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She carried the test kit into the kitchen with her and set it down on the kitchen table in front of her husband "Is this a hint?"

"As broad as I can e juice "For the love of heaven, let’s get this agony over with"

It was then that Leah knew

In the beginning she was afraid he orried about her building her hopes upon a foundation of sand But it wasthe toruised his feelings, not allowing her to guess how veryher now, his features sharp and anxious "How er will you wait?"

She wanted to make some flippant reply, soh away, but it wouldn’t work

"If it’ll ease youreven this sht away" The physician, however dear, produced a flood of unhappy memories She couldn’t think of him and not remember theelse they’d atteht, call your doctor friend," Andrew said, but he didn’t sound especially pleased He wanted to know The sooner the better

Not so with Leah She’d already received all the confir in the cold, sounding the bell for charitable donations, for nearly forty-five minutes She was cold, her feet hurt, and she was almost convinced Chet wouldn’t show

Not after her father had caught hiht Worse, she’d been left to speculate what had happened Her father had reht-lipped about the incident She’d tried once to pry information frouess that her interest was more than normal curiosity

Monica felt Chet’s presence several seconds before he ca a kind of sonar when it ca him Her spirits lifted immediately and she drew in a deep breath and whispered a soft prayer of thankfulness

"Hello," she whispered, when he strolled up to the bright red pot and slipped a twenty-dollar bill inside

"We need to talk," heat her

"I know"

"Can you meet me afterwards?"

"Of course" She was in love and a woman in love would do whatever was necessary to be with herto tease him

"No" The as sharp and instant

Monica couldn’t help it, she laughed "Where?"

"Pier Fifty-six I’ll be waiting for you at the restaurant There’s a table way in the back, closest to the water"

She nodded eagerly "I shouldn’t be er"

"I’ll see you there," he one The ician He could appear and disappear at the drop of a hat, or so it see downhill, toward the Seattle waterfront She raced across the street, pro herself she’d stop on her way to the bus stop and look at the Christels this year, perched atop a train set that circled a frothy cloud Stars shone bright from above Another as the traditional Santa’s elves at the North Pole and Mrs Claus baking sugar cookies

Chet was sitting at the table, waiting for her Puget Sound showed through the huge plate-glassbehind him The sky was blue and clear and the ferry had just pulled away from the dock The scene was lovely and for a lad to see you," she said She slipped out of her coat and waited ait would take Chet to notice her new dress, but he see Monica was a bit hurt, but let it pass

"I’ for a cup of coffee," she said

Chet waved for the waitress, who carried the glass pot over to the table "Do you want so to eat?" he asked Monica

She shook her head "Just coffee for me, thanks"

"Me too" The waitress refilled his cup and poured hers

Chet smiled over at her and the same intense look was back, the one she’d noticed earlier His frown deepened as if he’d beco’s different," he said, studying her

Monica bea a littletoward hiot a call from Donna Watkins, a lady from church She invited me to lunch Donna’s wonderful with clothes and scarves and pretty pinsI didn’t always think so, but that doesn’tand had the irrepressible urge to callI bought the dress and"--she tossed back her head to expose her earlobes--"these They’re lovely, aren’t they?"