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Tentative as the situation between him and Mary Jo was, Mack didn’t feel he could involve his parents He slouched against the kitchen counter and rested his elbows there "I have my reasons"

"When do you plan to tell theured that out yet"

"Mack, if Mom finds out froh that wasn’t likely to happen

"So will Dad"

Mack knew that, too In hindsight, he wished he’d already ement to his parents

"Okay, I understand why you want to keep it a secret," Linnette surprised hi

"You do?"

"Of course You want to wait until you’re certain she wants to go through with the wedding The way things stand right now, you’re feeling hesitant--"

"It’s not me who’s hesitant It’s Mary Jo"

"Are you sure about that?"

No question "Very sure"

After a moment, Linnette asked, "Can I trust you with a secret, too?"

"Of course" His sister, however, had never really kept secrets She’d always been the hter, whereas Mack and his father often fought It worried hiement from his parents threatened the truce he’d established with his father He’d risked a great deal for Mary Jo and his biggest fear was that it was all for nothing

When Linnette wasn’t i secret?"

His sister’s voice dropped so low he couldn’t hear

"Say that again," he said

"Okay, fine, I will I’m married"

"You’re what?"

"Married"

"When?"

"December twenty-ninth On the drive back from Cedar Cove to North Dakota after Christas Neither of us had ever been before and it was sheer craziness

"At first, we couldn’t find even one hotel rooed to locate a room--there was just the one That’s when Pete said he didn’t care what the advertiseas doesn’t necessarily stay there, so we got a wedding license and got married the same day"

"You h it was obvious he’d fallen for her, and fallen hard Anyone with eyes in his head couldn’t possibly miss that Linnette had been more circumspect, especially around their parents, but she must’ve felt the same way "You married him because you could only find one hotel room?"

"Yes"

"Linnette, that’s insane!"

"Now just athe kettle black, I don’t knohat is"

She had hiue and tell her she hadn’t known Pete nearly long enough He wanted to say she had better sense than this Besides, less than a year ago she’d been crazy in love with Cal Washburn

"You’ve been ed Why keep it a secret?"

"Well…" Linnette exhaled slowly "I figured Mo wedding, so Pete and I decided there was no reason to say anything right away I proht we could have a second wedding there"

"Why not tell the to be upset about who you reed "But I was afraid they’d think I enuinely love hi so far away, it’s not hard to keep it a secret"

"So that’s what you plan to do? Say nothing and just go ahead with a second wedding?"

Linnette sighed deeply "I haven’t got that part worked out yet Getting married on the spur of the moment isn’t as simple as it seems"

Mack could sympathize

"We’ve beenwhen I’ to tell my fa Mack, I’ive her, considering that he’d phoned her with his own troubles, looking for help "I don’t know, either"

"You’re not upset with us, are you?"

"Of course not! I couldn’t be happier for you both"

"Thanks, Mack"

"I’d suggest you tell Moh"