I just cannot count the ways I love this!! (I'm going to try, mind you, but I know I'm not going to get it right.)

First, the atmosphere is wonderful. I'll just echo everyone else. So beautifully drawn I felt as if I was *there*. I admire that so much. I love when a writer makes me completely forget that I'm reading.

And then there were just so many, many gems begging to be quoted. I could have picked lots more, but I went with:

Quote
We stared at each other for ten, twenty, thirty seconds as conflicting emotions cascaded over me like a waterfall, a jumbled mess of relief, anger, hope, fear and a desire to knock him over and beat him with the baseball bat I kept by the door.
and

Quote
Say no. Say yes.
and

Quote
Turning my head, I looked down the street at the pools of light falling onto the pavement from the streetlights above, counting twelve yellow circles before I heard the door open behind me.
annnnnnd

Quote
“I’m sorry that I was afraid.”
Perfect, perfect, perfect.

Thank you for such a lovely, smart, warm, funny read.

CC

You mean we're supposed to have lives?

Oh crap!

~Tank