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Vivian could do nothing but nod. She couldn't tell Scott's mother about their troubles, so she simply gave her a hug and wished her well. "Please tell Sara that I'm very sorry I couldn't see her before leaving." she said, and with that she went out of the house. It was only when she got into her car and drove off that she let the tears flow.

________

Vivian spent the evening wandering around her house like a lost soul, unable to settle to anything, and her heart nearly leapt out of her chest when her phone began to ring.

She snatched it up when she saw the caller. "Hello?".

"Vivian"

"Oh, Scott!" She breathed a low sigh of relief, appalled to realize that she had half expected never to hear from him again. But that would have implied a lack of courage on his part, and he was certainly not lacking in courage. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Okay? Scott looked around him, at the luxurious house which was his home. It didn’t feel like home any more. It felt like some gloriously appointed bu