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Saying no was the right thing to do Even if she’d been rich, she’d e expenses People didn’t value anything unless they the it Which meant if she handed him all the ic didn’t help She’d disappointed her baby Welcome home, Linda

At the end of that week, Linda stood behind the counter in her beachfront store, ringing up the sale of a canvas, hand-stitched beach tote Her feet were screah-heeled sandals, her legs ached fro so s spent on the accounting backlog Yet it onderful to be ho to norned the charge slip

"Thank you" Linda beamed as she handed over the receipt "Have a wonderful day on the beach"

After growing up in a tiny Florida town, she’d thought she’d simply be a teacher Or maybe a preacher’s wife like herher own business, love the interactions with customers? And after the slavers had tried to convince her she was nothing ood at what she did

The store door was latched open, letting custo couple, hand in hand, were checking out the etched coffee cups A trio of older woht, her clerk was restocking the glass case holding the handcrafted jewelry

Linda inhaled, enjoying how the sand candles’ scents led with the salty air off the Gulf Her tiny store specialized in handcrafted itelasses or T-shirtswas created by Florida artisans She even coht, the baskets she made also sold well

She’d never h to pay bills and help the children with their expenses--although not working for five oodness that after Frederick’s death, she’d set up her affairs so the children and business would be handled in case of her death or disability

But even though the accounting fir else was behind In fact, she’d only uy she’d dated off and on before her kidnapping had been…aard But Lee was a nice man He hadn’t pushed her and had turned their conversation to local affairs, letting her fill in as she wanted Although he’d asked her out, she’d put him off for another week She really did have too much to do

In fact… She frowned at thedisplay, which needed to be redone as well

By the open door, tnspeople slowed to look inside As their voices dropped to whispers, Linda stiffened

Her four part-time clerks had been overjoyed to have her back She’d needed that reassurance since her kidnapping and return had created ripples through the town The beachfront shop owners and clerks formed a small community of their own, and her acceptance there and elsewhere had changed She heard ugly whispers everywhere, even with custo her down

She’d started to feel like the prostitute in Pretty Woman--the one who had discovered that a respectable appearance didn’t

"All done" At the jewelry case, Maribelle straightened, patting her short gray hair into place "I s What do you want done now?"

The store suddenly felt confining, and Linda wanted out "If you’ll watch the store, I need to make a coffee run Want one?"

"No I’ve had too much caffeine already" Maribelle took up position behind the counter as Linda stepped into the back to grab a few dollars from her purse

The small coffee shop was a few stores down, and Linda had always enjoyed the short walk Even in late January, the sounds of the beach were heartening Children’s shrieks of joy as the gulls dipped down to look for food, a ssound of the waves She stopped to siray ocean and the white sand bedecked with brightly dressed tourists

Could anyone who hadn’t been i outside?

When she entered the coffee shop, the scent of newly brewed coffee zinged across her senses

Waiting at the pickup counter for her order, the toy-store er nodded at her "Good to have you back, hon"

Linda smiled She didn’t like the reminder of her ordeal, but the warmth of friendship was never unwelcome "Thank you, Sandy"

Behind the counter, the coffee-shop owner handed Sandy her drink before looking over "Linda, what can I make you? The peppero for indulgence? She considered Her body hurt and not in the happy way Saiven her Don’t think of that "Pepperar, and chocolate--all the essential food groups except salt "Thanks, Betty"

"Co a scone, she heard whispers froed the upallery, an older wo was so herself for the weakness, she listened anyway

"That’s right They kept her as a slave" The older woman