Annie giggled again. She couldnt seem to stop herself. And when she did, the most incredible thing happened. Alexs grin vanished, and after gazing down at her for what seemed to her several endless seconds, he got tears in his eyes. Thank you, he said. Only that, just a simple thank you. But to Annie, those were the two most wonderful words shed ever seen spoken, and they meant more to her than a thousand others might have. With them, he told her a wealth of things, namely that he had meant everything hed said to her in the attic, that he not only wouldnt punish her for making noise, but that he wanted her to.
