The Rejected Burden: Rising From The Shadows

robbed behind her eyes. She saw Kingston's jacket hanging

it in a bag for the dry cleaners. Her

ly crest-a wolf holding a spear. She ran her thumb over the raised metal. It felt

arly. She had a board me

slamming a coffee

ing. "Asking where you were. I told him to go to he

r tea. "It's okay,

be over i

to her bag and pulled out a small, ba

it for her at a carnival when they were eighteen. She had worn it ev

nalyst from her Econ department. Alex was nice. He had

ch fry to point at the financial report. "It's basically like

l laugh, surprising her. "Tha

accur

ado

d her. Isadora stiffened.

ter, his briefcase slung over one shoulder. He looked tire

ght?" Grafton asked. "I l

air. She didn't stand up

icked to Alex aga

lex said, ext

He stared at Isadora. "We

ays used. The 'I'm the

said, turning back to her r

od there, stunned. I

rafton said, reaching out to gra

s touched

rm away. The movemen

she said. Her vo

turned to look. Grafton recoiled as if s

y. You're still mad about Bella. Look, don't be

tt

and pulled out the cardboard box. She sla

" Isadora sai

Grafton asked, l

said. "I don't want it. I d

e. Panic flickered in his eyes. "You're gi

"I'm not your little sister. I'm not your m

ognition in his

ora,

Isadora said. Sh

he tension. "Uh, yeah. Let's

away. She did

eating back, and for the first time in his life, he felt a gnawing emptiness in his

Range Rover was parked. T

ched Grafton staring after Isadora. S

ther steering wheel. Her per

go," Bella