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A few days Surely she could hold on to her peace of mind for a few more days, especially when they were said to be the shortest days of the year

Catherine did e to survive, but just barely Royce and Kelly aiting for her at the airport when her plane touched down Theher as though it had been years since they'd last seen each other

"Oh, Catherine, I'lad, too She raised her head, and her eyes connected with Royce's His arht

"We've got everything ready for you," Kelly told her excitedly "Dad and I worked real hard putting up the Christ presents I even helped hi"

"Thank you sweetheart I appreciate it soShe'd ht possible

"Can we doout her hands for a visual inspection "They look just wretched, don't they?"

"Of course we'll both work on our nails"

"Shopping, too Dad's simply igage and led the way through the tere The ride into Norfolk took only a few minutes The weather had cooperated beautifully, and the sky was crisp and clear with a sprinkling of stars scattered boldly across the horizon of black velvet

The colonial house was exactly as Royce had described Catherine liked it ih the wreath-covered door

"Did youto Catherine's arm "Because I sure missed you," Kelly said, and then her voice lowered "Dad missed you, too"

"Oh, sweetheart, I missed you both so much"

"What about" Kelly paused and darted a look toward her father Once more she lowered her voice several decibels "You know"

Catherine didn't know "What?"

Losing patience, Kelly clenched her fists against her hipbones "A baby Are you pregnant yet, or not?"

"Not," Royce inforhter crisply

"Not," Catherine echoed in a far ood deal of thought to the idea of the, or rather de a baby sister, had been the catalyst, but when Catherine analyzed it, she had to admit the ten-year-old had a valid point Royce was already in his late thirties, and she was at the age when all the internal fes were at their peak

Catherine wasn't keen about going through a pregnancy without Royce being close to love and pa the discoh the ages had suffered no less She wasn't an exception

Beyond all the other token reasons, Catherine longed for Royce's child The matter had been on her

mind every minute that she'd been separated fro ly appealed to her She planned to approach her husband about the subject during this brief visit If everything went according to schedule, this ht well be a bonus Christ Catherine all about her school and her new friends Catherine had heard it all before, but gave her rapt attention to Kelly while Royce brewed hot-buttered ruri drinks

"The only reason you get that is so you'll go up to bed the way you promised"

"Dad!" Kelly exclaimed "It's Christo to bed at the regular time, do you?"

"It's two hours past your bedtime already," he reminded her "Now drink up and hit the sack"

"You just want tister accused as she sipped froh, "I can understand People in love need that"

"Thank you Dear Abby," Royce teased "Now scoot"

Kelly took one last sip of her drink, then set it on the counter She gave both Royce and Catherine hugs, then dutifully marched up the stairs

Now that Catherine was alone with her husband, she watched as he stood and turned out the la the rooh dih for her to realize Royce was studying her His cobalt-blue eyes said all sorts of things that words could never express They told her howfor her He'd been left to confront a cold empty space just the way she had His eyes also told her how much he needed her Physically Emotionally Mentally Every which way there was to need a wo his eyes fro it aside He reached for her then, gently taking her into his arhts had been as achingly loneso hers, he orking at opening her blouse and bra He was so eager to love her, his hands shook

"Royce," she pleaded, "the bedrooued "Kelly won't be asleep"

"But she ht corowl, heavy with impatience

"Don't you think we should wait?"

"I can't Not a second longer Feel rabbed hold of her wrist and boldly pressed it to him

"I need you," he said, his voice strained as she took the initiative and moved her open palm back and forth

"I need you, too," she returned in a husky ht her breasts, lifting the the undersides with his thu hi to re else but this from the moment we parted"

"Ohyes"

"I want you so daht"

"Me, too"