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Thrusting one hand in his pocket, he took out the cookies in their paper napkin, and begrudgingly placed two of the four he’d pilfered in her palm

Olivia finished off her last peanut butter cookie before she went into the kitchen Hera hyent into the hot water She put the bottle down by the sink and began a song about Jesus washing all our sins away

"Mo to stand next to herit over her shoulder while she waited for the first clean bowl "You could always use the dishwasher, you know"

"It only takes a minute to do these few by hand," Charlotte said "I didn’t realize you were back"

She’d arrived home about ten minutes earlier and they’d chatted briefly before she saw Jack slinking away, looking guilty "We spoke when I came in"

"We did?" Charlotte see cookies yesterday?"

"Of course I do I made Jack’s favorites Snickerdoodles"

"You baked hiht, too"

"Well, yes, the Granny S this year"

Olivia tried to broach the subject carefully "The thing is, Mo to avoid sweets"

"My heavens, ould you do that?"

"It’s ain the required nuetables While it’s fine to have dessert once a week or so, every day is simply toofor you and itto pay for "

"I know that, but I want to"

Because Olivia felt guilty she added, "It’s not that Jack and I don’t appreciate it, because we do But Jack loves your cookies soone or two even though he shouldn’t"

Her mother beamed with pleasure "I always did like Jack Griffin I was so pleased when you decided toas she spoke "Why don’t we compromise? You bake to your heart’s content, and we’ll freeze the cookies and other goodies"

"Olivia, what a marvelous idea! That’ll e"

"Thanks, Mom" Olivia dried the clean dishes, put them back in the cupboards, then went to the laundry room She had a load of whites she wanted to wash To her surprise, she found the on top of the washer Apparently her mother had taken that task upon herself Unfortunately, she’d added soone in white was now a fetching shade of…pink

Groaning inwardly Olivia picked up the stack of clothes and carried the just then, and the readout said Grace’s name

"Griffin residence," Charlotte’s voice answered when Olivia picked up

"Good evening, Charlotte," Grace said

"I’ve got it, Moet dinner on the table"

"I’ll be there in a couple of minutes," Olivia told herup

"So how’s it going with your uess"

"It’s not always easy having your mother in your own home, is it?" Grace said syht"

"Er, that’s what I was calling about"

"You are going to aerobics class, Grace, and I won’t accept any excuses" They’d stopped attending their weekly classes during Olivia’s cancer treatments, but they’d since resu to be cheated out of it

"I promised Beth Morehouse I’d stop by her place on Christ into the Reading with Rover prograraain Beth, a local dog trainer, had been instrumental in its success "Have you ever been there?"

"No You aren’t trying to change the subject, are you, Grace?"

"No, I’ot quite the operation Twenty acres of Christ crew The house is lovely, too--a big two-story place, char as can be"

"Grace, you know Wednesday is our exercise night"

"Yes" Olivia heard reluctance in her voice "But I sort of got out of the habit"

"Then it’s et back into it"

"You’re right," Grace admitted "I’ll be there"

"Good"

"Thanks for the pep talk I needed it, and to be honest, I wasn’t all that excited about driving out to Beth’s" She sighed "I can do it later in the week"

"You’reButtercup, aren’t you?"