Page 22 (1/2)

Once again his argus to consider besides his freedoround He’d found freedom in Charlotte, freedom to be himself, freedom to look toward the future

Charlotte wanted children

Another contentious issue Children Carrie had said as much the day she’d stopped by his office to bribe hiht as well accept that a year or so down the road they’d have a baby

So? Wasn’t that what he wanted?

He hadn’t thought much about a family until recently He vividly remembered the sensations that had overwhel Jere her play with his brother’s son had left hi Frisbee ht have contributed to that

Okay, so he wanted children Athe prospect some consideration Since he ell past thirty, and fast approaching forty, he should start thinking along those lines soon Charlotte was nearly thirty-six herself, and he kneas safer for a woe of forty

Whichtwo or three years to get married If he was serious, and he was, they should do it soon

But three weeks was too soon…

He’d sleep on it, Jason decided, take his father’s advice and give this whole wedding business soeneral principles alone, he was against it

An hour later, after tossing and turning and wreaking havoc with his bedsheets, Jason knew Knew it fro Knew it fro towas already scheduled

Charlotte didn’t knoas wrong with hih dinner had been his idea He’d called her early that , before she’d left for work, and invited her out

The invitation had sounded offhand, spur of the moment Or that was how he’d apparently intended it to sound But Charlotte wasn’t fooled His voice had tensed as though he wasn’t sure she’d say yes--which was ridiculous Surely he kne crazy she was about him Yet, when she assured him she’d be happy to join him for dinner, he hadn’t seeested Mr Tareed Instead he’d chosen a fancy seafood restaurant near the harbor She’d been looking forward to chicken enchiladas, but certainly wasn’t disappointed with her shrimp Louis

Charlotte could have sworn, however, that Jason hadn’t eaten more than three bites of his wine-sautéed scallops "Jason," she said after a long silence "Is so you?"

"No," he replied abruptly

"You haven’t said a word in the last fivewell?"

"My stomach’s in knots" His reply was quick and short-te ice chips into his mouth, then chewed on them fiercely

"Do you want to leave?"

His eyes met hers and for an all-too-brief moment the tension eased fro at his strange o with your boss?" he asked, seee the subject

She’d already told hiry, especially since two other people also gave their notice when they learned I wasn’t changingworth your while?"

Charlotte nodded "He offered me and the others a raise" Mr Ward had called all three of the to overlook this small mutiny and offered thenations

"You didn’t take his bride--Iin the satisfaction she’d felt when she told Mr Ward she wasn’t interested in withdrawing her notice Cheryl and Janice hadn’t changed their minds, either Mr Ward had been stunned, but she knew that would soon pass

Before the end of the teeks, he’d try every ive in, he’d try anger, his least effective tool

She was through with a boss as so angry and unreasonable Through with guilt and regret and abuse She already had a line on another job, although she would’ve enjoyed taking the summer off

Unfortunately, she couldn’t afford it As it was, she only had two s account, and it had taken her a year to accumulate that much She called it her "attitude money" It was a whole lot easier to walk away fro she had soht away