"Yes," said Smith. "That stopped me." "Was it about us?"
Smith nodded. "He had heard a few things."
"I thought that would be it," Charlotte said. "My teacher friend seemed to know something she didn't want to say. Oh god, Bill!"
"It's not like that at all," Smith said. "George is an old friend. I actually think he wants to protect us. I think he will if he can."
Charlotte didn't speak for several moments. She took off her shoes and lay on the couch and stared at the ceiling. She said calmly, "Now it begins. I suppose it was too much hoping they would leave us alone.
"If it gets too bad," Smith said, "we can go. There's something we can do." "Oh Bill!" Charlotte laughed a little, throatily and softly. She sat up on the couch. "You are the dearest love, the dearest, dearest, that one ca
