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"Of course you do," Charlotte said arm sympathy

"When we returned from Hawaii, he made an effort to keep the house neat, but it didn't take hi to slip back into his old habits"

"That's a man for you," Charlotte said "With your father and me, e quarreled about was his tendency never to throw anything out I'd get annoyed and put ten-year-old bills in the trash and then he'd get annoyed" She sighed again, re now

"I know I have irritating habits, too," Olivia said "Mother, do you think I'm compulsive?"

Charlotte wasn't about to answer but it didn't matter; Olivia barreled on

"Just because I insist the cap be on the toothpaste and the towels hung evenly on the rack--that doesn't make me a neat freak, does it?"

"Everyone has a certain, uh, co to sidestep the issue She'd coo

"I can't believe I' to my ht Jack and I would argue soso horribly"

"Olivia, every couple argues It's healthy to clear the air"

Olivia nodded "I know But ere both so adamant in e said and now I think Jack's sorry he ever married me"

"I'm sure that's not true"

"He told me he'd had it with this diet I'd put hi it in the garbage But Mo on him because I want him to lose a few pounds All I want is for him to make healthier food choices"

"Of course you want hi a lot better e lived apart"

Charlotte was stunned "He didn't ain "I think he did, because right after that he left I wasn't letting him walk out onso childish?"

Charlotte had to ader of an argu when she was a little girl, too It used to upset her to the point that she'd make herself sick

"What should I do now?" Olivia pleaded "Should I just go back to the house and pretend nothing happened?"

"Well," Charlotte said, gently patting her daughter's shoulder "First of all, I' just as bad as you are You both need to ree is a ht two tubes of toothpaste"

"I did" she said indignantly "But Jack can't remember which one is his Half the time he can't find it, and mine's handy, so he uses it" She reached for her cup of tea and took a sip "Then he gets upset when I say so to Jack, it shouldn't make any difference"

"I know"

"You can't possibly know The other night I found an open jar of peanut butter on the kitchen counter The knife was still in it"

Charlotte dropped her jaw as though shocked

"Apparently Jack got up in the ht and made himself a sandwich"

"I take it peanut butter isn't on his diet?" Charlotte tried hard not to sood"

"Ob, dear"

Olivia raised her head at the sound of a car and she vaulted to her feet, dashing to the"Jack just pulled up out front" She squared her shoulders and looked back at Charlotte Then, as if she werea court decree, she declared, "Tell hi ridiculous Your car's parked in ray driveway I' to lie to your husband"

"Look at me, Mother! Just look at me I'm a sensible adult, or at least I was until I er I've never co to my mother in my life and no just look at me I'm a mess! I'll talk to Jack once I've had a chance to compose myself"

The doorbell chimed Olivia heaved in a breath "I need to freshen my makeup and I don't want him to know Oh, just tell him whatever you want"

Charlotte frowned

Olivia disappeared and Charlotte went to the front door Jack didn't seem surprised when she answered before he'd even knocked He had on his light raincoat, rumpled as usual, hands deep in his pockets

"Hello, Jack"

A scowl darkened his face He nodded "Hello, Charlotte"

"What can I do for you?"

"Do you have a estured him in "Of course Colanced around Charlotte noticed that his gaze lingered on the two teacups, but he didn't comment on the fact that Olivia was obviously at the house

"I heard a rumor this afternoon and wanted to see if it was true"

"Sit down," Charlotte invited soberly, trying to hide her a like kids--and as Olivia had said, even when she was a kid, she hadn't acted like this Still, amused or not, Charlotte orried; immature behavior could escalate and end in drastic consequences This was a good ive it the chance it deserved

He chose the wing chair and stroked Harry's head as he walked past the cat Harry remained unruffled by all these dramatics She envied him a little

"What did you hear?" Charlotte asked as she sat down again She picked up her knitting, hoping it would calm her