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However, as Maureen looked back over her life since the divorce, she was forced to admit how much better off she and Karen ithout her ex-husband

"And since the divorce?"

Karen’s nightmares had beenBut Maureen ell aware that a few lessons weren’t the cure-all to Karen’s troubles It was just that she couldn’t afford counseling on top of everything else

"And since," Maureen repeated, "she’s doing all right"

"All right?"

"She needs counseling For that matter, so do I"

"It helped ?"

Tho "I’m not ashamed to admit I needed it"

Maureen knew from previous conversations that Thom had been deeply in love with his wife Froe, it had sounded ideal, al helped"

"I’m sure it did" She stared into the e as it "

"Forgiving her?"

"I know that must sound unreasonable At the tiht shortly after the funeral, I was cooking dinner and the potatoes boiled onto the stove It was a little thing, but I was so angry I dary? But why?"

"If Pam had been there, it never would have happened I wouldn’t be co in from the barn and left to deal with dinner for Paula and me It’d be on the table" His smile was filled with a wry sadness "In my heart I know Pam didn’t want to die any ive her" Thoht help you"

"WhatBrian"

Maureen stared at hiive Brian? You’ve got to be kidding"

It ination, but even the air seemed to chill between her and Ted, trapped as they were in the elevator

He hadn’t spoken in ten er Those s were growing tired, and she wondered just how er it would take for the electricity to return so she could escape these uncomfortable circue; her fears ested, breaking the quiet

"I’enerous thing to do, she added, "Thanks for the offer, though"

A silence, then, "You’re welcome"

Joy smiled into the darkness, and she had the distinct ih she had no way of knowing if that were so

The elevator car remained pitch-black It amazed her how much she could feel in the dark How alive her senses were, sharing this compact space with him Ted was as far removed from her as was humanly possible She could feel his breath on the back of her neck, feel the heavy thud of his heartbeat

"I wish I had a ht was dangerous to her e closer to him, mentally, if not physically After fifteenthat her steadfast rule about dating a uideline

"Matches," Ted repeated "Don’t tell eyrew tireso to hurt "If you don’t mind, I’ll take you up on that offer," she said

"The coat or the date?"

"The coat"

"Dahter in his voice She wished she didn’t find it so easy to s sound followed as he removed his suit coat and spread it on the floor

"It see here the dry cleaners can’t re with her hands to find her way, Joy lowered herself onto his suit jacket She sat with her legs scooted to one side and her weight leveled onto one ar close was unavoidable She didn’t need their shoulders to touch to feel his presence He was there, bigger than life

"I apologize for snapping at you," she said, regretting her earlier behavior It wasn’t his fault the electricity had gone out, although she would have been happy to blame him

"My teret added, "What’s happened to us, Joy? We used to be friends, re ame with you"

"Yes, well--"

"When I’ more intensely Hell, I don’t even knohat I did that was so terrible Okay, okay, I know it has to do with Blythe--"

"I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to talk"