Cynthia Dion:

I don’t know how long they stayed out because it seemed like only an hour when my bedroom door opened and closed. I was jolted awake by the noise, straightening my back to see who had come to my room.

"Atticus! Weren’t you supposed to be with them?" I rubbed my eyes in confusion, glancing at the clock on the wall. He had come early. I thought they would at least take a few hours because Mara had made some plans for a movie night as well.

"Well, as soon ...