#BJ
               ,3FID5TIAL

  ,I ,,DON'T ?9K ,I H ANY ^WS 9 : 6TELL
! MEET+ (! "M & DAU<T]S2 S* H\RS >E
B1UTI;L 6LIVE1 B V H>D 6DESCRIBE1 S ,I W
L1VE X 6! IMAG9,N ( MY R1D]S1 M]ELY SAY+
T ! H\SE 0 FULL ( G5U9E HAPPI;S1 & T
,MEG'S T5D] HOPE 0 R1LIZ$2 = :5 ,BE?
WOKE F T L;G1 H1L+ SLEEP1 ! F/ OBJECTS
ON : H] EYES FELL 7 ! LL ROSE & "M'S
FACE4 ,TOO W1K 6WOND] AT ANY?+1 %E ONLY
SMIL$1 & NE/L$ CLOSE 96! LOV+ >MS AB H]1
FEEL+ T ! HUNGRY L;G+ 0 SATISFI$ AT LA/4
,!N %E SLEPT AG1 &! GIRLS WAIT$ ^U _!
"M1 = %E WD N UNCLASP ! ?9 H& : CLUNG
6H]S EV5 9 SLEEP4
  ,HANNAH _H 8DI%$ UP0 AN A/ONI%+
BR1KFA/ =! TRAVELL]1 F9D+ X IMPOSSI#
6V5T H] EXCITE;T 9 ANY O!R WAY2 & ,MEG &
,JO F$ _! "M L DUTI;L "Y /ORKS1 :ILE !Y
LI/5$ 6H] :ISP]$ A3.T ( "F'S /ATE1 ,MR4
,BROOKE'S PROMISE 6/AY & NURSE HM1 !
DELAYS : ! /ORM O3A.N$ ON ! HOMEW>D
J\RNEY1 &! UNSP1KA# -=T ,LAURIE'S HOPE;L
FACE _H GIV5 H] :5 %E >RIV$1 WORN \ )
FATIGUE1 ANXIETY1 & COLD4
  ,:AT A /RANGE1 YET PL1SANT "D T WAS6 S
BRILLIANT & GAY )\T1 = ALL ! _W SEEM$
ABROAD 6WELCOME ! F/ SN[2 S QUIET &
REPOSE;L )91 = E "O SLEPT1 SP5T ) WAT*+1
&A ,SA2A? /ILL;S REIGN$ "? ! H\SE1 :ILE
NO4+ ,HANNAH M.T$ GU>D AT ! DOOR4 ,)A
BLISS;L S5SE ( BURD5S LIFT$ (F1 ,MEG &
,JO CLOS$ _! WE>Y EYES1 & LAY AT RE/1 L
/ORM-B1T5 BOATS1 SAFE AT AN*OR 9 A QUIET
H>BOR4 ,MRS4 ,M>* WD N L1VE ,BE?'S SIDE1
B RE/$ 9 ! BIG *AIR1 WAK+ (T5 6LOOK AT1
T\*1 & BROOD OV] H] *1 L A MIS] OV] "S
RECOV]$ TR1SURE4
  ,LAURIE1 M1N:ILE1 PO/$ (F 6-=T ,AMY1 &
TOLD 8 /ORY S WELL T ,AUNT ,M>* ACTU,Y
8SNI6$0 H]F1 & N"E ONCE SD1 8,I TOLD Y
S40 ,AMY CAME \ S /R;G ON ? O3A.N T ,I
?9K ! GD ?"\S 9 ! LL *APEL RE,Y 2GAN
6BE> FRUIT4 ,%E DRI$ H] TE>S QKLY1
RE/RA9$ H] IMPATI;E 6SEE H] "M1 & N"E
EV5 ?"\ (! TURQUOISE R+1 :5 ! OLD LADY
HE>TILY AGRE$ 9 ,LAURIE'S OP9ION1 T %E
2HAV$ 8L A CAPITAL LL WOMAN40 ,EV5
,POLLY SEEM$ IMPRESS$1 = HE CALL$ H] 8GD
GIRL10 B.S$ H] BUTTONS1 & BE7$ H] TO 8-E
& TAKE A WALK1 DE>10 9 8 MO/ A6A# T"O4
,%E WD V GLADLY H G"O \ 65JOY ! B"R
W9TRY W1!R2 B1 4COV]+ T ,LAURIE 0 DROPP+
) SLEEP 9 SPITE ( MAN;L EF=TS 63C1L !
FACT1 %E P]SUAD$ HM 6RE/ ON ! S(A1 :ILE
%E WROTE A NOTE 6H] "M4 ,%E 0 A L;G "T
AB X2 &1 :5 %E RETURN$1 HE 0 /RET*$ \1 )
BO? >MS "U 8 H1D1 S.D ASLEEP1 :ILE ,AUNT
,M>* _H PULL$ D[N ! CURTA9S1 & SAT DO+
NO?+ 9 AN UNUSUAL FIT ( 2NIGN;Y4
  ,AF A :ILE1 !Y 2GAN 6?9K HE 0 N GO+
6WAKE TILL NI<T1 & ,I'M N SURE T HE WD1
_H HE N BE5 E6ECTU,Y R\S$ 0,AMY'S CRY (
JOY AT SI<T ( H] "M4 ,"! PROBABLY 7 A GD
_M HAPPY LL GIRLS 9 & AB ! C;Y T "D1 B X
IS MY PRIVATE OP9ION T ,AMY 0 ! HAPPIE/
( ALL1 :5 %E SAT 9 H] "M'S LAP & TOLD H]
TRIALS1 RCVG 3SOL,N & -P5S,N 9 ! %APE (
APPROV+ SMILES & FOND C>ESSES4 ,!Y 7
AL"O TGR 9 ! *APEL1 6: H] "M DID N
OBJECT :5 XS PURPOSE 0 EXPLA9$ 6H]4
  8,ON ! 3TR>Y1 ,I L X V M*1 DE>10 LOOK+
F ! DU/Y ROS>Y 6! WELL-WORN LL BOOK1 &!
LOVELY PICTURE ) XS G>L& ( "EGRE54 8,X
IS AN EXCELL5T PLAN 6H "S PLACE ": WE C
G 6BE QUIET1 :5 ?+S VEX OR GRIEVE U4 ,"!
>E A GD _M H>D "TS 9 ? LIFE ( \RS1 B WE
C ALW BE> !M IF WE ASK HELP 9 ! "R WAY4
,I ?9K MY LL GIRL IS LE>N+ ?80
  8,YES1 "M2 & :5 ,I G HOME ,I M1N 6H A
CORN] 9 ! BIG CLOSET 6PUT MY BOOKS1 &!
COPY ( T PICTURE : ,I'VE TRI$ 6MAKE4 ,!
WOMAN'S FACE IS N GD- X'S TOO B1UTI;L =
ME 6DRAW- B ! BABY IS D"O BETT]1 & ,I
LOVE X V M*4 ,I L 6?9K ,HE 0 A LL *
ONCE1 = !N ,I DON'T SEEM S F> AWAY1 & T
HELPS ME40
  ,Z ,AMY PO9T$ 6! SMIL+ ,*RI/-* ON 8
"M'S KNEE1 ,MRS4 ,M>* SAW "S?+ ON !
LIFT$ H& T MADE H] SMILE4 ,%E SD NO?+1 B
,AMY "U/OOD ! LOOK1 &1 AF A M9UTE'S
PAUSE1 %E A4$ GRAVELY-
  8,I WANT$ 6SP1K 6Y AB ?1 B ,I =GOT X4
,AUNT GAVE ME ! R+ TD2 %E CALL$ ME 6H] &
KISS$ ME1 & PUT X ON MY F+]1 & SD ,I 0 A
CR$IT 6H]1 & %E'D L 6KEEP ME ALW4 ,%E
GAVE T FUNNY GU>D 6KEEP ! TURQUOISE ON1
Z X'S TOO BIG4 ,I'D L 6WE> !M1 "M2 C
,I80
  8,!Y >E V PRETTY1 B ,I ?9K Y'RE R TOO
"Y = S* ORNA;TS1 ,AMY10 SD ,MRS4 ,M>*1
LOOK+ AT ! PLUMP LL H&1 )! B& ( SKY-BLUE
/"OS ON ! =EF+]1 &! QUA9T GU>D1 =M$ (
TWO T9Y1 GOLD5 H&S CLASP$ TGR4
  8,I'LL TRY N 6BE VA910 SD ,AMY4 8,I
DON'T ?9K ,I L X ONLY 2C X'S S PRETTY2 B
,I WANT 6WE> X Z ! GIRL 9 ! /ORY WORE H]
BRACELET1 6REM9D ME ( "S?+40
  8,D Y M1N ,AUNT ,M>*80 ASK$ H] "M1
LAU<+4
  8,NO1 6REM9D ME N 6BE SELFI%40 ,AMY
LOOK$ S E>NE/ & S9C]E AB X1 T H] "M
/OPP$ LAU<+1 & LI/5$ RESPECT;LLY 6! LL
PLAN4
  8,I'VE ?"\ A GRT D1L LATELY AB MY
,8BUNDLE ( NAU<TIES10' & 2+ SELFI% IS !
L>GE/ "O 9 X2 S ,I'M GO+ 6TRY H>D 6CURE
X1 IF ,I C4 ,BE? ISN'T SELFI%1 & T'S !
R1SON E "O LOVES H] & FEELS S BAD AT !
?"\S ( LOS+ H]4 ,P WDN'T FEEL HALF S BAD
AB ME IF ,I 0 SICK1 & ,I DON'T DES]VE 6H
!M2 B ,I'D L 6BE LOV$ & MISS$ 0A GRT _M
FRS1 S ,I'M GO+ 6TRY & 2 L ,BE? ALL ,I
C4 ,I'M APT 6=GET MY RESOLU;NS2 B IF ,I
_H "S?+ ALW AB ME 6REM9D ME1 ,I GUESS ,I
%D D BETT]4 ,MAY ,I TRY ? WAY80
  8,YES2 B ,I H M FAI? 9 ! CORN] (! BIG
CLOSET4 ,WE> YR R+1 DE>1 & D YR BE/2 ,I
?9K Y W PROSP]1 =! S9C]E WI% 6BE GD IS
HALF ! BATTLE4 ,N[ ,I M/ G BACK 6,BE?4
,KEEP UP YR HE>T1 LL DAU<T]1 & WE W SOON
H Y HOME AG40
  ,T EV5+1 :ILE ,MEG 0 WRIT+ 6H] "F
6REPORT ! TRAVELL]'S SAFE >RIVAL1 ,JO
SLIPP$ UP/AIRS 96,BE?'S ROOM1 &1 F9D+ H]
"M 9 H] USUAL PLACE1 /OOD A M9UTE TWI/+
H] F+]S 9 H] HAIR1 )A WORRI$ GE/URE & AN
UNDECID$ LOOK4
  8,:AT IS X1 DE>Y80 ASK$ ,MRS4 ,M>*1
HOLD+ \ H] H&1 )A FACE : 9VIT$ 3FID;E4
  8,I WANT 6TELL Y "S?+1 "M40
  8,AB ,MEG80
  8,H[ QKLY Y GUESS$6 ,YES1 X'S AB H]1 &
?\< X'S A LL ?+1 X FIDGETS ME40
  8,BE? IS ASLEEP2 SP1K L[1 & TELL ME
ALL AB X4 ,T ,M(FAT HASN'T BE5 "H1 ,I
HOPE80 ASK$ ,MRS4 ,M>* R %>PLY4
  8,NO1 ,I %D H %UT ! DOOR 9 8 FACE IF
HE _H10 SD ,JO1 SETTL+ H]F ON ! FLOOR AT
H] "M'S FEET4 8,LA/ SUMM] ,MEG LEFT A
PAIR ( GLOVES OV] AT ! ,LAUR;ES'1 & ONLY
"O 0 RETURN$4 ,WE =GOT ALL AB X1 TILL
,T$DY TOLD ME T ,MR4 ,BROOKE _H X4 ,HE
KEPT X 9 8 WAI/COAT POCKET1 & ONCE X
FELL \1 & ,T$DY JOK$ HM AB X1 & ,MR4
,BROOKE [N$ T HE LIK$ ,MEG1 B DIDN'T D>E
SAY S1 %E 0 S "Y & HE S POOR4 ,N[1 ISN'T
X A DR1D;L /ATE ( ?+S80
  8,D Y ?9K ,MEG C>ES = HM80 ASK$ ,MRS4
,M>*1 ) AN ANXI\S LOOK4
  8,M]CY ME6 ,I DON'T "K ANY?+ AB LOVE &
S* NONS5SE60 CRI$ ,JO1 )A FUNNY MIXTURE
( 9T]E/ & 3TEMPT4 8,IN NOVELS1 ! GIRLS
%[ X 0/>T+ & BLU%+1 FA9T+ AWAY1 GR[+ ?91
& ACT+ L FOOLS4 ,N[ ,MEG DOES N D ANY?+
(! SORT3 %E EATS & DR9KS & SLEEPS1 L A
S5SI# CR1TURE2 %E LOOKS /RAI<T 9 MY FACE
:5 ,I TALK AB T MAN1 & ONLY BLU%ES A LL
BIT :5 ,T$DY JOKES AB LOV]S4 ,I =BID HM
6D X1 B HE DOESN'T M9D ME Z HE "\40
  8,!N Y FANCY T ,MEG IS N 9T]E/$ 9
,JOHN80
  8,:O80 CRI$ ,JO1 />+4
  8,MR4 ,BROOKE4 ,I CALL HM ,8,JOHN0'
N[2 WE FELL 96! WAY ( DO+ S AT !
HOSPITAL1 & HE LIKES X40
  8,OH1 DE>6 ,I "K Y'LL TAKE 8 "P3 HE'S
BE5 GD 6"F1 & Y WON'T S5D HM AWAY1 B LET
,MEG M>RY HM1 IF %E WANTS TO4 ,M1N ?+6
6G PETT+ PAPA & HELP+ Y1 J 6:E$LE Y
96LIK+ HM02 & ,JO PULL$ H] HAIR AG )A
WRA?;L TW1K4
  8,MY DE>1 DON'T GET ANGRY AB X1 & ,I W
TELL Y H[ X HAPP5$4 ,JOHN W5T ) ME AT
,MR4 ,LAUR;E'S REQUE/1 & 0 S DEVOT$
6POOR "F T WE CDN'T HELP GETT+ FOND (
HM4 ,HE 0 P]FECTLY OP5 & HONORA# AB
,MEG1 = HE TOLD U HE LOV$ H]1 B WD E>N A
-=TA# HOME 2F HE ASK$ H] 6M>RY HM4 ,HE
ONLY WANT$ \R L1VE 6LOVE H] & "W = H]1
&! "R 6MAKE H] LOVE HM IF HE CD4 ,HE IS
A TRULY EXCELL5T "Y MAN1 & WE CD N
REFUSE 6LI/5 6HM2 B ,I W N 3S5T 6,MEG'S
5GAG+ H]F S "Y40
  8,( C\RSE N2 X WD 2 IDIOTIC6 ,I "K "!
0 MIS*IEF BREW+2 ,I FELT X2 & N[ X'S
WORSE ?AN ,I IMAG9$4 ,I J WI% ,I CD M>RY
,MEG MYF1 & KEEP H] SAFE 9 ! FAMILY40
  ,? ODD >RANGE;T MADE ,MRS4 ,M>* SMILE2
B %E SD GRAVELY1 8,JO1 ,I 3FIDE 9 Y1 &
DON'T WI% Y 6SAY ANY?+ 6,MEG YET1 ,:5
,JOHN -ES BACK1 & ,I SEE !M TGR1 ,I C
JUDGE BETT] ( H] FEEL+S T[>D HM40
  8,%E'LL SEE 8 9 ^? H&"S EYES T %E
TALKS AB1 & !N X W 2 ALL UP ) H]4 ,%E'S
GOT S* A S(T HE>T1 X W MELT L BUTT] 9 !
SUN IF ANY "O LOOKS S5TI;T,Y AT H]4 ,%E
R1D ! %ORT REPORTS HE S5T M ?AN %E DID
YR LRS1 & P9*$ ME :5 ,I SPOKE ( X1 &
LIKES BR[N EYES1 & DOESN'T ?9K ,JOHN AN
UGLY "N1 & %E'LL G & FALL 9 LOVE1 & "!'S
AN 5D ( P1CE & FUN1 & COSY "TS TGR4 ,I
SEE X ALL6 !Y'LL G LOV]+ >.D ! H\SE1 &
WE % H 6DODGE2 ,MEG W 2 ABSORB$1 & NO GD
6ME ANY M2 ,BROOKE W SCRAT* UP A =TUNE
"SH[1 C>RY H] (F1 & MAKE A HOLE 9 !
FAMILY2 & ,I % BR1K MY HE>T1 & "EY?+ W 2
ABOM9ABLY UNCOM=TA#4 ,OH1 DE> ME6 :Y
W]5'T WE ALL BOYS1 !N "! WDN'T 2 ANY
BO!R40
  ,JO L1N$ H] *9 ON H] KNEES1 9 A
4CONSOLATE ATTITUDE1 & %OOK H] FI/ AT !
REPREH5SI# ,JOHN4 ,MRS4 ,M>* SI<$1 & ,JO
LOOK$ UP ) AN AIR ( RELIEF4
  8,Y DON'T L X1 "M8 ,I'M GLAD ( X4
,LET'S S5D HM AB 8 BUSI;S1 & N TELL ,MEG
A ^W ( X1 B ALL 2 HAPPY TGR Z WE ALW H
BE540
  8,I DID WR;G 6SI<1 ,JO4 ,X IS NATURAL
& "R Y %D ALL G 6HOMES ( YR [N1 9 "T2 B
,I D WANT 6KEEP MY GIRLS Z L;G Z ,I C2 &
,I AM SORRY T ? HAPP5$ S SOON1 = ,MEG IS
ONLY SEV5TE51 & X W 2 "S YE>S 2F ,JOHN C
MAKE A HOME = H]4 ,YR "F & ,I H AGRE$ T
%E % N B9D H]F 9 ANY WAY1 NOR 2 M>RI$1
2F TW5TY4 ,IF %E & ,JOHN LOVE "O ANO!R1
!Y C WAIT1 & TE/ ! LOVE 0DO+ S4 ,%E IS
3SCI5TI\S1 & ,I H NO FE> ( H] TR1T+ HM
UNK9DLY4 ,MY PRETTY1 T5D]-HE>T$ GIRL6 ,I
HOPE ?+S W G HAPPILY ) H]40
  8,_HN'T Y R H H] M>RY A RI* MAN80 ASK$
,JO1 Z H] "M'S VOICE FALT]$ A LL OV] !
LA/ ^WS4
  8,M"OY IS A GD & USE;L ?+1 ,JO2 & ,I
HOPE MY GIRLS W N"E FEEL ! NE$ ( X TOO
BITT]LY1 NOR 2 TEMPT$ 0TOO M*4 ,I %D L
6"K T ,JOHN 0 FIRMLY E/ABLI%$ 9 "S GD
BUSI;S1 : GAVE HM AN 9COME L>GE 5 6KEEP
FREE F DEBT & MAKE ,MEG -=TA#4 ,I'M N
AMBITI\S =A SPL5DID =TUNE1 A FA%IONA#
POSI;N1 OR A GRT "N = MY GIRLS4 ,IF RANK
& M"OY -E ) LOVE & VIRTUE1 AL1 ,I %D
A3EPT !M GRATE;LLY1 & 5JOY YR GD =TUNE2
B ,I "K1 0EXP]I;E1 H[ M* G5U9E HAPPI;S C
2 _H 9 A PLA9 LL H\SE1 ": ! DAILY BR1D
IS E>N$1 & "S PRIV,NS GIVE SWEET;S 6!
FEW PL1SURES4 ,I AM 3T5T 6SEE ,MEG 2G9
HUMBLY1 =1 IF ,I AM N MISTAK51 %E W 2
RI* 9 ! POSSES.N (A GD MAN'S HE>T1 & T
IS BETT] ?AN A =TUNE40
  8,I "U/&1 "M1 & Q AGREE2 B ,I'M
4APPO9T$ AB ,MEG1 = ,I'D PLANN$ 6H H]
M>RY ,T$DY 0& BY1 & SIT 9 ! LAP ( LUXURY
ALL H] "DS4 ,WDN'T X 2 NICE80 ASK$ ,JO1
LOOK+ UP1 )A B"R] FACE4
  8,HE IS "Y] ?AN %E1 Y "K10 2GAN ,MRS4
,M>*2 B ,JO BROKE IN-
  8,ONLY A LL2 HE'S OLD = 8 AGE1 & TALL2
& C 2 Q GR[N-UP 9 8 MANN]S IF HE LIKES4
,!N HE'S RI* & G5]\S & GD1 & LOVES U
ALL2 & ,I SAY X'S A P;Y MY PLAN IS
SPOILT40
  8,I'M AFRAID ,LAURIE IS H>DLY GR[N UP
5 = ,MEG1 & ALT TOO M* (A W1!RCOCK1 J
N[1 = ANY "O 6DEP5D ON4 ,DON'T MAKE
PLANS1 ,JO2 B LET "T & _! [N HE>TS MATE
YR FRS4 ,WE C'T M$DLE SAFELY 9 S*
MATT]S1 & _H BETT] N GET ,8ROMANTIC
RU2I%10' Z Y CALL X1 96\R H1DS1 LE/ X
SPOIL \R FR%IP40
  8,WELL1 ,I WON'T2 B ,I HATE 6SEE ?+S
GO+ ALL CRISS-CROSS & GETT+ SN>L$ UP1 :5
A PULL "H &A SNIP "! WD /RAI<T5 X \4 ,I
WI% WE>+ FLAT-IRONS ON \R H1DS WD KEEP U
F GR[+ UP4 ,B BUDS W 2 ROSES1 & KITT5S1
CATS- MORE'S ! P;Y60
  8,:AT'S T AB FLAT-IRONS & CATS80 ASK$
,MEG1 Z %E CREPT 96! ROOM1 )! F9I%$ LR 9
H] H&4
  8,ONLY "O ( MY /UPID SPEE*ES4 ,I'M GO+
6B$2 -E1 ,PE7Y10 SD ,JO1 UNFOLD+ H]F1 L
AN ANIMAT$ PUZZLE4
  8,Q "R1 & B1UTI;LLY WRITT54 ,PL1SE ADD
T ,I S5D MY LOVE 6,JOHN10 SD ,MRS4 ,M>*1
Z %E GL.ED OV] ! LR1 & GAVE X BACK4
  8,D Y CALL HM ,8,JOHN0'80 ASK$ ,MEG1
SMIL+1 ) H] 9NOC5T EYES LOOK+ D[N 96H]
"M'S4
  8,YES2 HE HAS BE5 L A SON 6U1 & WE >E
V FOND ( HM10 REPLI$ ,MRS4 ,M>*1 RETURN+
! LOOK )A KE5 "O4
  8,I'M GLAD ( T1 HE IS S L"OLY4 ,GD-
NI<T1 "M1 DE>4 ,X IS S 9EXPRESSIBLY
-=TA# 6H Y "H10 0 ,MEG'S QUIET ANSW]4
  ,! KISS H] "M GAVE H] 0 A V T5D] "O2
&1 Z %E W5T
  AWAY1 ,MRS4 ,M>* SD1 )A MIXTURE (
SATISFAC;N & REGRET1 8,%E DOES N LOVE
,JOHN YET1 B W SOON LE>N TO40