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"Much worse," Grace said "If you hadn't ia when you did, I would've met Will in New Orleans I would've slept with hi I believe I was head over heels in love with him Thank God I learned the truth when I did"

"Does Cliff know everything?"

"Not who I was involved with, just that I was"

"You went to hiized?"

She nodded "Twice But I coive It's over"

Olivia wasn't so sure "He could change his mind, you know Be patient Give hi to ret "If I needed proof of that, I got it a couple of weeks ago"

"How do you hthouse We talked for a fewere together He made it abundantly clear that he'd rather dine alone than share afor led with her composure

Olivia reached across the table to clasp her friend's hand She had sohts as her husband

Later that saht, dressed in her pajamas, Olivia sat on the queen-size bed, arms folded around her knees as she relayed the story to Jack

"I can't get over the fact that all along it was my own brother" It was still a shock

Jack frowned as if he too had trouble believing what she'd told hi?"

"She's brokenhearted Cliff doesn't want to see her anymore"

Jack tossed his jacket onto the chair beside the bed

Olivia pointed at it, silently relanced at the jacket and then at her Sighing, he grabbed it and found a hanger

"What do you think?" he asked, turning from the closet

"About Cliff?" She had to consider that for a moment "I don't know, but I'm sure he sincerely loved Grace at one time He doesn't sees on and off"

"Then there's hope"

Jack sat down on the bed as he pulled off his shoes With a proud grin, he lined theo in the downstairs hall closet, but Olivia didn't co the two of us back together," he said

"I know"

Jack slid his are of the bed "Do you also remember hoe met up the same day at the same movie? Accidentally on purpose?"

"Oh, yeah, that" She laughed at the memory Their problem, in Grace's opinion, was that they were both too stubborn for their own good

"I think e Grace Sherman a favor"

This perked Olivia up "Exactly what are you suggesting?"

He was quiet aup in July, isn't it?"

"The Dog and Bachelor Auction?"

Jack nodded thoughtfully "Just remember where there's a will, there's a way"

"Oh, Jack! What a terrible pun" She rolled her eyes "The fact that there's a Will is exactly what got in the way" Giggling, she nudged hih about soed her in return and they smiled at each other

Then she shook her head "Cliff isn't one of the bachelors Grace said he turned theee?"

Eyebrows raised, her husband stayed quiet

"Jack?"

With a move so fast he left her breathless, Jack swept her into his arainst him "Have I mentioned lately that you ask far too led again

He kissed her, and soon neither one of thele question to ask

Sixteen

With the television on in the fa the counted cross-stitch pattern Bob was out for the evening; he had his regular AAthat, he was off to the community theater to read for a part in the latest o

Peggy spent alrown accusto this time to herself Two of her favorite television shows aired on Thursdays and she could count on not being interrupted

She yawned and covered her mouth with one hand It'd been one of those days The rain had started early thatand hadn't let up all day Not a rarity for arden The rain had been a h, because she'd been inside when the phone rang that afternoon It was Hannah Russell

Apparently Roy McAfee had called her with a number of questions and she hadn't heard back froy hadn't knohat to tell her Unfortunately she didn't have any infortnation for her, either, but it was unlikely that she would The investigation into Maxwell Russell's death was out of her hands

Hannah had sounded anxious, and Peggy had tried to reassure her She wanted to help the young woather Hannah in her arirl was hurting, wandering aimlessly to escape her pain That wouldn't help, because wherever Hannah settled, the anguish would follow Cliched though it was, Peggy knew froreat healer

Deterbirds in flight so she could colanced down at the page and paused to rub her eyes Either theslasses She preferred to blame the people who printed the patterns This cross-stitch was for her daughter and she wanted to coh maybe she'd better choose another pattern for Marc's The oceanscape she'd bought ht be a little too complicated

The back door opened and she looked up It was early for Bob to be ho soht The naked dancing men are scheduled to arrive on Friday"

"Very funny" He stayed in the kitchen "Any of that fried chicken left?"