Page 38 (1/2)

"Can we call her?" Jolene asked, shocking hiain

Bruce shook his head "She blocked all my nuhter "How do you know that?"

"She said I could phone her anytime"

He exhaled slowly He wished she’d told hi hair fell forward as she hung her head "No I was going to a couple of times, but I didn’t She…she wants to hter was only now telling hio last Monday He’d hoped to pry inforht-lipped Eventually he’d given up All he’d been able to learn was that Rachel had read his letter

"Moving? Where?"

"She ed "I…I don’t know I asked her not to leave"

"What did she say?" He found it difficult enough with Rachel living in Bremerton, which was just across the cove but felt like it was on the other side of the world Portland would be soShe didn’t tell o"

"You don’t have any idea?"

"I asked her to stay," Jolene reiterated

"Thank you," he whispered

Jolene refused to meet his look "But I’d rather she went to Portland"

"Jolene!" Bruce couldn’t help it; he exploded Pacing the room, he tore at his hair like a crazy ainst the wall

"If you felt that hy did you even ask her to stay?" he demanded

Jolene didn’t immediately answer "You," she said in a small voice

"If you’re so concerned about s" He jabbed his index finger at the floor

"You don’t wanther face in her hands

"Don’t be ridiculous! Of course I want you here You’re hter--I love you"

"But you love Rachel more"

"I don’t love heret to know because of this whole mess" Unable to bear it, he storo, he went into his rooe of his bed He felt like crying but was too nu he’d been there when he heard a knock on the door

"What?" he snapped

Jolene opened the door and stood fra her cell "Rachel is on the phone Do you want to talk to her?"

"You called her?"

"Yeah You shouldn’t beI knew you’d want to talk to her You do, don’t you?"

Bruce sed painfully and nodded "Very much" The words were thick with e the door quietly behind her

Bruce waited until the door had clicked shut "Happy Thanksgiving," he said, doing his utmost to sound upbeat and positive

"Same to you Jolene said the two of you are about ready to eat"

Eat? Bruce had no appetite He’d be lucky to ht us one of those prepared turkey dinners from Albertson’s They’re supposed to be halfway decent" But nothing compared to the home-cooked meal they would’ve enjoyed if Rachel ith the if she’d be joining Teri Polgar or one of her other friends

She hesitated "I’s?"

"Yes…for my roommate and some friends"

"That’s nice," he said dully

"They’re away from home and family, so we pooled our resources and decided to have our own Thanksgiving celebration"

"So you’re living with a female navy--what?--officer?" Bremerton was filled with navy personnel

"Not exactly"

"Navy, though, right?" He didn’t mean to turn this call into an inquisition, but he couldn’t help being curious Rachel had told hiements

"Yes, navy"

"A ht away that she didn’t appreciate his questioning her

"It doesn’t really matter, does it, Bruce?"

"No, I suppose not" He did his best to pretend it didn’t Then he suddenly realized where she was staying and it nearly destroyed hihter’s cell phone "You’re living with Nate Olsen, aren’t you?" he asked starkly

"I thought you said it didn’t matter"

"It matters if it’s Nate" He clenched his jaw

Rachel was completely silent

"Rachel?"

More silence

He inhaled and slowly released his breath "Either I trust you or I don’t I choose to trust you If you’d wanted to marry Nate, you could have He wanted you and so did I You chose ht decision or not, you’re my wife… "