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Maryellen laughed "And who’s got that whole plate?"

Jon chuckled "Point well-taken" He sat down, relaxing in the wooden deck chair, and looked out over the view Vashon Island was visible in the distance and so was the distinctive shape of Mount Rainier

Legs stretched out before him, Jon slipped his arm around her shoulders Maryellen savored the warmth and comfort of his enancy for you," he began "I’lad it’s almost over"

"It has been hard in some ways, and in others it’s been…wonderful"

Jon seemed taken aback by her coether"

"True," he agreed

"I don’t know if I ever would’ve had the courage to leave the gallery Everyone relied onmy notice Then all of a sudden I didn’t have any choice"

"I’d like you to be home with our babies"

"It’s where I want to be--and with you, too" Her love for Jon see

Jon reached for a second brownie as Katie sat contentedly at his feet "Once when I was in junior high, I ate a plate of these on my own"

"I know Ellen toldand felt him stiffen

Jon stared suspiciously at the one in his hand "She didn’t bake these, did she?"

Reluctantly Maryellen nodded

Jon threw the brownie back on the plate as if it had lost its taste "I wish you wouldn’t do that," he said

"Do what?"

"Set me up like that What did you and Ellen do, sit around all afternoonplans to break down h his stoht?"

"Jon, stop it," she snapped He’d ruined a very pleasant interlude "We did nothing of the sort"

She could tell by his lack of response that he didn’t believe her "I’ the brownies and walking into the kitchen through the open French doors

It seeht sadly He refused to bend on this ive his parents or accept their re jeans and a T-shirt "I think I’llhad happened

Maryellen hoped physical labor would improve his mood "Good idea," she said curtly

All at once Katie let out a cry and Jon rushed into the kitchen, Maryellen following at a slower pace She discovered her daughter pulling the brownies out of the garbage can where Jon had tossed theht, sweetheart," Jon tried to tell her

"Gra on the floor "I hate you I want my Grammy"

Jon looked at Maryellen for help, but she didn’t knohat to tell hihter’s heart

Twenty-One

Since she’d been on her feet all , Teri welco in her own cubicle chair, with her back to the mirror, she ate hot, salty French fries and sipped a diet soda One of the other girls had picked up some takeout for lunch, and Teri had ordered her ultimate co

Rachel finished with her nail client, then joined Teri in the adjacent cubicle "You’ve been quiet all ," she said "That’s not like you"

Teri shrugged She’d been feeling depressed for the last few days and didn’t want to talk about it She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Bobby Polgar since he’d rolled into Cedar Cove in that stretch limo with his driver, James Apparently Bobby had never learned to drive He’d co her every day

"Is it Bobby Polgar?" Rachel asked, keeping her voice low so as not to attract attention froirls or their clients

Teri nearly dropped her Diet Coke "How’d you know?"