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A week later, as she sat in her "Theories of Learning" class, taking notes, her deterhts of Paul out of her mind forever; instead, he was constantly there

What upset her most was the cold-blooded way in which he’d dismissed her froone for hi That hurt, and it didn’t stop hurting

Ruth blinked, forcing herself to listen to the lecture If she flunked this class, Paul Gordon would be to blame

After class she walked across cae to hurry But when her cell phone rang, she nearly dropped her purse in her eagerness Could it be Paul? Had he changed his et her, the sah her ed to answer

"Hello?" She realized she sounded excited and breathless at the satireeted her They talked for a few ed to meet at the library at the end of the week Four minutes after she’d answered her cell, it was back in her purse

She was too restless to sit at hoht since her last date with Paul, so she decided to go out That hat she needed, she told herself with strained enthusias to do, soh it was midafternoon, she took the bus down to the waterfront, where she’d ht That wasn’t a s with memories Before she could talk herself out of it, Ruth hopped on the Brerand else could Besides, if Helen felt strong enough, she wanted to hear the rest of the story, especially the role her grandfather had played

As she stepped off the foot ferry from Bremerton to Cedar Cove, it occurred to Ruth that she should’ve phoned first But it was unlikely her grandured she could wander around Cedar Cove for a while That would help fill the void threatening to s her whole

The trudge up the hill that led to her grand Funny, when she’d been with Paul, the clihing and joking with him, she remembered--and wished she hadn’t Alone, hands shoved in her pockets, she felt drained of energy

Reaching 5-B Poppy Lane, she saw that the front door to her grandh the old-fashioned wooden screen was shut The last re tulips bloo up the steps, Ruth rang the doorbell "Grandma! Are you hoh her Had sorandmother? She pounded on the door and was even rande came toward her

"Hello," the older lady said pleasantly "Can I help you?"

"I’rand it open "Youyou I’m Charlotte Rhodes"

"Charlotte," Ruth repeated "Helen’s spoken of you so often It’s wonderful toRuth’s hand "I’m happy to make your acquaintance"

Ruth nodded, but she couldn’t help blurting out, "Is anything wrong withon the patio, talking and knitting Helen’s counting stitches and asked et the door She assuet rid of hiood at that Just the other day, a Girl Scout caht four boxes, she announced that every kid co Especially for charity"

Ruth grinned "I think randmother must be like that, too"

"Why do you think she sent randmother’s decided to knit a Fair Isle sweater It’s her first one and she asked et her started"

"Perhaps I should come back at a more convenient time?" Ruth didn’t want to interrupt the toive s to head on ho" Charlotte led the way through the house to the patio

As soon as Ruth stepped onto the brick patio, her grandmother’s eyes lit up with pleasure "Ruth! What a welcome surprise"

Ruth bent forward and kissed Helen’s cheek

Charlotte Rhodes collected her knitting, saying she’d talk to Helen at the Senior Center on Monday, and left

"Sit down, sit down," Helen urged,at the chair next to her "Help yourself to iced tea if you’d like" Strands of yarn rapped around both index fingers as she held the needles One was red, the other white "You can find a glass, can’t you?"

"Yes, of course, but I’hts and sounds of Cedar Cove The earth in her grandarden s Inhaling deeply, Ruth sat down, staring at the cove with its sparkling blue water

"Where’s Paul?" her grand for the first time that he wasn’t with her