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She stilled "We?"

"Sullivan and me He and I have slowed down some over the years, but we haven't come to a complete stop Not yet, at any rate"

She didn't knohat to say "You know?"

"Sullivan spotted the likeness the night you hosted that show for Lillian's paintings down at your little gallery Soon as he pointed it out, I finally realized why there had always been so sort of familiar about you" He smiled faintly "You look a lot like Claudia did when she was your age Sa about your profile, too, I think The way you hold yourself"

"But how did you--"

"SullivanWasn't hard to find the connection"

"I see" She was feeling a little stunned, she realized Maybe a little deflated, too Sobombshell

"Not like you tried to hide it," Mitchell said

"No, but I certainly didn't want to iven what happened in the past and all"

Mitchell reached down and plucked a lush orange-gold blooet, the less it ears as she adjusted to the turn of events "If Sullivan made some calls, you probably know about Aunt Claudia" She took a deep breath "That she's gone, I aze was steady and a little sad "Heard she passed on a year and a half ago Heart proble inside Eighteen ht back the tears "She never arettes In the end, the doctor said it was a as she did"

"I re for the next one Had herself a fancy little gold lighter I can still see her taking it out of her purse to light another sht here Are you telling me that you and Sullivan don't care that I'm related to Claudia Banner?"

"Of course we care But it's not exactly what you'd call a problem for us"

"Oh" She was not sure how to respond to that

"Can't say eren't a bit curious at first, though," he added dryly

"I can i? Ask questions? De or afternoon when I'm in town to say hello I must have talked to you dozens of times since Lillian's show But you never said a word I've seen Sullivan on several occasions, too He never gave any indication that he kneho I was"

"It was your personal business Sullivan and I talked about it soured we'd let you tell us in your own tiht about that for a while "Did you, uh, ht to anyone else?"

"Nope Didn't figure it was anyone else's affair"

"Believe ot out that Claudia Banner's great-niece was in town and that she had become friends with the Madisons and the Hartes, there would be no end to the wild rumors and speculation That's exactly why I kept a low profile"