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"That’s not news! Although they don’t see noonder what happened…" She let the rest fade, hoping Olivia would fill in the blanks

"Unfortunately Troy didn’t have tio into detail," Olivia said She looked at Grace with er to find a parking spot, you know"

Grace had no intention of responding She wanted facts--now "Okay, so they had a ‘thing’ going and then what?"

"He didn’t really say other than that he broke it off, regretted it and, when he wanted to get back together, Faith wasn’t interested"

"That’s understandable"

"Maybe, but we both know Troy isn’t fickle Faith should give him a bit of leeway, don’t you think?"

Grace considered that "Depends" She didn’t want to get caught up in a debate about the right or wrong of his decision, not when there was obviously more to the story "So what else?" she pressed

"Like I said, he didn’t have tiive nored

"And now Troy’s upset because he loves Faith and wants her back" How like a man!

Olivia took Troy’s side "She broke his heart"

Grace pretended to be syot what he deserved "Poor Troy," she said in a perfunctory tone

"That wasn’t exactly what he wanted to talk"He didn’t want advice about Faith?"

"Well, sort of Soot him in a real state"

When Olivia didn’t immediately continue, Grace snapped, "For heaven’s sake, don’t stop there! What happened?"

"Last night, on his way ho dinner with another ain This was farthan cream of broccoli soup "What do you mean, he saw her with soh a restaurant door?"

"Of course not He was hungry and felt like some Chinese food, so he ordered takeout from Wok ’n’ Roll He walked inside to pick up his order--and who should he see?"

"Faith," Grace answered

"Yes, Faith, and she ith…a man She had her back to hi the time of her life"

Grace had another question "So, as he?" she asked, lowering her voice "This man she ith"

Olivia acted as if Grace hadn’t even spoken "Poor Troy was devastated He said it was all he could do not to march up to the table and tell…this other man to stay away fro"

"So what did he do?" Grace asked

"Nothing much He paid for his dinner, left and then seethed for the rest of the night Judging by his expression, I’d say it’s still bothering him"

"Did Faith see hiht have"

"In that case, they probably both feel bad Because Faith would knoas upset, and she isn’t the kind of wo someone else"

"That’s true"

"Okay, so tell me who Faith’s hot date was"

Olivia paused, and Grace’s heart sank "He’s married, isn’t he? That’s why you don’t want to tell me"

"No, that’s not it In fact, once I say his na to uess That wasn’t fair--and then it caainst the table and half stood "No way?"

Olivia knew iured it out Sloith her eyes closed, she nodded

"Your brother, Will Jefferson, is dating Faith?"

Olivia exhaled sharply "So it seeuess there’s nothing really wrong with it"

"But the last I heard," Olivia said, "he was interested in Shirley Bliss"

Grace tore a piece of bread "I know Will’s your brother and you love him, but I also know a basic fact about hihed "I certainly can’t deny it, at least going by previous experience"

"Are you going to say anything to Faith?" Grace asked

Olivia shook her head

"Then I won’t, either"

Eleven

This was so e Unfortunately, Christie didn’t have any alternative She needed a vehicle; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to get to work except by walking or biking A bicyclearrived, and she could probably buy one secondhand, but that didn’t help her now So far, winter had set all kinds of records for cold and snowfall Slogging through slush and fierce wind left much to be desired