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He nodded sheepishly "The car’s loaded with goodies I’oing to love their grandpa"

Walter grinned, then walked out, closing the door

James stood by the fireplace, his back to her Su a list of questions She wasn’t even sure she had all the answers; she wasn’t sure she wanted hiation

"I…I went to see Ralph Southworth," she said in a quavering voice

James whirled around "You did what?"

"I…I overheard you and your father talking not long ago and I learned that Southworth resigned as your caer"

"So he’s what this is all about," Jahtfully His eyes hardened "What happened between the two of us had nothing to do with you"

"James, please, I know otherwise I…I knew from the start that Ralph disapproved of me I’m not sure why, but it doesn’t matter"

"No, it doesn’t Because Southworth doesn’t matter"

Suiven up on the election In the last teeks you haven’t le public appearance When I ask, you don’t want to talk about it and--"

"There are things you don’t know"

"Things you wouldn’t tell me"

James sat across from her and leaned forward, elbows on his knees He didn’t say anything for several minutes

"What was I supposed to think?" she cried when he didn’t explain "Being a judge is thein the world to you You were born for this… I couldn’t take it away fro Being a superior court judge uarantee you,to come back," she whispered, her eyes lowered "After the election…"

"Do youto deliver our babies on your own? Do you honestly think I wouldn’t have turned this city upside down looking for you?"

"I…didn’t knohat to think Ralph said--"

"Don’t even tell ine what he said The man’s a world-class idiot He saw you as a liability when you’re reatest asset"

"If you truly believe that, then why did you throw in the towel?"

"I haven’t," he told her "I took a few days to think about it and decide who I’ll ask to n It seems there are several people ant the job"

"But Southworth said he could sway the election for you… He claims to have political clout"

"He seehtly

"We aze

"What kind of deal?"

"Southworth agreed to n if I left Seattle until after the election"

James snickered "It’s unfortunate you didn’t check with me first"

"Why?"

"I don’t want Southworth anywhere near ht’ve said that earlier"

"True," Ja squared away before I announced that I’d changed caers"

"So, who did you choose? Who’s your newHe’s not only an old friend, he was a successful businessman and he’s very well connected" He shook his head "I should’ve asked him in the first place"

"James, that’s wonderful! I like him so much better than Ralph"

James reached for her hands and held them in his own "What you don’t understand is that I wouldn’t have taken Southworth back under any circumstances First of all, I won’t allow any man to talk about my wife the way he did It’s true I otannouncement immediately Frankly, I didn’t think of it"

"I didn’t, either And re about an April cere to have him accept all the blame

"You’re my wife, and I couldn’t be prouder that someone as beautiful and talented as you would choose to marry me Ralph made it sound as if we should keep you under wraps until after the election, which is utterly ridiculous I’ a stand sooner"

"What about the election?" She didn’t care to hear any et to that in a ment, I realized what a fool I’d been to listen to the man for even a minute"

"But--"

"LetI ever did in my life was marry you"

"It was i her off "I don’t need Southworth to win this can for me He had me convinced I did, but I know otherwise now"

"What about his political friends?"

"That’s a laugh A hteous as Ralph Southworth can’t afford the luxury of friends He has none, but he doesn’t seen, I would’ve asked hi down "You rief and left you for nothing?"