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The waitress brought hinon blanc He thanked her with a s, too; no s

He savored the hile he waited He’d arrived early and was already on his second glass when Shirley entered the restaurant Standing, he greeted her Always a gentlehtly brushed his lips against her cheek

He recognized his mistake immediately He’d moved too quickly for her, presumed too much He needed to remember that

"Sorry I’m late," Shirley said, a little breathless, as she slid into the booth opposite hihts, Will had lost track of the ti twelve u with her linen napkin as she placed it on her lap Her face was flushed and he wondered if it was due to the dissension with her daughter or the cold

Never having had children, Will wasn’t sure he should coh he had little or no experience with that age group

"She’s seeing too much of Shaw," Shirley said

Will motioned to the waitress to take Shirley’s drink order He was pleased when she accepted his suggestion to try the New Zealand wine "Bring us a bottle," he told the waitress

Shirley hurried to stop him "Oh, no, that’s far too lass"

"This is one of lanced at the parking lot

He grinned "Don’t worry, I walked It’s only a few blocks froood idea"

The waitress returned with a bottle, which Will exaion of New Zealand a few years ago and discovered their exquisite wines" He hoped to put Shirley at ease and distract her frohter As he recalled, Tanni was sixteen or seventeen She’d probably be out of the house soon, attending college in Seattle or elsewhere

Shirley took her first sip and he could see that she liked the wine Settling back in the booth, he studied her

"Tanni and I see around the roo on her and she see it aside

"I wasn’t sure I should still meet you for dinner," she said "I would’ve canceled if I’d been able to get in touch with you"

Thankfully he allery and she didn’t have his cell nuu helped her, then he illing to listen

Shirley gripped the stelass and stared into the distance "They’re constantly together It’s…dangerous Tanni’s at a vulnerable point in her life--she was close to her father and she misses him desperately She and Shaw are too serious, and now that they discovered those remains, it seems everyone wants to question theot hold of their names--probably from other kids at school," Shirley said "The sheriff asked Shaw and Tanni not to say anything but Tanni’s been tricked into talking to reporters more than once"

Will sent her a look of sympathy He’d heard about those skeletal remains; it’d been in the news for weeks Every time there was the tiniest bit of information, it was blown out of all proportion, and interest was revived One of the Seattle television stations appeared to be leading the way

"You’d think, with economic problems, political scandals and natural disasters, there’d be s for them to report on," he said

"But that’s exactly why this story is so interesting to people--it’s a distraction An escape And it’s local"

"Yeah, I guess so And everyone loves a mystery"

"Those reporters havehi him for more details The poor kid doesn’t knohat to say or do It’s a mess"

Will was finished with this topic--he didn’t have anything else to add--but she seemed preoccupied and unsettled The itated she beca what he can, but for heaven’s sake, those bones have been there for years and years!"

Will nodded; that was true enough

"All this negative attention has drawn Tanni and Shaw closer together I think they both need breathing rooreed After a moment, he said, "Shaw’s a talented artist Especially of portraits"

"Tanni is, too," she was quick to reh she doesn’t want her work displayed"

"I don’t understand it Ever since we lost…my husband, Tanni insists her work is for her alone I’d hoped that once Shaw’s portraits were displayed in the gallery, she’d be willing to place a couple of her pieces there, too"

Will had also hoped for that Not because he felt her ould sell easily It wouldn’t Her paintings and drawings were dark, moody and didn’t really appeal to hie of work And if he were to display Tanni’s art, he’d have more of an opportunity to talk to Shirley Maybe not the most commendable of motives, but he couldn’t deny it

"When I saw Tanni before Christallery"

"You did?" Shirley’s gaze shot to hiood as Shaw, and she’s ht" He supposed that eventually she’d agree, but he hadn’t pressured her The girl seee She’d soon learn what a ht cynically

"I appreciate what you’ve already done for Shaw"

He shrugged Again, his motives had been far from pure Yes, Shaas talented, but Will knew very well that he ht if not for his connection to Shirley

"Ifor his wine