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"Other plans? Like being with another"Never ood to wonder where I am"

"I really do appreciate the help," E lot with loaded boxes

"I know You’d do the saain "When’s the next fruitcake interview?" she asked, although Eed the subject

"Next week--Tuesday, I think"

Emma didn’t welcome the reminder that Oliver was scheduled to fly her into Friday Harbor She didn’t want to think about hiain

"Are you ready to take these over to the new place?" Eer to show off her apartment An apartment she wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for Oliver, her conscience pointed out

"Sure," Phoebe said "Let’s go" But her enthusiasm seemed forced

Ereement with Walt had really depressed her friend

"Not especially," Phoebe o," she said again

It was nearly seven and co Emma noticed when she pulled up in front of the cohts were off; only his Christe He was probably out on solumly Despite her best efforts, her spirits sank It shouldn’t matter where he was or ho for the door key, as Phoebe’s SUV drove up behind her Carrying a couple of plants she’d transported on the front seat, she joined E, Erowled"

"I did? I was thinking what a botheran explanation that was also the truth

"I’ll work as long as you want tonight"

Emma nodded her thanks She wanted out of the old place as quickly as possible Because she didn’t ownand towels, clothes, kitchen stuff Her TV and CD player Odds and ends Only a few pieces of furniture remained

They made two trips, with both her car and Phoebe’s loaded, rooftop and all Back at the old aparts that still had to be ested, hands on her hips as she stood in the almost-empty bedroom "That way you’ll be able to sleep at the new place"

The idea appealed to Emma "Are you sure you’re up to this?"

Phoebe nodded

Oliver’s lights were on when they arrived with the bed and nightstand So he was home Not that she cared

The mattress was the most difficult to handle With Phoebe on one end and Emma on the other, they wrestled it out of the SUV

"I’m starved," Emma said as she paused to take a breath She hadn’t eaten lunch; her only sustenance had co- you to dinner What time is it, anyway?"

Phoebe didn’t answer When E mattress, she sahy

Oliver’s apartment door was open, and Walt Berwald and Oliver stood just outside the dooratching thele

Phoebe dropped her end of the mattress "Walt," she said in a choked voice

"Oh, could you use some help?" Oliver asked coolly as he stepped forward

"Phoebe?" Walt sounded nervous

Even in the dark, Ehter than the cherry trees across the street ever would She looked directly at Walt and then--reluctantly--at Oliver She realized she owed hirateful behavior toward hiht

"I’ll take that," he said, hurrying toward her end of the mattress

"Thank you," she whispered, and "

Oliver nearly stumbled He dropped his corner of theto apologize"

"That’s what I thought," he said "It felt good to hear that Would you , since he just wanted to rub it in Oh, well, she supposed he deserved to hear her apology twice Not that she intended to use the word sorry even once She cleared her throat "I wanted to thank you for all your help," she saidhis head, he said, "You’re welcorappled with it for a moment until he noticed that Walt hadn’t taken hold of the other side He propped the ainst the back of the vehicle

E at each other He’d co the

"When you said you had ‘other plans,’ you let

"It hat you deserved to think"

"What’s going on with those two?" Oliver whispered, ree each other?" This see her friend and their boss

"I wasn’t joking, Walt" Phoebe held her ground She crossed her arms