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Lately Cal had been in town more often because of his visits to the speech therapist He usually stopped in to see her on the way to his appointress he’d made in such a short ti the finishing touches on the table," Linnette said "You want to help me?"

"Linnette" Her father’s voice betrayed soood form to ask him to set the table"

"Yes, Daddy," she rinned back and sat down on the sofa Her father handed him a section of newspaper, which Cal accepted

Linnette returned to the kitchen "The least Dad could do is talk to him," she told her mother

Corrie shook her head "You know your father"

"This is the man I’ll probably ht up the subject of e yet, but as far as Linnette could tell, they were definitely headed in that direction

The doorbell rang again, and before anyone could answer, Mack walked into the house bearing a tall lily with three huge blooms Her brother had trimmed his hair and actually looked decent Well…halfway decent This was an effort to appease their father, Linnette guessed He wore jeans, sandals and a flowered shirt that htly He needed a wo Lucky followed him in and settled by the fireplace

"Happy Easter, everyone," he said "When’s the Easter egg hunt?"

"You’re too old for chocolate bunnies," Corrie laughed, co out of the kitchen She kissed her son on the cheek and made a fuss over the lily, then placed it in the center of the dining room table

Cal stood, and the two men shook hands Linnette was immediately concerned She hadn’twith a speech therapist and feared Mackthat would unintentionally embarrass hiether, as if he was ready to start eating that in as soon as Gloria gets here"

"You mean you didn’t make those little cheese rolls?" Mack asked, clearly disappointed

"Yeah," Roy said, setting aside the newspaper "What about a few appetizers to tide us over?"

"They’re co," Corrie said "Roy, could you see what everyone wants to drink?"

"Mom bakes these little cheese-filled biscuits Mack loves," Linnette explained for Cal’s sake "You’ll want to taste them, but don’t overdo it or you’ll ruin your dinner"

"I won’t," he promised

"No matter what holiday it is, Mack wants Mo Christ Day," her brother added, as their father got to his feet to offer drinks

"They sound good," Cal agreed

"I’ll have a beer, Dad"

"Me, too, Mr McAfee," Cal put in

Mack suddenly turned to him "Hey, Cal--"

Linnette kicked his ankle

"Ouch What was that for?" Mack demanded

Linnette blushed "Oh, sorry, did I kick you?"

"Yes, and it hurt" Her brother rubbed his ankle

"Come help me in the kitchen, would you?" she said pointedly and half dragged her brother out of the living room As soon as they were out of earshot, she whispered fiercely, "Don’t e a speech therapist about his stutter Having everyone comment only calls attention to it"

"The only person e Cal," her brother said in a whisper, "is you Give the guy a break"

"What are you talking about?"

"You’re suffocating hi to lose him"

Linnette started to tell her brother he was being ridiculous but then the doorbell rang a third time Gloria had arrived She still wore her police unifore," she said, "I hope that’s all right"

"Where’s Chad?" Linnette asked She knew that Chad Timmons, the physician she worked with at the clinic, was interested in Gloria

"I didn’t ask him to join us," Gloria said as she re in the hallway closet

Linnette was disappointed for Chad, who’d been hoping for an invitation

"Can we eat now?" Mack asked impatiently

"Did I hold up dinner?" Gloria wanted to know