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Shana nodded again She wished she’d talked to her friend weeks ago; Catherine saw everything with such clarity and insight

"Are you tempted to take him back?"

"Not at all…" She let the rest fade

"You’re sure?"

"Yes, but…" The thought had only occurred to her now "Until I talk to him…" Even as she said the words, Shana knew that a telephone conversation wouldn’t be enough She needed to see Brad, talk to him in person, which she hadn’t really done, not after that one dramatic scene when she’d confronted hione to Seattle to think She’d phoned him, but hadn’t spoken to him in person Shana had never honestly explained her dissatisfaction with the relationship--aside from the Sylvia issue--nor had she made clear that reconciliation was out of the question Her severing of the relationship wasn’t a ploy to get hi she’d done on a whim

Shana looked at Catherine

"Actually," Catherine said, "I think talking to Brad is a good idea"

"I do, too" Shana removed her apron and carelessly tossed it over the back of a chair "Can you take over for ly surprised at how quickly Shana was acting

"Please I’ll take Jazmine to Portland with me"

"I’ll need to call Louis, but I’ planned for the next few days Let me find out" She walked over to the phone, and after just a minute’s discussion, replaced the receiver "He said he’d be delighted"

"Good" Her decision , Shana went outside to collect Jaz her on her way out the door "What do you want me to say if Adam phones?"

That wasn’t likely to happen, but she certainly didn’t want her friend to divulge that she’d gone off to see Brad "Our last conversation ended kind of badly, so I doubt--"

"You said that earlier," Catherine broke in, "but I bet he’ll be phoning soon He probably regrets how things went as h she hadn’t said so, Catherine had intuitively known "Tell hi an old friend out of town" It would be the truth, because she planned to call Gwen Jackson as soon as she got home As she spoke, Shana absently watched a delivery truck pull into the parking space in front of the restaurant

The bell above the door jangled cheerfully, and Catherine hurried out of the kitchen Shana followed her, sorry their conversation had been interrupted

All she saas a large FedEx box

"Shana Berrie?" the delivery estured toward Shana

"I’ to re that would co

Jazmine trailed the delivery man inside "What’s that?" she asked excitedly

"I don’t know yet" Shana signed the clipboard and yanked the tab at the end of the box The sender’s name was that of a floral coe obscured the rest of the word

"It’s probably from Brad," Jazmine muttered disdainfully "I told you he wants you back"

"No way," Shana said, shaking her head Anything he had to send her wouldn’t co for a suarantee that

When the carton was open, two orchid leis slid onto the counter Waikiki--that was it Hawaii Well, that was one puzzle solved Catherine gave an iasp of wonder at their delicate beauty

"Uncle Adaht

"Is there a card?" Catherine asked

Shana searched the inside of the box and found it "To irls I miss you Adam"

Jaz with joy

Shana wasn’t nearly as pleased "That was a cowardly thing to do," she declared Just leave it to afor him Well, she’d deal with Adam later, but at the moment she had another man on her mind, and that was Brad Moore

Chapter Nineteen

Shana felt as if she was on a mission now What Catherine had said was so true--it was as difficult to let go of the expectations created by a relationship as the relationship itself She needed to co herself from Brad

The minute she arrived ho

"Where are we going?" Jaz around her neck Shana wore hers, too She appreciated Adaesture, but not as much as she would have if he’d e-mailed or phoned her first She didn’t want to think about him now, and yet it was i her of Adam and their shared kisses

"To Portland"

"Portland?" Jaz there?"

Shana already had her suitcase out of her closet and open on top of her bed She didn’t need much--her pajamas, a set of clothes and clean underwear Her toiletries and makeup That was it

"Aunt Shana…"

She whirled around, al Jaz to Portland" The girl deserved the truth "I need to talk to Brad"

"Brad!" Her niece spit out the na in her mouth "Why?" she cried with such a shocked look that Shana nearly laughed "You’re wearing Uncle Adam’s lei and you want to visit Brad?"

"I need to talk to him"