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"Oh, all right," Miranda said, capitulating far too easily She could phone the salon and reschedule for later in the week

"That’s great" He leaped at her offer without any hesitation "Can you be here around two?"

"I’ll be there"

"Thanks, Miranda I really appreciate it"

"Bye" She called the salon to cancel her appointment, then shut her cell and put it back inside her oversize purse So , hair and fun She quickly revised her plans

First things first She ran errands, going to Safeway for the candy she needed In addition, she bought an extra bag of allery Then she picked up her dry cleaning Shirley met her for an early lunch, and when they’d finished, she dropped off soallery with fifteen minutes to spare

Will ith a customer when she arrived He raised his hand briefly but otherwise didn’t acknowledge her Miranda hung her coat in the back room and stashed her purse in a safe place Then she opened the candy, dumped the small chocolate bars in the puister for custooodbye to his custo toward the plastic puht candy in here?"

"Yes" The answer should be obvious

"You don’t need it and neither do I Whenever possible I avoid sweets"

"Then don’t indulge I thought you were the one illpower," she said sarcastically When he started to respond, she said, "It isn’t for you, anyway" Was he so self-absorbed that he assu for him?

"Then who’s it for?"

"Customers," she said irritably "Is that a probleht poison into his precious gallery

"We don’t get that many children--"

"Isn’t it tiave her a startled look "Right I shouldn’t be longer than a couple of hours Three at the ht and head home"

"I’ll be back by then"

"So he says," Miranda muttered under her breath If Will heard her, he pretended he didn’t

The rest of the afternoon was busy, much busier than she would’ve expected She sold another Beverly Chandler painting, a sculpture and a quilt Will should be pleased, but knowing him, he’d invent reasons to find fault She just hoped he realized that if she hadn’t given up most of her afternoon, they wouldn’t have n on the door, he ht never have knohat he’d uarantee those customers would’ve co the cash froallery, looking coer to share her news

He nodded absently "Olivia and I are shocked You wouldn’t believe the e"

"I sold the quilt," Miranda bragged It’d been in the gallery for three months and she’d almost lost hope that it would sell

Will still wasn’t listening "Of course, when you take into account that the fees include meals and utilities, I don’t suppose it’s so bad"

"Another Beverly Chandler painting, too" If nothing else, this should get his attention

"They have a lot of progra they can to keep the residents physically fit The social activities sound great Both Olivia and I think this mental stimulation is exactly what Mom needs Ben, too" He shook his head "Still, we’ll have to talk to Ben’s son--and I don’t le word I said?" Miranda asked

Will glanced up "What?"

"Neveron the counter and went into the back room for her coat and purse

He followed her "Why are you in such a state?"

"Because of you"

"That figures Apparently everything I do annoys you"

"You have no idea how true that is And you seem to be just as annoyed bythat le word I said"

"Yes, of course I did" She rabbed the plastic pu with that?"

"Ho it with me"

"I didn’t say I didn’t appreciate it Anyway, I didn’t have a chance to pick up any treats, so I was going to use it tonight in case any of the neighborhood kids stop by"

"That’s unlikely"

"Okay, fine Whatever" He glared at her

Miranda glared back

"Why are you like this?" he demanded

"Like what?"

"So…so et I don’t understand what your problem is"