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"Nine years is hardly that much of a difference This is a weak excuse and unworthy of you I do happen to look young for ht, and James is only thirty-seven"

"There’s also the fact that you’re a showgirl"

"I’er," she countered "Since I worked at Disneyland, I hardly think you can fault my morals"

"Morals is another issue entirely"

"Obviously," she said, finding she disliked this man more every time he opened hisexcuses, none of which anant"

"Yes So?"

"So…it’s clear to me, at least, that you and Janized your condition"

Suhed "That’s not true, and even if it were, all I need to do is produce our e certificate, which I just happen to have with me" Somehow or other she kneould come down to this She opened her purse and removed the envelope, then handed it to the man whom her husband had once considered his friend

Southworth read it over and returned it to her "I don’t understand why the two of you did this No one etsto hide"

"We’re in love" She started to explain that she and James had known each other for a year, but Ralph cut her off

"Please, Mrs Wilkens! I’ve known James for at least a decade There had to be a reason other than the one you’re giving h for you?"

Southworth seemed bored with the conversation "Then there’s the fact that he kept the e a secret"

Summer had no answer to that "I don’t really knohy Jauess is that it’s because he’s a privateis the pregnancy?" he asked, ignoring her answer

"Three months," she told him

"Three months? I don’t claim to know much about women and babies, but I’ve had quite a feomen work for me at the bank over the years A number of them have had babies You look easily five or six nant"

"Do you, now?"

Summer drew in her breath and held it for a e She loved James and believed in hioing to acco here," she said sadly "You’ve already formed your opinion about James and me"

"About you, Mrs Wilkens It’s unfortunate Jae But there’s been far too much speculation about him lately It started with the black eye People don’t want a e should be above any hint of ht men I know," she said heatedly "I take your comments as a personal insult to , but it’s too little, too late"

"What do you mean by that?" Summer demanded

"You want your husband to win the election, don’t you?"

"Yes Of course" The question was ludicrous

"If I were to tell you that you could make a difference, perhaps even sway the election, would you listen?"

"I’d listen," she said, although anything beyond listening was another matter

Southworth stood and walked over to the hich offered a panoramic view of the Seattle skyline His back was to her and for severalhis words

"You’ve already adn"

"Yes," she said reluctantly, not as willing to acknowledge it as she had been when she’d first arrived

"I can help win him this September’s primary and the November election Don’t discount the political sway I have in this co

"When Jaested he keep you out of the picture until after the election"

"I see"

"I did this for a nuarded"

"He…he really didn’t have ed to tell him "I turned up on his doorstep, suitcase in hand"

Ralph nodded as if he’d suspected this had been the case "I can turn Ja"

Her sto before the words were out what he was going to say "Yes?"

"Simply disappear for several months Stay away from Seattle, and once the November election is over, you can move back into his house It won’t matter then"

She closed her eyes and lowered her head "I see"

"Will you do it?"

"Summer, I’m sorry I’m late" Jae clothes

He was late? She hadn’t noticed Since herwith Ralph Southworth, Summer had spent what remained of the afternoon in a stupor She felt numb and sad Tears lay just beneath the surface, ready to break free