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"Of us?" he asked quietly

"No…my son What Grant failed to realize when he left Bethanne was that she was the secret behind his success She filled the same role for him that I did for Richard" Ruth shook her head "It’s easy to take a wife for granted, I suppose" She raised her eyes toshe had to er woman"

"He wouldn’t be the first man to make that mistake," Royce said

"And I doubt he’ll be the last" Ruth sighed

Royce wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close "We still worry about our children, don’t we?" he es"

"I can’t helpinto Royce’s co bulk Grant wasn’t her only concern Robin was so sihter would end up just like Richard, consuined Robin dying young fro really lived

"Tellabout him

"Well…Peter, my oldest, is an attorney He’s married and has two children Maureen is a phar doctor with her dolls from the ti prescriptions and taking theest son, Kent, went into theGod in Haiti"

"Oh, Royce, it sounds like you have an incredible family" Ruth looked up at him

He nodded "I’ood wife," Ruth said

"I did," he agreed "The kids turned out well, le day"

"Who does Craig belong to?" Ruth asked

"He’s Maureen’s son He works with Kent part of the year in Haiti He’s still got a year ofthose who are suffering and in need of healing"

"He see man"

"He is, and he was quite taken with Annie" Royce winked as he said it

Ruth bea to join us for dinner, he said yes, but I could tell he wasn’t keen on the idea When I woke up thishtedly Annie was going to have plenty of ht That boy in Europe had so "Would you like a ride down the river?"

Ruth clutched at his hand, her face alight with pleasure "Oh, Royce, could we really?"

"Maybe we could take a stroll down memory lane, as well"

"That sounds heavenly"

"Do you reer?" he asked as he led the way to the river dock

"Of course He was a good friend of yours"

"Still is He’ll be at the reunion"

"What about Connie Keenan?" Ruth wondered

"Last I heard, she’d signed up, too"

Ruth clung to Royce’s arm as they stepped carefully across the planks of the dock He stopped just short of theto face her, he lifted his free hand to touch her cheek

"For me, the most important name on that list was yours Oh, Ruth, I can’t tell you how happy I aain"

Ruth couldn’t speak for the emotions that flooded her Tears pricked her eyes and she lowered her face so Royce wouldn’t see

"So aed "So a at the hotel, sleeping in late, while both Annie and Ruth went out for the day Annie took off early with Craig, and Ruth ith Royce Those two had been inseparable alht before Bethanne hoped they could resolve the past It see because they obviously both wanted the sa love, first love Grant had been Bethanne’s first love, and Ruth was right There was indeed so your heart away for the first tiht not be possible to recapture what they’d once shared, she’d always have herGrant

Grant