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"About Joni…"

He kissed her again "She’ll be fine Another doctor is crazy about her"

He saidelse was lost on Gloria All she kneas how happy she felt

Thirty-Four

Sunday afternoon, Grace and Cliff Harding were stringing Christhts around the roofline of the house Cliff stood on the ladder while Grace held the lights and kept a careful eye on her husband Beau was on his leash, which was tied to the porch railing

A car appeared at the head of the long driveway between the two fenced pastures Cliff’s horses, lazily chewing grass, looked up at the vehicle

"You expecting anyone?" Cliff called down to Grace

"No" It wasn’t unusual for one of her daughters to stop by without phoning first, but neither of them drove an SUV "It’s Beth Morehouse’s car," she told him a moment later

"Has she come for Beau?"

Grace had been adanawed on her shoes and hid Cliff’s socks and he was constantly underfoot Besides, he insisted on following her everywhere she went

"Grace?" Cliff called again

"I don’t know," she said They hadn’t actually set a date for Beth to pick up the puppy If she’d found a good hoot out and walked over to them

Cliff climbed down the ladder and placed his arm around Grace’s shoulders, as Beau whimpered and barked excitedly

"Hi, Beth," Grace said She bent down and scooped up Beau, who’d been busily digging in her flower beds His paws and face were sested "Grace and I are ready for a break"

"Thank you I’d enjoy that, but I can’t stay long I need to get back to the far I had a couple of errands not far froht I’d see if you were home"

"We’re here," Grace said unnecessarily as she led the way into the house She stopped in theBeau’s face and paws and then her own hands, while Cliff took Beth into the kitchen and pulled out a chair

"I’ll get the eggnog," Cliff said, taking three glasses from the cupboard "This is Grace’s fa to look at Grace, who ca her hands

"It’s pretty si the recipe if you’d like"

"Yes, I’d love to have it"

As Cliff carried the filled glasses to the table, Grace brought a plate of sugar cookies she’d baked with her grandchildren the day before

"I take it you’ve co his nas and set his front paws on her knees He stared at her with such love and warainst her will she petted his head, and when he whined she couldn’t resist lifting hihtly and went iood home for him?" Cliff broke in

"Not exactly"

"Do you have a ho fear--that Beth had co to happen

"The truth is, no I don’t have a home for Beau"

"No?" Grace cried

"No," Beth repeated, "and now I have another proble Beau?"

"No… Well, yes Indirectly As you know, I’ve rescued a few dogs and done so, which I enjoy and seem to have a knack for"

That was a real understatement Not only had Beth been her partner in the library reading progras to visit with the sick and elderly

"Apparently word’s gotten around that I take in strays Several people have brought me aniet the" Her voice cracked

"What do youanxious about Beth’s obvious distress

"Yes Two totally unrelated and unexpected things I’ure out how to handle them I’m sorry to inflict this on you It’s just that…it’s all too ently She’d never seen her friend so disconcerted

"Well, first, it seeirls will be hoe and he asked thehed "I could turn him down but not them Anyway, I talked to the Beldons, and they told me Kent has a reservation at their bed-and-breakfast"

Grace are that Beth was divorced but knew nothing of the circu the questions to her

"Is that a problem?" Grace asked

"Yes," Beth said bluntly "Kent and I haven’t spoken in three years--well, except when it has to do with the girls Bailey and Sophie are both away at school, so there hasn’t been much need for us to communicate"