MAXINE

Every time he visited, Ronan came with more books. And sometimes, he came with nothing at all. He was starting to know when I would have finished the books he brought. He was always with a book when I was almost through reading the last one he brought.

Soon, he brought fewer and fewer books because he was visiting almost every day. It was like he was spreading the pile of books so he had an excuse to come talk to me.

We talked about everything and nothing. I was careful not to ...