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Interesting how her mother would remeo

"Bess talks about you all the ti?" Charlotte asked as she moved closer to Eileen’s table

"Oh, Iwith a wooden pen, but they aren’t available the way they once were One year, I decided they couldn’t be that difficult toclass at the coe andday"

"A wooden pen," Charlotte repeated "Why, Ben would love that" She looked at Olivia "You kno he likes to do the crossword puzzle everyhireat idea Very classy"

Charlotte purchased a pen and so did Olivia Every booth sold so more money at the retirement complex bazaar than the three other craft fairs cooods, ho dinner Olivia knew Ben would enjoy the peanut brittle Charlotte had bought, as well

Over cheese enchiladas, Olivia and Charlotte reviewed their Thanksgiving h the years They’d have turkey, of course, and two kinds of stuffing The traditional inside-the-bird bread stuffing and a , too Old-fashioned hoetable selections hadn’t altered much from the time Olivia was a child Potatoes, mashed and sweet And at least three choices of pie for dessert

"Justine’s bringing the appetizers," Olivia reminded herdinner at your house, right?"

"Yes, Mom" The entire family had celebrated the holidays at Olivia and Jack’s place for a nuer than anyone else’s and the kitchen was bigger "Would you rather have it at your home, Mom, with your new kitchen and all?"

"No No" She shook her head ada’s set for your place"

"It is, so there’s nothing to worry about"

"Of course, I’ll be helping with the dinner"

"Of course," Olivia echoed "I wouldn’t drea dinner without you"

They finished their lunch and headed back to Charlotte and Ben’s

"Did you two have a good time?" Ben asked when they went inside A blast of wind nearly slammed the door behind them The weather remained dark, wet and dreary Not that Harry, her mother’s cat, seemed to notice He sat contentedly in his usual position on the back of Ben’s chair, his long furry tail draped over the cushion

"We had the loveliest time," Charlotte cooed

Olivia’s cell phone chirped, and as she took it out of her purse, she saw that the call was fro at her watch He was supposed to "drop by" in about half an hour

"Hi Listen, so’s come up and I won’t be able tothis in her hands Her wariven her recently dipped by several degrees

"I can probably stop by but not at the ti to hide her irritation

"Ah, I’m not sure I have to see someone and--"

Someone? Olivia was not aht"

"Fine Male The guy’s an artist I’ve been wooing A painter froallery Miranda’s the one who got hiht this minute, but she will be Actually, we decided to double-teaet Sound Are you going to get all huffy about it?"

Olivia sighed "No" In fact, she had to acknowledge that Will’s excuse was legitimate and she hoped his overtures to this artist paid off

"Can you handle things without me or would you rather put it off?"

"No The sooner we settle this, the better"

"I think so, too Good luck I’ll talk to you later"

"Thanks" She snapped her phone shut and put it back in her purse

"Who was that, dear?" Charlotte asked

"Will"

"Oh I’m so happy about the way the two of you have reconnected since he’salong so well"

That was true Will and Olivia had reconnected They were closer now than at any other tiift she hadn’t expected, and she was grateful for it

"I was just telling Ben about our bazaar shopping," Charlotte continued "We had such a good day, didn’t we?"

"We did," she said

"And, Ben, the very best place wasn’t the big craft bazaar that they hold at the high school Remember, Iforward to"

"It was--until we got to Stanford Suites Oh, my, you wouldn’t believe what I found there"

"Show ht is for you for Christ complex?" he asked incredulously

"Yes Bess lives there, you know, and she told reeter Oh, and they had the ar cookies I’ve ever seen"

"Did you buy any?"