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Mr Cox was already in the office when Cecilia arrived After a few minutes of their usual easy chat, she settled at her desk and ian her work The nausea al was the worst and odd though it seeot home The second bout was always less intense than the first

At noon Mary Lou, the receptionist, came into her office

"You have a visitor," she announced

"I do?" This was unexpected "Who is it?"

Mary Lou grinned "Why don't you come and see?"

Cecilia walked to the front of the office and there stood Ian with a s here?"

"I thought we'd go to lunch, if that's okay?"

"Of course it's okay Don't you have to work this afternoon?"

"I do, but I've got time to take my wife to lunch"

She was so pleased to see hiht her lunch

They got sandwiches and drinks at the Pot Belly Deli and walked to the WaterfrontPark, where they chose a relatively secluded picnic table

"I have so for you," he said as she unpacked their lunch

Ian reached inside his pocket and brought out a plain gold cross on a chain "I want you to wear this, all right?" Cecilia was stunned "Ian, it's beautiful Thank you" He walked over to where she was sitting and placed it around her neck and secured the clasp

"I haven't forgotten our anniversary or anything, have I?" she teased

"Nope"

"Any special reason you're giving ed and tried unsuccessfully to hide a sie-and-crea h?"

Tears rose in Cecilia's eyes Because of the pregnancy, all her hor set her off Not that this was snancy, was theand important moment they'd shared inrapidly

"You're crying?" Ian sounded surprised "I thought this would make you happy"

"I a?"

Then she was laughing, al at the sa a baby, silly"

"Oh" Ian took a bite of his sandwich

"And I love rinned "Who loves his wife and his baby"

Cecilia cried all the harder then

"Honey, don't cry Please"

"It's just that I was so afraid you didn't Love us, I ers around the s to be just fine this time, Ian"

His s to believe that"

"I know you are I'll do everything I can--and I feel it will be fine, but there are no guarantees"

That was one thing Cecilia understood

Thirty-Three

Bob Beldon glanced at the h it wasn't necessary He knehat he wanted Two eggs over easy, bacon, cooked crisp, and two pieces of sourdough toast with strawberry jam if they had it For two-fifty it was the best buy in town

The waitress strolled past and without asking, filled his coffee cup "You waiting on someone, hon?"

Bob nodded The instant he did, Roy McAfee stepped into the crowded restaurant

"Right on time," Bob commented as Roy slid into the booth across from him

"Have you ordered?"

"Not yet"

Pad in hand, the waitress returned, filled Roy'sfor their order Bob went first Roy asked for a short stack of pancakes The woman sauntered off and barked the order to the cook

"What's up?" Roy asked Bob had called hiy toldthe other day I've spoken to Troy Davis, but I wanted to get your opinion, too"

"Sure What is it?"

"Seey and Hannah had a little heart-to-heart"

"Did you learn anything?"

"Yes" Bob added sugar and cream, then stirred his coffee "Hannah let it slip that her father soather that through the years Max had amassed a whole slew of names and identifications"

Roy's eyebrows lifted "It didn't occur to her to bring this up earlier?"

"Apparently not"

Bob reviehat had led up to this confession "She left the ot a little upset because it spoiled After I went to play golf, Hannah cay From the way she described it, life with her father was no bed of roses, for her or her ative about him before, has she?"