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"Oh, Jon"

"It’s all right," he said soothingly "Everything’s going to be all right"

Maryellen so badly wanted to believe hiht her breakfast to the table, although she could barely eat

Jon left shortly afterward, and Maryellen tried hard to conceal her feelings when Ellen and Joseph caet Katie dressed, while Joseph washed the few soiled dishes and straightened the books that were scattered around the living roo, he took Katie outside for a walk in the sunshine, and Ellen brought Maryellen a cup of tea "I thought I’d ," she said "It used to be one of Jon’s favorites"

"I’m sure he’ll appreciate it," Maryellen said, but she had to wonder if Jon would even notice

Fourteen

Justine was grateful to hear from her mother and even happier to see her Late Wednesday afternoon they rown up and where Olivia still lived In a sense, Justine would always think of it as home Leif had a play date with a friend froood to be with Olivia, just the two of the an intervieith Pastor Fle about the church’s ith hurricane relief," her mother explained as she carried the teapot and a plate of oatmeal cookies to the kitchen table

This was Olivia’s way of telling her that the ti of this visit was intentional--a chance for the two of theined sharing her troubles with herof importance Now it seemed only natural to do so

"What do you want to talk about?" Justine asked If her ed this time to make sure they weren’t interrupted, then there had to be a reason

Olivia glanced up frouess I wasn’t very subtle, was I?"

"It’s all right, Mohter--you don’t need to be subtle withfirst?" Olivia set the teapot in the center of the table, then took her seat

Justine reached for her cup and added a teaspoon of sugar, o back to work part-time for First National Bank" She said this casually, as if it were a s It wasn’t "I’ll be out of the house for part of every day" She was silent for areason "Getting away from Seth helps me deal with all the stress," she admitted She had to either spend time away from her husband for a few hours every day, while Leif was in preschool, or slowly go insane She was relieved that Seth had talked to Larry Boone about taking the job at the boatyard but as yet nothing had come of it She didn’t know if the hesitation was due to Seth or the other man Seth was so volatile that Justine hadn’t asked for fear of causing proble with Seth had felt like being trapped His thoughts and all his efforts see the arsonist Despite their brief atte the tension between them, Seth was as driven as ever The fire had consu that had housed their restaurant; it had consury, unreasonable person wasn’t the er knew hi this job?" her ar had dissolved but Justine continued her gentle stirring "I…haven’t told him yet, but I don’t think he’ll care one way or the other" She doubted he’d even realize she was gone

"Oh, Justine" Her mother read the pain in her response She leaned across the table and laid one hand over hers

"The funny part is, I forgot to pick up store the other day and then I thought, why bother? Seth hasn’t even come near me since the fire"

"He’s upset"

Seth waslove couldn’t cory Every bit of tenderness in hione All that ree

"To say he’s upset doesn’t even begin to cover it, Moy and determined to find out who started the fire It’s becory, too, and he can’t understand why I’m not"

Olivia sipped her tea and sat back "You’re angry about this," she murmured "Aren’t you?"

"Yes, of course I a to look at this the way I would any other traumatic event We need to move on"

"And Seth’s not ready to do that?"

"No And er coiven up reasoning with Seth Any sort of acceptance on her part, or desire to advance to soered him further

"He spoke to Jack recently," her htfully

This was news to Justine, but then she knew little of what Seth did these days

"He approached Jack about putting a picture of that pewter cross in the paper Apparently that was Roy’s idea He and Seth think soive the sheriff a lead At this point, the investigation’s stalled"

"Is Jack going to do it?"

Her mother selected a cookie from the plate "I believe he said he’d talk to the sheriff first and see if that would help or hinder the investigation"

Since Seth rather than the sheriff had spoken to Jack, Justine assumed that Troy Davis was reluctant to release this inforone behind the sheriff’s back in an atteation alive

"You need to tell Seth you’re going back to work," her mother advised