when heather got out of the car to stand in front of him , he did n't hesitate to put his arms around her . '' i know it seems like i 've been living my life a lot like my father did , and maybe to a certain extent , i have . but let me assure you , i 'll always be there for mandy ... and for you . '' '' jake - '' '' i mean it ,
heather

' stephen , will i have to give evidence about that night ? ' ' the magistrates will want a written report and that should be sufficient . ' he was very close to her and she could see the faint stubble of his beard and the way in which his brown hair curled slightly at the ends . shaking herself from her reverie , she smiled and said , ' thank you ,
stephen

'' i 'm fine , '' i said , wiping the single tear that had made its way to the corner of my eye . '' that was brutal honesty , mandy , '' he said , and his hand landed gently on the top of my back . i raised my shoulders to my ears , feeling the tension kick in the moment his hand brushed across the back of my shirt . '' yeah , well , '' i tried to ignore the way that my body responded to his touch , '' i 'm distant , judgmental , carry a chip on my shoulder , and i hate to be challenged , but i never said i was n't
honest