Chapter 14

The first time Seth had seen Maisie had been on his way out of the library after an evening study session. She had been huddled in a hidden corner by the entrance, crouching with a few stray cats.

She had been so small, barely bigger than the cats themselves. It had been pouring outside, and she hadn't had an umbrella, clearly stranded there by the rain.

He had started toward her and had intended to offer his umbrella, but Ethan had beaten him to it. The latter had rushed up from behind, asking, "Seth, do you know her?"

Seth had shaken his head.

"Then, let's go." Ethan hadn't understood why Seth hadn't moved. He glanced back at Maisie and realized she had seemed to be crying. Her eyes had been red and puffy, and her face had been pale.

Many years later, Seth would learn that it had been the day Maisie's parents had divorced.

It had turned out that her father had been unfaithful and had another child with his mistress. Out of anger, her mother had taken Felicia and had moved abroa