I spent so much time telling myself that this wasn't home that I started to believe it," she said carefully. "Belonging has always been tough for me." I can be your home," he said quietly. "Belong to me.

But surprises were nothing new to her. Like opening a can of mushroom soup and finding tomato instead; be grateful and eat it anyway.

She never thought she was good at making friends. But maybe she was just trying to be friends with the wrong people.

The words were strung in the air like garland. She could almost see them.

Some of the best people i know are fools', Evanelle said. 'The strongest people I know.

But that would leave Paxton to fend for herself, and the last thing any woman wanted in this kind of situation was to look around and see all the people who could help her doing nothing.

Those who decided to stick with her would be her true friends. The others would just be scenery.