Eighteen
Luke stifled a yawn as he slid the papers he needed to grade over the weekend into his bag. He’d spent the nights since the Maxwells visit tossing and turning while sleep escaped him. If he got three hours in a night, he was lucky, but even then, the old nightmares tormented him. He desperately hoped the long Thanksgiving weekend, the peace of Northstar, and the support of his family would allow him to sleep. How long could he go with so little rest before his body overrode his brain and said enough was enough? After only three nights, he was already lethargic, but the thoughts and doubts evoked by the Maxwells’ announcement showed no signs of wearing down.
“Are you ready?” Ryan asked, poking her head into his classroom.
“As soon as Alex gets here,” he replied.
“Found him,” sh
