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It would be so good to have her sister back again If she had any say in the matter, Ali would move to Seattle so the two of theet out of the Navy, does that mean you’ll marry Uncle Adam?" Jazmine asked with the excitement of a kid who’s just learned she’s about to receive the best gift of her life

"Who’s Uncle Adaed to find two husbands while Shana had yet to find one? Ah, the old co

"He was one of my dad’s best friends," Jazmine supplied with more enthusiasm than she’d shown since she’d arrived "He’s cute and funny and I think Mo one brow, Shana turned to her sister for an explanation Ali had never mentioned anyone named Adam

"Uncle Adaht?" Jaz to Shana for the answer

"It’s a bit of a drive" She wasn’t entirely sure, never having made the trip north of Seattle herself "Less than an hour, I’d guess"

"Uncle Adam ant to visit once he learns I’hter’s head against her shoulder

"You like this guy?" Shana asked her Ali was decidedly closes for this friend of Peter’s

"Of course Mom likes him," Jazmine said when her mother didn’t respond "So do I He’s totally fabulous"

Ali ed

"Another pilot?" Shana murmured

She shook her head "He’s a Supply Officer You’ll like hiht interest her romantically No way Shana had sworn off men and she was serious about that

"He said I can talk to him anytime I want," Jazmine went on "I can phone him, can’t I?"

"Of course you can" Shana was more curious than ever about this aze at Ali, silently pleading for nored her, which was infuriating Clearly, Adauy who shopped at the ar, Shana drove Jazmine to Lewis and Clark Elementary School to enroll her Shana had to admit her stomach was in knots The school yard was ja of vehicles queued in front, taking turns dropping off students Big yellow school buses belched out diesel fu lot behind the building

Shana was fortunate to find an e, although the girl walked ahead of her--just far enough to suggest the two of theether

The noise level inside the school res of a headache Or athered in one place, staring at Jazic, the halls emptied Within seconds everyone disappeared behind various doors and silence descended Ah, the power of a bell It was as if she were Moses, and the Red Sea had parted so she could find her way to the Promised Land, or in this case, The Office

Wordlessly Shana and Jazns to the principal’s do ill at ease Unlike Shana, as on the verge of chewing off every fingernail she owned

"This is no big deal," Jaz the backpack she carried It was the size one h the Hiood just leaving you here" They’d had all of one day together and while it was uncomfortable for them both, it hadn’t been nearly as bad as Shana had feared It hadn’t been good, either

When they took Ali to the airport, Shana had been the one in tears Mother and daughter had hugged for an extra-long one It was Shana who did all the talking on the drive home As soon as they were back at the rental house, Jazmine disappeared inside her bedroom and didn’t open the door for hours

Dinner had been a series of attempts on Shana’s part to start a conversation, but her questions were ot theAnd nothing hat Jazmine seemed to appreciate most They maintained an aard silence and at the end of the meal, Jazmine delivered her plate to the kitchen, rinsed it off, stuck it in the dishwasher and returned to her rooain until this e treasured their privacy Point taken Lesson learned

"Thisat the door ible, shrugging off the backpack and letting the straps slip down her arine what she had in that monstrosity, but apparently it was as valuable to the child as Shana’s purse was to her

"I was thinking you ested, staht away, I mean" The students she saw in the hallway didn’t look particularly friendly Jazmine was only nine, for heaven’s sake, and her mother was headed out to sea for half a year Maybe she should homeschool her Shana considered that option for all of half a second First, it wouldn’t be home school; it would be ice-cream parlor school The authorities would love that And second, Shana was coht," Jazh for Shana to hear

Maybe so, but Shana wasn’t co was even harder than it sounded The thought of leaving her niece here actually ly "I’m not a kid, you know"