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"That sounds fabulous"

"Good" Rachel handed her a filled plate and a pair of chopsticks

Maryellen sat cross-legged on the sofa while her two friends arranged ottomans on the other side of the coffee table The three of the into their lunch as Teri explained that it was from a new take-out place on the outskirts of Cedar Cove They all proclaiain Teri had been considerate enough to leave a uys just want to order in"

"I think I should cut your hair short," Teri said next "Really short You’ve got better things to do than fuss with your hair"

Maryellen set it combed every day "Jon won’t like that"

"Hey, he isn’t the one who has to wash it and brush it," Teri said "He’ll get used to it"

Maryellen could iine how he’d react The last time she’d had more than a trim was soon after Katie’s birth Until then, Maryellen had worn her dark hair long and straight, reaching the middle of her back, much as it did now Jon had never actually said he didn’t like her new style, but she could sense that he’d been disappointed He often told her how lossy hair, how beautiful he found it

"Okay, what do you mean by short?" Maryellen asked

Teri’s dark eyes twinkled "Wait and see"

"I hope you realize I can’t afford this," she felt obliged to remind her friends

"That’s not your concern," Rachel was quick to tell her "It’s all been taken care of"

"And," Teri added, "included in the fee was a enerous tip"

"Who did this?" Maryellen asked, although she could guess

"Your fairy godfather," Rachel told her "That’s all I’ to say"

"Cliff" Just as Maryellen had thought Her new stepfather, Cliff Harding, had arranged this

"Like I said," Rachel scolded, drawing two fingers across her mouth, "my lips are zipped"

The next two hours were such a pleasure Teri washed her hair in the sink, and while she cut, dried and styled it, Rachel worked on her nails God bless Cliff for this--and so much else Ever since her mother and Cliff had htful ossip," Maryellen said as the tomen continued their beauty treatest news is that Nate Olsen’s back in town"

Nate was the young warrant officer Rachel had been seeing Her friend had an auous relationship with a er naone on for three--or was it four?--years Then this navy man had entered her life Maryellen wondered which one Rachel would eventually choose

"Would you stop!" Rachel cried "Nate and I are dating casually, that’s all"

Maryellen doubted the "casual" part but didn’t co how close Rachel was to Bruce’s daughter, Jolene

"We’re just friends" She brushed off the questions, sounding a bit is for Bruce went deeper than she realized

"You knohat I don’t understand?" Teri said, expertly wielding her scissors "Rachel has two le one"

"You should’ve put in your bid at the bachelor auction," Rachel teased, referring to the charity event at which she’d "bought" Nate

"Those men were far too expensive forpieces of hair fell to the floor

She bent to gather up Maryellen’s hair "Want to donate this tofor a cancer patient?" she asked

"Sure!" Maryellen felt good about giving to someone in need--especially since she’d received so much herself "That’s a wonderful idea"

A few minutes later, Teri switched on the television to check the weekend weather "Hey," she said, stepping back from the screen as the local news broadcast concluded "There’s a big chess cha to Seattle"

"Do you like chess?" Maryellen asked

Teri shrugged "I don’t know much about it It’s a lot like checkers, isn’t it?"

Rachel and Maryellen exchanged looks

"Well, not really," Rachel answered "It’s a little more complicated"

Soon after the tomen finished, packed up their supplies and left, Jon and Katie got home He seemed exhausted and Katie did, too When Jon saw Maryellen, he did a double take

"Do you like it?" she asked tentatively, putting her hand to her head Then she went on to explain how this change in her appearance had co her hair for a cancer wig

Jon nodded "That’s great," he said "And I love your new look I’ve always liked your hair long but this is…nice Nice," he repeated "It suits you and I can see that it’s much more practical"

Maryellen was pleased at his response, which seeht to her Katie crawled into her lap then and laid her head against Maryellen’s shoulder Within irl was fast asleep Maryellen settled Katie on the sofa beside her

She didn’t ask Jon how his day had gone His weary expression told her everything she needed to know He’d spent the day doing errands--getting groceries, fil the library