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"Don’t look so worried," she said "It’s probably nothing"

"Probably," Karen agreed, but her gaze didn’t waver from the letter

Maureen read over the three brief paragraphs--twice, the second ti each word carefully to be sure there was no

"Well?" Karen prodded "What’s he want?"

"It says here that according to the terned certain holidays for visitation"

"So? He’s never wanted me for any of them before"

"I know, but apparently he’s had a change of heart" Maureen didn’t care to speculate what had brought all that about "It says here that he’s co you back to the house early Christ"

Karen’s mouth formed into a small O "Is that all?"

Maureen nodded Her hand trembled as she folded the letter and returned it to the envelope

"You don’t care if I spend Christmas Eve with Dad, do you?"

"Of course I don’t h clenched teeth Brian didn’t deserve ti to her upbringing, financially or e hiher than he had as a husband

By the time Thom arrived Maureen felt as if she needed to talk to her attorney, Susan Gold, and find out what Karen’s rights were in all this She was on the phone on what seemed permanent hold when Karen let him into the house

"I’ll only be aher hand over the , and her daughter was sending little glances her way as if she’d rather be listening to what Maureen was saying instead of entertaining Thom Maureen tossed her a desperate plea for patience

The receptionist came back on the line a minute later and informed Maureen that Susan was in court for the afternoon and would be tied up with this current case until after the holidays She did proe to Susan, however

"Well, that’s just Jim dandy," Maureen muttered, and replaced the telephone receiver She placed her hands over her face and tried to calet out of this trip, she’d do it Karen’s welfare was , even her job

"Maureen," Tho news?"

"Not really," she said, offering Karen a reassuring shter to overhear the conversation "Could you get my suitcase for me, sweetheart?"

"It’s too heavy for uilelessly froain

"Not this tiht case"

"Oh" Karen sounded terribly disappointed

"I got a letter from my husband’s attorney," Maureen whispered as soon as Karen was out of earshot "He wants Karen to spend Christmas Eve with him"

"And you object to that?"

"No…yes," she revised heatedly "You’d have to know Brian to understand why this distressesto hurt Karen the same way he hurt me He’ll build up her hopes, ply her with pro I can see it all happening, and I refuse to sit by and do nothing"

"Do you have any legal grounds on which to refuse hirounds should be enough" She felt vehe her father?"

As if by o, Mohtly She plopped down on the sofa and folded her ar to Dad’s for Christmas Eve"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Should I take his neife and baby a Christift?"

13

"Sit down and we’ll have a cup of coffee before your flight boards," Thoested He scooted into the both across fro"

"I can’t help it" Maureen had been in turmoil from the moment the letter arrived from Brian’s attorney

"It seems to me Karen isn’t nearly as upset as you are"

"Of course she isn’t," Maureen said, irritated that he didn’t appreciate her circu, healthy relationship He couldn’t possibly understand what she and Karen had endured because of Brian

"Then it seeo and enjoy herself"

"You don’t understand," she said, shaking her head