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"What will you do this ht I’d laze by the pool and read I have ot plenty to do Don’t worry about me" She waved a hand at Ruth "Enjoy your day with Royce"

"I will" Ruth glanced at her watch

"Everything all right between you?" Bethanne asked Ruth in a ful tone

Ruth shifted uncomfortably "I…I don’t know yet I haven’t really had a chance to talk to hi" She shot Bethanne an anxious look "I’ll call you this afternoon, okay?"

"Of course" Bethanne blew her a kiss and Annie sent her off with a big smile Certain that she was a few minutes early, Ruth headed into the lobby in search of a newspaper and a cup of coffee To her surprise, Royce was already waiting, his newspaper unfolded in front of hi him made her pulse race uncontrollably It see with hie she’d spoken as a child But could he ever forgive what she’d done?

Royce refolded his newspaper and stood "Ruth…" he began, and then fell silent

"You’re early," Ruth said nervously "I hardly slept last night," she confessed, hoping he could read as on her mind

Royce frowned and looked away "I didn’t sleep "

He nodded "I suppose we should" Reaching for her hand, he tucked it in the crook of his arm "We have a lot to discuss, but before we do, I want you to knohat bliss it’s been to see you again"

"I feel the same" Ruth had never expected to have a second chance with his between them

He escorted her to his car, and opened her door the way he had when they were teenagers Royce had always been a gentlehteen

Instead of driving to his home on the river, he went in the direction of Orchid Island

"Where are we going?" Ruth asked

"I thought we’d start the day with a glass of freshly squeezed Indian River orange juice"

She guessed he was taking her to his childhood horoves, didn’t he?"

"He did" Royce grinned over at her "My brother bought him out"

"Arnie?" She squinted at him in astonishment

"Benny," Royce corrected He was the oldest in the faot to the property, he drove right in, along a row of perfectly aligned orange trees, stopping at the end "Rehed "How could I forget it?"

"Even my children and their children know the story of hoe arrived at the dance looking like a pair of lanced at her "Did I understand you right? Didn’t you say that Bethanne and Grant are divorced?"

"They are"

"They looked like a couple to ed herself "They did, didn’t they? I can’t tell you how thrilled I aain We came upon some bikers--motorcyclists--on the road… Well, Bethanne see to one of theht actually be falling for this guy"

"That didn’t seeht"

"From your lips to God’s ear," Ruth said fervently "Grant went through a midlife crisis," she said by way of explanation

"Which led to the divorce, I take it?"

"It did, but thankfully he realized how foolish he’s been I’h to see what’s truly iet his family back"

"I wish hi breath and forged ahead, fearing that if she put this off any longer, she wouldn’t have the courage to say it later "Speaking of being foolish, I--I want to apologize for the way I ended things…" She turned in her seat to face hionized overI could rewrite that part of our history…" She let her words trail off A knot had formed in her throat She didn’t list her offenses; he knew the you pain I was young and so foolish and I wish--" Her voice cracked

In the silence that followed, Royce placed his hand over Ruth’s, which still clenched her purse strap