Chapter Twelve
Innocence at Risk
Sundown was coming noticeably earlier these days. Lovely as this one was, full of oranges and reds and a first hint of violet, it made Julie a tad melancholy.
They were into August by now. Their ‘best summer ever’ was half over already. Sprat would have her cast off in a couple more weeks, yet their lifelong rapport was still fractured. Julie sighed, took a last look at her cards and laid them flat on the table.
“I fold.”
Sodas had given way to highballs for everyone but Trisha (at least officially). Julie took a swallow of hers and sighed again. The kid pretended not to notice until she swept in her winnings. But then her innate inquisitiveness emerged camouflaged as concern.
“Poor Julie! What do I have to do to enjoy your dimples again? I know it’
