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It wasn't a question Troy could answer

"Max was found dead over a year ago I was supposedly in danger then, right?"

Sheriff Davis exchanged a concerned look with Peggy "I understand what you're saying, but we didn't know then e kno"

"I', and I won't do it again If soasped

"I' his arers with his "I refuse to live like that, looking over my shoulder all the time"

"Then perhaps you could compromise," Davis said "There's no need to invite soht want to harm you"

"What do you ainst the rounded edge of the pinewood table Peggy realized that despite his defiant words he was afraid His body language revealed what he was unwilling to admit

"I don't kno many reservations you have for the B and B, but I'd advise you to not take any more"

"We can easily cancel the ones we have," Peggy murmured Any number of businesses in toould welcoaze at Peggy "Would that make you more comfortable?"

She sed and nodded

Bob continued to look unsure, as if even this one concession was more than he felt inclined to make

"I've been worried ever since Jack and Olivia's wedding," she whispered

A week earlier, Bob had stood up as Jack Griffin's best man That was just a day or two before they'd learned Max Russell had been ht" Bob's voice was heavy with reluctance "We'll cancel the reservations"

"No guests," Peggy said

"No guests," he confirmed, "until this oing to hurt financially, but it didn'tthe reassurance that her husband was safe

"I'll do what I can to solve this quickly," Troy pro that would take

Two

Cecilia Randall stood on the navy pier and watched the aircraft carrier George Washington sail into SinclairInlet After sixin the Persian Gulf, her husband, Ian, was finally ho and diserated, sentimental Now she knehat it meant, how it felt Her heart swelled with love, pride and patriotism as the massive ship headed toward Bremerton

The other navy wives and hordes of friends and family crowded the pier Colorful banners waved in the wind, along with Welcons News helicopters fro the event for the five-o'clock broadcast The joy and excitement around her was infectious, despite the dreary, cloudy day Even the lead-gray skies and the threat of imminent rain didn't daround, and the A rippled in the breeze It could have been a Nor

Cecilia's dearest friends, two other navy wives, Cathy Lackey and Carol Greendale, stood with her, each holding a toddler against her hip whileshe'd be a ain herself

"I think I see Andrew," Cathy cried She screeched with happiness and waved one arm wildly above her head Then she pointed his daddy out to her young son

Three thousand sailors, dressed in white navy unifor the rail, feet apart, hands behind their backs, as they lined the periht deck At this distance it was impossible for Cecilia to find Ian The hipped at her face and she shouted and waved Perhaps Ian would see her

"Take Ahter toward Cecilia

She gladly held the toddler There'd been a tiht her pain Allison, Ian's and her baby daughter, was born the same week as Amanda Had she lived, Allison, too, would've been three years old But she'd died after clinging to life for only a few days Her death had ripped the nored convention and denied their divorce, they e statistics

"Ian, over here," Cecilia shouted, as she thrust one arh above her head "Do you see your daddy?" she asked Aht around Cecilia's neck, and she buried her face in Cecilia's shoulder

"There's Daddy, there's Daddy," Carol said, pointing to the aircraft carrier

Ahter again

An eternity passed before the gangplank was lowered and the sailors dises Soon there were reunions everywhere Cathy spotted Andrew and ran toward her husband, weeping with happiness

Cecilia searched frantically for Ian Then she saw him, tall and fit and tan, his dark hair visible beneath his white Navy cap The breath left her lungs at the sight of him and she burst into tears of joy

Not a ht up in her husband's ar her eyes as Ian brought his mouth to hers

Their kiss was slow, sensual and filled with sixand need By the time they'd finished, Cecilia eak and breathless Ian was hoain The universe could have dissolved around her and she wouldn't have cared

"I'veon to hi the nape of his neck There was so much to say, so ht then, however All she cared about was the feel of Ian's are that he was home and safe and hers, if only on loan from the United States Navy

"Oh, sweetheart, this has been the longest six ainst him Cecilia closed her eyes and savored thisfor

Ian had three days of shore leave and Cecilia planned to hts His return couldn't have been better planned As far as she could tell, these next few days were her fertile period

With his duffel bag over his shoulder, Ian reached for her hand as they walked toward the parking area Apparently she still wasn't close enough to suit him because he wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her to his side He smiled and his love washed over her likelike wariving warun and they walked a little faster, still gazing at each other

"I love you," she mouthed