“What happened to you?” sheasked.
“Nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing,”shesaid.
“Abby saw me,”hesaid.
“So? I thought she’d already seen all of you,” Madison said in ajokingtone.
“She saw meshift.”
“Oh.” Her eyes went wide. “I told you to becareful.”
“I don’t need a lecturerightnow.”
“What did she say?” Madisonasked.
“She ran and hid in her room. I tried talking to her about it, but she wouldn’t listen. She’s packing her things and leaving.” His shoulders slumped. The thought of losing her crushedhisbear.
“You should go back up there and talk to her. Explain that you’re still the same person, just furrier,”Madisonsaid.
“It won’t work,”hesaid.
“What if I went upthere?”
“You could try, but it’s about more than just my bear. She’s really upset because of a case she lost. She’s alawyer—”
“The Edward Lee Drake case. Yeah, I know,”Madisonsaid.
“You knew about the case?” heasked.
“I read about it in the paper. Didn’t you?” sheasked.
“I don’t read thepaper.”
“They’ve been doing a smear job on her since she lost the trial. It’s a wonder she’s able to hold her head up at all with the way they’ve been portraying her,”Madisonsaid.
“It’s not her fault,” he saidvehemently.
“I know. I didn’t say they were right. I’m just saying that she’s under a lot of stressrightnow.”
“More than you know. Her parents aren’t exactly helping things either,”hesaid.
“If you want me to go talk to her,Iwill.”
“I don’t want to push her right now,”hesaid.
“If she’s planning on leaving, what difference will it make? You have nothing to lose at this point,”Madisonsaid.
“You’re right.” Hesighed.
“Come back in an hour and I’ll have her all straightened out,”Madisonsaid.
“Have I ever told you that you meddle too much?” heasked.
“No.” Shegrinned.
“Wellyoudo.”
