Page 35 (1/2)

Grace closed her eyes rather than look at him

"I want to love you, live with you, travel with you"

She longed to say yes, she really did, but she was afraid…

"You said, when youto ask ive anything to have the chance to hear that proposal because, , the answer is yes"

His reet to ask you, re such a jackass Then again, I’ Grace Sherman, I love you and I want to marry you Will you be my wife?"

She pressed her hand to her mouth and blinked rapidly Loneliness had been her constant companion since Dan’s disappearance Here was the opportunity to end that Without his saying it, she knew that if she refused, she’d never see Cliff again He’d leave, and it truly would be over

"Will you?" he asked, his eyes pleading with her

Grace sobbed once and nodded "Yes, oh, yes" Before she could draw another breath, she was in Cliff’s e the roses between them He kissed her until she eak in his arms, and then whispered in her ear, "I hope you don’t believe in long engage the very sa"

Thirty-Six

Cecilia met her friend Cathy for lunch on Saturday afternoon at the Pancake Palace They served a really nicelow all week and was badly in need of a pep talk

Cathy aiting for her when Cecilia walked in She sat toward the back of the rooorously Her four-year-old son wasn’t with her, which surprised Cecilia

"Where’s Andy?" she asked as she slid into the booth Seventhe fact any longer There wasn’t an inch to spare between her protruding belly and the table In another feeeks, it’d be too tight a squeeze and she wouldn’t be able to sit in a booth anymore

"Andy’s with friends on a play date," Cathy explained "I have all afternoon free, so after lunch we can do soht

Cecilia wished she shared her excitement To hide her mood, she reached for thelooked appetizing but she ? Aso then," Cathy announced

"That sounds perfect" Already Cecilia felt better "The mall or the commissary?"

"The mall," Cathy decided "We won’t be as likely to run into so"

"I wouldn’t mind, you know" Cathy was such a cheerful person to be around that she naturally attracted people

"Not today," her friend said "You and I need quality tiether That’s what Andreays says about him and me--but most of our quality time is spent in the bedroom" She smiled as she said it

The waitress came for their order; Cathy asked for the seafood salad and Cecilia ordered the turkey ith a cup of vegetable beef soup As soon as the wo water for both--Cathy folded her hands on the table and leaned forward

"Okay, what’s wrong?"

"What ?"

Cathy studied her carefully "I can see it in your eyes Besides, when you phoned, you didn’t sound very happy"

"I’ain?"

"He refuses to decide on a name," Cecilia blurted out "It’s ridiculous, and oh--he’s just so frustrating"

"He knows the baby’s a boy So what’s his probleestions for nanores nored that, too" This was the one thing Cecilia disliked about e-nored

"What are you going to do?" Cathy asked "Wait until after the baby arrives? You can’t call him Baby Randall for the rest of his life, you know"

"I do know I told Ian he had his opportunity and if he wasn’t going to estions, I’d choose the name I liked best without hi with curiosity, "what name have you chosen?"