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Justine sincerely doubted that

"You needed to see me?" she asked when she stepped into her husband’s office

Seth sat behind his desk "What did Warren want?" he asked her with a frown

"Not"Just to say hello" It was on the tip of her tongue to plead with hilass of ith an old friendto her anyarded her a uess I was rude to him--and to you"

She didn’t contradict him Instead, she walked around the desk and sat on his lap Slipping her arms around his neck, she rested her head on his shoulder "You’re the one I love"

"I know" He kissed the top of her head "I’m a jealous fool"

"We both need a vacation"

Seth snorted a laugh "That’s not going to happen anytime soon"

Justine knew that, but she could’ve done without the reminder

"Hey," he said, as if he’d suddenly rerander man shot out of the restaurant in quite a huff"

"That was Ben’s son, and you wouldn’t believe the afternoon I’ve had" She described how she’d snatched the check out of the other man’s hand When she’d finished, Justine was surprised to find her husband srand matter?"

"Not at all," Seth assured her "What I find a lot, tires squealing He hadn’t goneafter hi end to David’s visit

Twenty-Two

Ever since Thanksgiving, when the floral arrange uneasy For the first tiun to show up, she felt she kneas responsible The postcards had so far been addressed to Roy However, she suspected they should’ve been addressed to her, too

The person in question had nothing to do with Roy’s police background, but everything to do with the two of the this killed her Christmas spirit, but for Roy’s sake and Linnette’s, she’d made the effort The tree was up and the house decorated She’d even baked Roy’s favorite cookies and given batches of fudge to Linnette and Mack

On Saturday afternoon, Roy sat reading the paper and watching television at the same tio to a movie?" she asked Today was unusual in that they didn’t have weekend plans Even

"Not really"

"Would you like to invite the Beldons to dinner?" Corrie didn’t feel like cooking, but she needed so to occupy her mind, otherwise she’d sink into an abyss of memories

Roy lowered the newspaper "Isn’t that a bit last-uess"

Her husband laid the paper on the floor "So you, isn’t it?"

She nodded, hesitant even now toout his ared her hard, and she sighed contentedly as they sat together on the sofa She couldn’t recall when they’d last cuddled like this Their lives were so busy and, with Linnette living in Cedar Cove, Corrie should be happy Butabout those postcards again?" Roy asked

"A little…I’ve been wondering about so I realize we promised never to discuss it, but do you think--could it possibly be--"

"No" The as clipped, abrupt, shutting her out

"But--"

"Just like you said, Corrie, we proain and we haven’t It isn’t the person you think, so you can drop that idea"

"You know this for a fact?"

"No Coo"

"I know" Like dusk, sadness settled over her and she leaned closer to her husband Roy ht not want to talk about it, but that didn’t stop her froet and, for a while, she’d succeeded No it seeo to thatCorrie to her feet

"Okay" She went to collect her coat and when she got back, she saw that Roy was ready, too They drove to the sixplex cinema on the hill; because they hadn’t bothered to check times, they chose the next available movie, which started in half an hour