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"Jack," said Lindsey

She had appeared behind Nina and crossed in front of her to reach Barrett She wore the regal and slightly forced s queen and if she felt any anxiety over seeing her husband conversing with Nina and n of it that I could detect

Barrett’s eyelids pricked up like an animal’s ears when he heard his wife’s voice, and he reached for her the way a child ht reach for a butterfly He took her hand, nodded toward me, and announced, "Look who I found"

"McKenzie," Lindsey said and kissed ether earlier"

"Yes, I noticed," Barrett said "Danced awfully close, I thought" Toa call fro"

"Hey," I said "Look at the ti"

"Don’t even think about it," Nina told ive me," said Barrett "Lindsey, this is Nina Truhler"

"Nina, I enjoyed your performance very much," Lindsey told her as they shook hands

"Thank you," said Nina

"What a lovely gown"

"You’re very kind"

"I’m also very tired," said Lindsey "Excusehome"

"We are?" said Barrett

"Jack," Lindsey said "You ht no "

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you’re flying to Washington in the "

"Don’t worry about it Let’s dance"

Lindsey turned to Nina and me

"You kids," she said "I bet you could dance until they rolled up the floor, go out for a nightcap, maybe a moonlit walk"

"Huet up at the crack of dawn and be fresh as a daisy" She turned back to her husband "Re me old?"

Lindsey crossed her are received," he said "Good night, Nina McKenzie And hey," he added, looking first at Nina and then glancing at "

I felt o soft as I watched John and Lindsey Barrett disappear down the corridor beyond the bandstand It can’t be, my trusted voice announced There is just no way Followed by, What the hell is going on?

"Mac, are you okay?"

I took Nina’s arainst my shoulder