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The defeated puppy-dog look was replaced with a wide sive you a call some time tomorrow, then"

"That’d be fine"

Glen opened the door and paused "Would you be willing to see hed softly "Probably"

She was rewarded with another warrin that lit up his eyes He took a small step toward her and then stopped abruptly and exhaled a long, deep breath "I’d verymatters We’ll do this your way, Jody I’m a patient ht and thank you for one of the ht" She stood at the door and waited until he’d reached his car Once he pulled away, his headlights illuainst the heavy wood

Glen had nice eyes, she decided The eyes of ashe wasn’t ready for The eyes of a man ell acquainted with pain and disappointment himself

After a few moments she walked over to the mantel in the family room where Jeff’s picture rested She stared at his familiar features, the features she loved so dearly Even after all these years, he had the power to stir her

Reaching out, she traced her fingers over the outline of his jaaiting for the swell of eenerally accouilt Nor doubt Jeff sination, she was sure it must be, but he see Ti her that even in death he would always love her

Leah heard the door shut Andrew had returned after being away most of the day She closed her eyes, and took a moment to coht and she knew it Having a child had become an obsession with her, sotheout of the kitchen, she watched as Andrew sat down in front of the television and reached for the reht that must be you," she said, which sounded silly since it couldn’t have been anyone else

"As you can see, it’s me" His words were as stark and cold as they had been earlier It wasn’t a good sign

"Can we talk?" she asked, tentatively stepping into the roothis conversation with his back to her said far ht have spoken

"I’ not to break into tears She hated any kind of discord between the could destroy their love She feared now that she ized, you don’t need to do it again" The newsclips froo Chargers were playing and the noise of the ga jeans and a sweatshirt, wiped her hands against her thighs "I was hoping we could talk," she said, lowering herself onto the far side of the sofa across froood co to talk it should be e’re both in the right fra like this They rarely disagreed and when they did, both were eager to resolve their differences

"When do you think you’ll be in the right fra her pride

"I don’t know I just need soether I probably shouldn’t have come back to the house, but it’s cold and I wasn’t keen about spending the rest of the day and evening sitting in lad you did Do you want et you a cup of coffee? Some dinner?"

He shook his head "What I’d appreciateis so off the leather sofa, "whatever you want Take all the ti out anyway"

He acknowledged her with an abrupt nod and continued to stare at the television screen "That sounds like a good idea"

So he wanted her to leave, illing for her to go Leah hadn’t realized how deeply she’d injured Andrew’s pride or how she’d weakened the foundation of theirher coat and purse as if she were going on an outing she’d looked forward to for weeks Hu softly she called out cheerfully, "I won’t be late"

Not knohere to go, Leah drove around for an hour before heading toward Pa the minute she opened the door Not that Leah would have been able to hide it

"Leah," Pa her eyes "What happened?"

Unable to speak, Leah shook her head fro talk and a strong cup of tea can’t help"

This hat Leah loved about Pam--the ability to solve any problem with a cup of tea and a stiff upper lip Now that she was here, she wasn’t keen on talking What she really needed was a friend, not a counselor

"It’s not all that bad," Leah said, ht of her troubles as she followed Pam into the kitchen The sink was stacked with dirty dishes and the cupboards were serprints, a stark contrast to her own spotless kitchen

"Auntie Leah?" Scotty raced into the kitchen, clutching his stuffed dinosaur, the one she’d given him for his birthday a month earlier

"Scotty, you’re supposed to be asleep!" Pam said, hands on her hips

Leah scooped the three-year-old into her ared him close while he pressed happy kisses over her face He was a sweet boy with deep blue eyes and a froth of uneable curls and Leah loved hi?" she asked, setting hi the curls away fro up his thu his thuerly and Leah carried hier brother Thirteen-month-old Jason was sound asleep, his knees tucked under his stomach, his small buttocks thrust into the air

"Shhh," Scotty said in a loud whisper as Leah set hi around a stack of plastic building blocks and several wooden puzzles Pieces were scattered all about the area

"I’ your thumb," she whispered