday," he a

attered on

estate tycoons. Powerfu

, oblivious to the cold dread gripping me. "And, well, they're keen on our famili

ction. I knew exact

ph

as co

past misery, or at l

s to run, to feign i

a new thou

ed to make it clear, unequivoca

w, not

to push this,

oxiously that Sophia, and her parent

touched my lips. This