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"I'ain"
He smiled--a smile obviously calculated to melt her stony heart "I refuse to believe you're serious Okay, you have a right to be angry, but I can't divorce Georgia It would devastate her But if that's the only way I can have you, then--"
Grace raised her hand to stop hio"
He frowned again, like a petulant child, but finally left All of a sudden Grace started to shake Her knees felt like they were about to give way and she sank into the folding chair in the ani the kitten on her lap, she closed her eyes and took in several cal breaths
"Grace"
She opened her eyes to find Cliff standing there "Are you all right?" he asked "You look pale"
"I'm fine," she lied She'd hoped he'd come here today, wished for just this moment, but not immediately after a confrontation with Will
"No, you're not fine," he said bluntly "That was Will Jefferson, wasn't it?"
So Cliff had seen her talking to Will Her first thought was to defend herself, to explain that she wanted nothing e tears filled her eyes and trailed down her cheeks
"You cared about him, didn't you?"
"No," she cried, and knew that was a lie "Yes fool that I was I did care at one time, but not anyive up on the two of us I tried to and I'd almost succeeded but then Lisa--"
"You spoke to Lisa?"
Grace winced; she was onlymatters worse
"You and Lisa talked?" he repeated
Grace nodded, sing hard "She carateful she did"
"What did she say?"
Grace stared down at the sleeping kitten in her lap "She said you loved me, too"
He dropped into a crouch so they were at eye-level and tucked his finger beneath her chin "That hen you started this e-ain She wondered if her barrage of es had succeeded This was the first time they'd actually talked face-to-face, and she wanted to throw her arms around his neck Well, except for the kitten, of course
Cliff held her gaze for the longestaway
"Did it work?" she whispered
At first she didn't think he was going to answer, but then he gave her a lightning-quick snore"
"I a inside her chest "Really?"
"Before I knew it, I was hurrying to thethere'd be a note frootten her into thisback what she'd lost
"Are you willing to giveher breath for fear of what he in slowly"
She bit her lower lip "Thank you"
Cliff wiped the tears from her cheeks "How about if we have a cup of coffee and talk once you're finished here?"
Grace nodded, so happy she was afraid she'd start crying again Maybe they could attend Charlotte's wedding together She hardly dared hope
Forty-One
Cecilia knocked lightly on her elanced up fro when he saw her
"I wanted to remind you that I have a doctor's appointaze went to his appointment calendar "Ah, yes, I see that now As it happens, Rosie and I are taking the afternoon off ourselves"
Her employer had escaped with his wife for several afternoons this su the excite in love, the passion of their early years "Will Allison be co in today?"
Mr Cox nodded absently "Rosie's teaching her how to knit Her first project is a blanket for your baby"
Cecilia had proudly shared the news of her pregnancy with Allison a week earlier "That's so sweet of her"
Mr Cox shter, and this is so she wanted to do for you"
All Cecilia had really done was listen to the girl She'd been going through a difficult time after her parents' divorce, but she seemed to have made a complete turnaround
"Leave whenever you need to, Cecilia"
"The ultrasound is scheduled for two-thirty"
"Is your husband going with you?" Zach asked
Cecilia nodded "He wouldn't miss it for the world"
"Good I'll see you in thethen"
Cecilia returned to her desk, her spirits high Every day was special The dreadedsickness had slowly disappeared, just as it did the first tinancy, Ian was a hundred percent supportive, his attitude one of eager anticipation She felt more confident than ever in her husband's love
At two-thirty, Ian aiting for her at the navy hospital, pacing the hallway outside the technician's office
"I'm here," she said
Ian hurried over to her "How are you feeling?"
"All right Just as irin was so sexy, it was all she could do not to kiss hi to see a picture of our baby"