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Afterward, although she was tired and eager to get back to the room, Bethanne wandered into an antiques store in the Quarter and studied the cameos She owned a couple of them, which she treasured, but didn’t intend to collect more

"May I help you?" a pleasant clerk inquired

"Just looking, thanks," Bethanne said as she continued down the aisle Both Annie and Ruth had followed her inside They each found a different area to explore The wooden floors creaked with age as Bethanne exaot in so quite unusual, if you’re interested in a memento that’s out of the ordinary," the clerk said She ht out a small box

Inside was a plain fabric button Bethanne couldn’t see anything special about this particular button, other than its obvious age

"This was sewn in the collar of a Confederate uniform," the woman said as she reverently took the button from its protective box and held it in the palraph of it here" The clerk laid a picture of a tattered gray unifor men left for the War Between the States, their sweethearts would often soak a button in perfume Once it was dry they’d sew it into their loved one’s unifor the soldier of all he’d left behind That henever he was lonely for his home and his sweetheart, all he had to do was breathe deeply"

"That’s so ro to stand next to her mother

"How much is it?" Bethanne asked

The clerk named a price that shocked her "For a button? Thank you, but no That’s way out of e"

"Moed

Bethanne shook her head "What would I do with it?"

"Keep it as a souvenir of our trip," Annie said "It’s different and historical and so romantic"

Bethanne considered it for ajoined theht a nuirlfriends and Ruth purchased pralines to bring to her own friends at ho; she wasn’t inmood She missed Max

As soon as they returned to their hotel rooed into her pajamas and was asleep al e the opportunity to soak in the tub, Bethanne sought a quiet thirty minutes to herself A bubble bath was a luxury she hadn’t enjoyed in a while As she lay in the hot bubbly water, she closed her eyes

She was completely relaxed when Annie stepped into the bathroo, sweetie?" Bethanne asked

Annie didn’t say anything right away "I’lad Max isn’t here," she mumbled

"I know" Bethanne tried not to sound defensive

"I can see how hter’s concerns "You’re afraid Max ht ruin any chance of a reconciliation between your father and et back with your father But what you need to reo Our family will never return to the way it used to be You and Andrew are adults now I’d never attempt to convince either of you to enter a relationship you didn’t feel was right I expect the sahter blinked and then nodded

"We understand each other?"

Annie nodded again "Just pro"

"What is it?"

"Give Dad a chance Just give my dad a chance"

Twenty-Three

"Moital alarm by her side told her it was a little after three There was a strip of light under the door from the hallway, but except for that and the clock, the room was dark Grandma Hamlin snored softly in the other bed

"Hily

"Are you awake?"

"I am now," Bethanne said, and rolled onto her back

Annie stared at the ceiling "Are you ainst the pillows, and studied Annie "Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because of what I said about Max," she whispered "The thing is, I think I ht really like hi her feelings, and realized that Max and Rooster were good guys, kind and helpful She had no idea ould’ve happened at the lake if they hadn’t come by when they did

"You really care about hihed Her father could have put an end to this romance and he hadn’t More than that, he’d actually insisted they leave Bethanne alone to make her own decision Annie admired his attitude, which she viewed as brave and selfless, but she wanted to shout at hih Both her parents were such complicated people

"I do care about Max" Hermy mother fall in love with someone other than my father"

"I can’t say I’m in love with him, Annie It’s too soon for that I’m…infatuated with Max, but we haven’t faced any real difficulties yet I think it would be easy to fall in love with his work out so we can be together, but they ht?" She felt as if the drea at her feet

"I do care a great deal for your father I can’t disain "However, I doubt that you woke me up to chat about your father and hed, unsure where to start "I heard froain" She made it sound like he’d only emailed her a couple of times The fact was, Vance had contacted her nearly every day since he’d left for Europe with Matt and Jessie She hadn’t answered most of his emails

"You mentioned that he’s homesick and wants to coood until next year When he tried to change it, the airlines wanted to charge him for a whole new ticket He doesn’t have that kind of money and he can’t ask his parents He says the airline’s being unreasonable and I agree with hihts"