My stomach full, I lean back from my plate and gulp the last of the water in my glass. I'm feeling a sense of urgency, as though things are finally moving ahead the way they are supposed to.
I turn to Beckett who watches Poppy feed the puppies scraps from the meal. "Socrates and I are going to go out," I say. "He thinks he has a way for me to get to New York."
Beckett's body jerks as if I've hit him. "I'll come with you."
"You don't have to," I say. "You're staying here with his people. Your part is done in this." I touch his arm gently. "I'm very grateful, Beckett, for everything. I wouldn't be here without you. But you've lost so many friends, had so much taken from you, you deserve the security of a new family." I look around at the laughing, happy group Socrates leads, catch the slo
