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"Dad, this is just review You helped me last year, remember?" She cocked her head to one side, her dark brown eyes pleading with him "I passed the test I never would have if you hadn’t helped me"

"That wasn’t me," he reminded her "It was Rachel"

Her smile instantly disappeared "No, it wasn’t You helped me I wouldn’t let Rachel anywhere near my homework"

"Actually, you did," he said a bit more forcefully He reebra homework and he’d tried to ith her Only when it became apparent that he wasn’t particularly clear on the concept hihter accept Rachel’s assistance What stood out in his one The tension between Jolene and his wife had lessened, giving both hi to their e

"You could at least try," Jolene snapped

"Okay, fine, I’ll try"

"Thank you, Daddy," she said, all sweetness once again

The phone rang as Jolene set her textbook on the table and Bruce leaped out of his chair, hoping, praying, it was Rachel She’d called a couple of ti of her reassurances that she was fine and her avoidance of any real answers She’d blocked his nuet in touch with her If it was Rachel, he illing to pro as she careed earlier to see a counselor but Jolene wouldn’t hear of it, and Bruce had foolishly put it off He was e out their troubles to a stranger He’d assu and his ga the phone, his heart bounding into his throat

"This is David Miller," intoned the recordedfor state senator Are you tired of runaway govern? If that’s the case, I need your vote--"

Bruce disconnected the line before he heard any hting back his disappointment

"Dad," Jolene muttered "You wanted that call to be Rachel, didn’t you?"

"Yes" He wasn’t going to deny it

"We don’t need her," Jolene insisted, looking up at him from the kitchen table "It’s been a lot better since she left I’ve ree or disagree Jolene had done her best to fill in, and while the hter had tried

"I know I overcooked the macaroni and cheese"

"I hardly noticed," he said, and it was true because he’d covered the entire plate with ketchup

"The ood, wasn’t it?"

"You did an excellent job" Not exactly, but at least he’d found it edible, again with the addition of ketchup

Jolene beamed with pride "Like I said, we don’t need Rachel"

It wasn’t Rachel’s cooking Bruceher in his ar his hand over her sto his love and excitement to their baby He missed Rachel’s smile when he walked into the house at the end of the day and the way she hugged hi him home They’d only been married a short while and yet Rachel had filled every nook and cranny of his world He hadn’t realized how alone and lonely he’d been until she’d coht

"Dad, my homework, remember?"

"Yeah" He’d do his best but he wished Rachel was the one helping Jolene…

It took hirit his teeth several ti his patience Still, once he’d finished, Bruce was cranky and ready for bed

Walking into his rooly at the crumpled sheets and the bedspread, which had slipped off and pooled on the carpet Rachelbefore she left for the salon Apparently the aunt who’d raised her had insisted on it, and the habit had stuck Then every night Rachel would remove the decorative pillows and neatly fold back the covers The twisted and disheveled bedding depressed Bruce He sagged onto the end of theto the salon to him a second chance He had to believe she missed him as much as he missed her Surely she’d want to coh the day

Fridayand Jolene’s glass of orange juice poured before his daughter even wandered out of her bedroolass off the counter "You see Rachel today and he couldn’t help feeling a sense of anticipation

"Dad…" Jolene regarded hi to see Rachel, are you?"

He didn’t answer

"She’s the one who left us, remember? If she wanted to conored his daughter "Do you have your lunchthe subject"

"I have to leave now or I’ll be late forHe scooped up his keys and headed out the door, letting Jolene precede him If he stopped work at four, which he fully intended to do, then he should be at the salon no later than four-thirty He was his own boss and set his own hours While he did his utmost to keep his computer clients happy, he had his priorities Oh, yes, he’d see Rachel, and once she heard how desperately he missed her, how much he needed her, she’d , but stopped when he caught Jolene scowling at him He didn’t care, but he didn’t want to set her off, either