Too Late, Mr. Thorne

later, a blur of hushed v

hed me, someone I vaguely recogniz

bakeries, successful, kind. He

gentle. "I'm so sorry about

own we grew up in. He told me he'd quietly admired

mething complet

yes earnest. "Let me take care of

at him,

the constant feeling of being undervalued

, but the thought of a clean brea

myself say. "

ifetime awa

even know my father died. He'd assume my leaving his offi

and mine, the fact that his pocket change coul

hone buzzed. A mes

marketing projections. H

The casual c

imes, "Jessica handles these things,

"I no longer work for Mr. Thorne. Pl

fiant act.

s instant, cold, e

lap, a reminder of how insig

in, the futility of tryin

ings from Alex's pent