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"Whatever you want" Teri sounded as if repayment was of little concern to her

"It’s ht thing to do"

Teri smiled down at her tea

"What’s so funny?" Christie asked

"My little sister’s finally grown up"

It would’ve been easy to take offense at that comment, with its implication that Christie was--or had been--iness to fork over the money precluded that And, in all honesty, Christie couldn’t coree

Bobby walked into the room just then His eyes went instantly to his wife He didn’t seem to notice that Christie was there, too

"Hello, Bobby," she said, loudly enough to catch his attention

He inclined his head slightly in acknowledg the question to Teri

Bobby Polgar was a man of feords, but Christie could never doubt that he loved her sister Froe Bobby’s world had revolved around chess; it had been his whole life until hemoment in their relationship had come the day Bobby confessed that his whole existence was about thinking Chess required strategy, deliberation and the ability to forecast consequences, and he’d transferred those cerebral skills into every aspect of his life But Teri made him feel

Christie realized that James had just the opposite effect on her For most of her adult life, her decisions had been driven by emotion But he’d made her think He’d --fro to the end of the week and going to the Poodle for a beer Because of hioals and purpose His defection had made her even more determined James had hurt her, and hurt her terribly, but this ti the pain inflicted by a ht Jaht her eye "He phoned"

Playing du about"

"James," Bobby said excitedly

Christie stopped herself fro No doubt he’d escaped to so that happened to James Wilbur or Gardner, or whatever he called himself now, concerned her

"Oh" That was all she was capable of saying

"Don’t you want to knohat he said?" Teri asked

"No" She shook her head

Teri huffed out a sigh "That’s not true You’re dying to hear the details, but you’re too stubborn to ad her head more adamantly, Christie denied that "Nope"

"He’s sorry," Bobby said He stood behind Teri, his hands on her shoulders

No arded her sister, Christie realized She wasn’t jealous; she ached to be in a relationship as caring and real as the one Teri had with her husband Well, get over it, sheto happen Nor would the children she’d always drea the pretense

"James" Teri rolled her eyes "You’re pretty transparent, little sister, so drop the act"

"It’s not an act" Christie slid off the stool "Anyway, I should get ho walk to the bus stop and didn’t want to waste time on idle conversation with her sister Especially if Jaht," Teri said in that superior way of hers "Whatever you say" She ered for information about James but refused to ask, refused to let Teri or Bobby say one word about hi Jahts or her life

Teri insisted on calling a taxi and tucking a twenty into Christie’s pocket Although she made a fuss, Christie was thankful Before she left the house, she hugged both Teri and Bobby, and Teri promised to call as soon as she heard about the car

True to her word, Teri phoned less than twenty-four hours later Bobby’s friend had located an older vehicle in relatively good condition for under five thousand dollars The gas e was low; it even had a CD player and automatic locks

"Perfect!" Christie said, so happy she could barely hold still "What color is it?"

"What color?" Teri repeated "White"

Christie couldn’t squelch her disappoint for blue"

"You can have it repainted later if it bothers you that rateful to have a car" And if it was as reliable as her sister seemed to think and had such nice extras, she wasn’t about to complain