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Thirteen

"This is such a treat," Maryellen said, slipping into the booth across from her mother at the Wok and Roll, her favorite Chinese restaurant

"Just consider it an early birthday gift," Grace replied as she glanced up fros with you and Cliff?" Maryellen asked She didn’t bother with theevery ti other than the chicken hot sauce noodles, but couldn’t make herself do it The small family-owned restaurant ordered the thick rice noodles from the International District in Seattle Maryellen could slurp up those noodles every day, she enjoyed them so much

Her mother set aside the menu and there was such a depressed look on her face that Maryellen was shocked "Moiven up on Cliff," Grace said matter-of-factly

"You don’t mean that" Maryellen reached across the table and squeezed her mother’s hand

"I do In reality, I don’t have any choice"

"No" Maryellen couldn’t believe it "I thought you were going to fight for him What happened?"

Grace told her about the night of their big dinner date She’d since learned froht had survived Hearing this from someone other than Cliff only seeain/off-again relationship

Maryellen understood Grace’s frustration Herto be a new beginning for her and Cliff And then the evening had turned out to be such a disappointht I understand the stallion was in a life-threatening situation That I could have accepted But Cliff had obviously forgotten he’d even askedthere et out of having dinner with ree with you," her mother said, "but I was there, Maryellen I’ve learned to trust my instincts and that was the way I felt Much as I don’t want to believe it, I know I’ht"

Maryellen hated to see this relationship end, especially since Grace had worked so hard to win Cliff back Until now, Maryellen had found hihtful and sensitive to her mother--far more than her own father had ever been "You mean to say that after teeks Cliff hasn’t even tried to phone?" she asked, incredulous

Her es a couple of times"

"Well?" Maryellen looked at her sternly "Did you return his calls?"

Her mother’s smile was sad "Olivia thinks I should, too, but I can’t" She sighed so dejectedly that Maryellen yearned to hug her and reassure her

"Why not?" Maryellen really didn’t understand this

She recognized from the stubborn way her mother shook her head that Grace wouldn’t call him "Olivia says I’m a fool not to, but Maryellen, you have to realize how de it was, hoful I felt--it’s hard to explain Sad as it is to ad beyond what happened with Will" She paused; she’d never told her daughters the whole story, but Maryellen had pieced it together "As far as he’s concerned, I cos to be different, heinside hiHe wouldn’t have phoned if that was the case"

Grace shook her head again "I’rets what happened, but there’s no need to drag this out any longer I doubt he’ll phone again and after soht have talked herself into that decision, but Maryellen didn’t believe she was fine with it at all The very first time she’d met Cliff and seen him with her ether "Do you renant with Katie?" Maryellen asked

"Of course"

"I was convinced I didn’t need Jon and that I could raise the baby on my own Remember?"

A smile touched her mother’s eyes "You were so deterh to think I could do everything by myself before Katie was born, but afterward…it was a different story" Never would she have ihts Maryellen had only ed to sleep in twenty-or thirty-minute stretches--if at all A rash of ear infections kept Katie up at night screa part of his daughter’s life and wanted to share the responsibility of raising her Maryellen had quickly seen that Katie needed him, and so did she "The si--and I rong Maybe you are, too"

As Grace began to reply, Elaine, the owner’s wife, came for their order and predictably Maryellen chose her chicken hot sauce noodles Grace asked for Wor Wonton Soup

When Elaine had left their table and gone back to the kitchen, the restaurant door opened and in walked Cliff Harding

Maryellen leaned toward her mother "Don’t look now, but Cliff just came in"

Grace stiffened "Did he notice us?"

There wasn’t time to answer Cliff walked directly over to their table and smiled down at both wo her hand "This is a pleasant surprise"

He acknowledged her, and removed his Stetson as he turned toward her mother "Grace," he said with a curt nod

"Hello, Cliff" Her ht ahead

Maryellen admired her poise in this aard situation She watched as Grace slowly glanced up and offered Cliff the scantest of s et in touch with you"

"Would you care to join us?" Maryellen asked, ignoring the daggers herat her