Fallout (Crank 3)

At my horrified expression,

Dad amends, Not really. Look.

There’s no secret formula here.

Give it a few days. My guess is,

once Nikki cools off, she’ll be

missing you. Then go to her and

tell her you know you screwed

up big-time, but you love her too

much to let things end like this.

It may not work. But Nikki loves

you, and if you love her, too,

what have you got to lose?

Just be sure to follow through.

FEELING MARGINALLY BETTER

And semi-jacked-up on chocolate

chip cookies, I think maybe I’ll

ask the boys if they want to break

out the sleds. The driveway is perfect,

as long as we build up a berm across

the bottom. Not that there will be much

traffic out in a storm like this. I am

considering digging around in the garage

when the phone rings. Once. Dad

and I look at each other, some strange

kind of understanding building between

us. Suddenly David dashes into the room,

Sasha nipping at his heels. Mommy’s

coming for Christmas! he shouts.

Mom follows. Her public defender

argued illegal search and seizure,