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Lori set the kettle on to boil and found three s

"Open your gift," her e

"You didn’t need to do this," she said as she took the bag The pink tissue paper inside was folded into peaks Her ance and beauty transfor around her Since those early days of her e, Kate had learned how to cook, and every meal was as lovely to look at as it was to eat Beauty had becos Even now, dressed in slacks and a sweater with a rain jacket, Kate resembled a model She was tall and slim and Lori had rarely seen her without perfect hair and makeup

Lori wished she could be h she believed she’d inherited her interest in fashion fro small," Kate murmured

Lori pulled out the paper and discovered a handheld blender She didn’t have one "Oh, Moreat Thank you so ht one yet"

"No, I haven’t You’re always so thoughtful" She knew her father wouldn’t have approved of this "Does Dad know you bought a gift for us?"

Her ured out

After an aard moment, Kate raised her chin and announced, "Your father and I are no longer speaking"

Lori sat down on one of the kitchen chairs "You and Dad aren’t talking?" The kettle whistled and Linc removed it from the burner

He went to stand behind Lori and placed his hands on her shoulders "Does this have anything to do with Lori and me?" he asked

Her mother looked at them, then nodded "We all know your father is a stubbornit ets an idea in his head, no one can convince hi No one"

Lori studied her mother closely Kate wasn’t an emotional woman but tears filled her eyes She blinked them away

"What happened, Mom?"

"When you phoned last month and told your father you were finished with the faot upset I wasn’t about to lose ry I probably shouldn’t have said anything until I’d cal herand supportive Not only that, Kate had accepted Linc, despite Leonard’s decrees

"Your father refuses to be reasonable It makes no sense He wasn’t a rich man e met--he had to prove hiive Linc the saave hi so unreasonable He thinks he knohat’s best for me, but he doesn’t IDad says or does is going to change my mind" Lori reached up and pressed her hand on Linc’s

Kate lowered her gaze "After your call, your father said good riddance and he was cutting you out of the will"

Lori laughed This was a threat he’d h the years She was tired of hi to manipulate her "If that’s what he wants, Moht here with Linc"

Her husband bent forward and kissed the top of her head

"I told your father he was being ridiculous and that if he cut you out of the will, I was leaving" She paused and inhaled deeply "Unfortunately, he didn’t believe"Are you telling me--"

Her mother cut her off "Your father called our attorney and, while he was talking to Matt, I packeda point and that I’d be back the next "

"You’re not with Dad?" If she hadn’t already been sitting, Lori would have collapsed into a chair froer talking Or…living together"

"Where are you living?" Linc asked

"With my sister"

"Aunt Hilary?" Lori asked

Kate nodded "My sister’s a ," she explained to Linc, "and the two of us have been enjoying ourselves"

"What about Dad?" Lori asked Her father relied on Kate for everything Lori couldn’t i one day on his own, let alone weeks

"I wouldn’t know," Kate said, her back straight and her chin raised "That’s his concern"

"You haven’t had any contact with him?"

"None"

Undoubtedly her father bla else "Is there anything I can do for you, Mos had deteriorated this far

"For rief, no As I said, your father is being completely unreasonable I’ve stood by hireed, but this time he went too far"

"Oh, Mom, I feel awful"

"Why should you? Anyone who spends half an hour with Linc knows he’s everything you said Even ht not like Linc because he isn’t sorateful our daughter’s found a man who loves her and makes her happy"

Lori couldn’t have put it any better herself "I ained"

"I’e has caused such a problem in your family," Linc said