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"It is?" she blurted out

"We should keep each other inforested Jazas she’d said "I hope I didn’t offend you--sooes faster than my brain"

"Not at all," he told her patiently

"Good" It was probably ridiculous to be so worried about a nine-year-old’s scheme and even more ridiculous towith a sense of humor

"Uncle Adalance from Shana, sat down and removed her skates "Are you done yet? Can we leave now?"

"In a minute"

"Great!" Jaz her "School’s out for the year" She slipped on her tennis shoes without bothering to tie them

Shana’s cheeks still burned with eer to see Adareat time," she mumbled "Bye"

Adam slid off the stool and with Jazmine at his side, they ambled out After the door closed, Shana felt oddly depressed, although she couldn’t name the precise reason She didn’t want to analyze it, either

Business was slow for a Saturday, but experience told Shana it would pick up around lunchtime She had two part-time employees now in addition to Catherine, the retired woman the Olsens had recommended, as Shana’s most valuable employee She moved easily between the ice-cream section and the pizza parlor, and she was fully capable of taking over if Shana wanted ti This was the one buffer Shana felt she needed now that she was Jaz father Jazmine had talked to a feeeks earlier stepped into the restaurant He ithout his kids today He strolled up to the pizza counter; from there he could see Shana in the kitchen, where she was busy stirring a vat of soup She’d discovered a brand of concentrated soups that tasted as good as homemade and was pleased with the results

"Hi," he said casually, leaning against the counter

"Can I help you?" Shana pretended not to remember him, which was the exact opposite of the way she treated her other custo people’s na ate it

"I ondering if you’d be interested in dinner and a uard "I--I beg your pardon?"

"I…well, actually, I was asking you out on a date" His voice was a o, and Shana instantly felt bad

"I’le, and well, so ao out sometime"

Shana wasn’t sure what to say She hesitated, and then decided she could only be honest "Thank you I’m flattered that you’d ask, but I just don’t have tiht now" She motioned around her "This is a new venture for me and I…have to be here"

He frowned "Is there any particular reason you don’t want to go out with me?"

A couple of dozen quickly presented thele one "You seem very nice, but--"

"It’s the kids, isn’t it?"

"No, not at all," she hurried to assure hi" That was the excuse she’d used with Adaled herself froet involved in another

"You mean I should’ve waited until you were finished for the day?"

"No…"

He wiped his face "You’ll have to excuse h school and well, it just didn’t work out I don’t bla, but Heather’s the only wo" He looked completely crestfallen by the time he’d finished

Shana felt even worse "Under other circumstances, I’d be happy to--" She stopped, afraid she’d just make matters worse if she continued "Would you like a cup of coffee?"

He nodded and sat down on the stool "That would be great, thanks"

"It’s Tiht?"

He smiled dejectedly "I’ she did recall about the last time he’d been in the ice-cream parlor--even if she preferred not to

Shana made them each an espresso, double shot If he didn’t need it she did When she set the tiny cups on the counter, Ti her hand, she said, "It’s on the house"

"Thanks"

She waved off his gratitude For reasons she didn’t want to exa hi?" he asked after the first tentative sip

"It isn’t you," she said earnestly "It really is because of the ti after "

Over the next three hours, she heard the story of Tie and every detail of his divorce The only time he paused hen she was bombarded with questions from customers or staff, or if the capable Catherine needed her assistance

She also learned practically the entire story of Ti ear and she provided it, between serving ice cream in three dozen different flavors