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The other lingered aAli in the core patient But at Ali’s nod, she rejoined the first woman

"How can I help you, Commander?" Ali asked Her shoulders were back as if she expected another ugly confrontation

Frank wasn’t good at apologizing It wasn’t soan to speak, and then paused to clear his throat before he could get out even one short sentence "I want to apologize for last week"

Her eyes flared briefly, but she didn’t respond

"I have no excuse forthe very words she’d used to describe him He despised humiliation in any fory accepted, Co sick and helpless"

"That’s true," he agreed, willing to accept her explanation

His remark was followed by silence Frank usually didn’t have proble in a crowdedthere with Ali--he couldn’t think of a single intelligent thing to say

"I appreciate everything you did to make my stay as comfortable as possible," he muttered

"You’re welcoer to leave

Frank didn’t bla else?" she prodded when he didn’t resume the conversation

"No," he said without inflection, but he wanted to scream that there was He just didn’t kno to say it Had they been anyplace else, he e to let her know he admired her

Without another word, she turned and walked toward her friends who stood at a booth, ignoring the proprietor and focusing their attention on him and Ali Both women seemed to have plenty of opinions, because their heads were close together and they talked rapidly Frank hated being the object of their scrutiny, but there was no help for it He’d done what he could; now he had to leave things as they were

"Lieutenant Co her

Alison glanced over her shoulder

"I heard--I’m sorry about your husband"

For the briefest of moments, in the second or two it took her to blink, Alison’s eyes went liquid with grief She quickly regained control of her emotions "Thank you, Commander Like you, Peter dedicated his life to the Navy"

He nodded and felt properly put in his place

That said, Ali joined her friends The three of the for Ali was out of character, what he did next was even more so He returned to the silk merchant and purchased the entire bolt of fabric Alison had so recently examined The hell if he knehat to do with fifteen yards of red silk

Chapter Eighteen

"I’d like to talk to you when you’ve got a free moment," Catherine said as soon as Shana showed up for work Monday

Dread instantly filled her It was said bad news came in threes Adam had left for Hawaii, Brad wanted her back--or so he’d claimed--and now she feared the worst calamity of all Her most valued employee was about to quit Shana could deal with just about anything except that

"N-now is convenient," she ed to stutter It wasn’t, but she’d have an ulcer if she put this off

Catherine joined her in the kitchen but kept an eye on the ice-crea to quit, are you?" Shana asked point-blank Catherine had quickly beco in the towel right now"

Catherine brushed aside her concern with a wave of her hand "Of course I’ I love my job"

Relief washed over her, and Shana reached out to hug the other worateful…I don’t think I could take ht we should talk," Catherine said "I don’t , but like I said when you interviewed me, I worked in the school cafeteria for alroup and were able to discuss everything with one another"

"I want you to feel free to do the same here," Shana assured her