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Once inside her apartment, she was immediately struck by the contrast between this apartment at The Seattle and the place Nolan had shown her One was grey, craant Her mind’s eye went over the dreary apart sense of excite it color and character She’d certainly faced challenges before, but never one quite like this Instinctively she knew there’d be real satisfaction in decorating that place with her newly li her new apartment into a home was the least of her worries, however She had yet to tell her parents that she’d quit her job Their reaction would be as predictable as Nolan’s

The phone seemed to draw her Slowly she walked across the roohtly around the receiver Before she could change her mind, she closed her eyes, punched out the number and waited

Herat hted to hear from Maryanne "How’s Seattle? Are you still as fascinated with the Northwest?"

"More than ever," Maryanne answered without a pause; what she didn’t say was that part of her fascination was now because of Nolan

"I’ you, sweetie, I miss you terribly"

"I haven’t lived at home for years," Maryanne reminded her mother

"I know, but you were so much closer to home in Manhattan than you are now I can’t join you for lunch the way I did last year"

"Seattle’s lovely I hope you’ll visit me soon" But not too soon, she prayed

"So, I promise," Muriel said "I was afraid once you settled there all that rain would get you down"

"Mother, honestly, New York City has more annual rainfall than Seattle"

"I know, dear, but in New York the rain all comes in a few days In Seattle it drizzles for weeks on end, or so I’ve heard"

"It’s not so bad" Maryanne had been far too busy to pay ed ahead "The reason I called is that I’ve got a bit of exciting news for you"

"You’re et randchildren and had been ever since Maryanne’s graduation froe Both her brothers, Mark and Sean, were several years younger, so Maryanne knew the expectations were all focused on her For the past couple of years they’d been introducing her to suitable youngthat drae, she crossed her fingers behind her back and blurted out, "I’ve got a special assignment…for the--uh--paper" The lie nearly stuck in her throat

"A special assign the truth about as far as it would go, and she hated doing it But she had no choice Nolan’s reaction would look tame co as a janitor Rent-A-Maid gave it a fancy nalamorous job, nor was it profitable, but it was honest work and she needed so to tide her over until she made a name for herself in her chosen field

"What kind of special assignment?"

"It’s a research project I can’t really talk about it yet" Maryanne decided it was best to let her fanment" ith the newspaper She wasn’t happy about this; in fact, she felt downright depressed to beher mother this way, but she dared not hint at what she’d actually be doing The only co the dangerous, is it?"

"Oh, heavens, no," Maryanne said, forcing a light laugh "But I’ to be involved in it for several weeks, so I won’t beyou any of my columns, at least not for a while I didn’t want you to wonder when you didn’t hear fro?"

"A little" Only a few city blocks, as a matter of fact, but she couldn’t very well say so "Once everything’s coet in touch with you"

"You won’t even be able to phone?" Her mother’s voice carried a hint of concern

Not often, at least not on her budget, Maryanne realized regretfully

"Of course I’ll phone," she hurried to assure hernew to the ga She hoped her h to take her at her word