Page 44 (2/2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

TURNED OUT ALL Jack needed was a woman At least, that hat it see her had been as hard as catching an eel, but once he had her, he appreciated her wriggly properties And he meant that with all the innuendo possible

He really liked E in bed Her dog was incredibly cute

It was nice not being alone On Saturday, they went cross-country skiing after their hockey ga it a perfect day for it Sarge ca to wrestle the poles out of Jack’s hand Then they caet a bottle of wine

When he came up, it hit him

This hat the house was supposed to look like When he was ns and clouds of perfuazine shoot than a place where people lived

But noas kind of perfect She’d brought a paperback novel, which was on the coffee table, as well as a corowing up, and she found an old copy in Presque Antiques Her knapsack sat on a kitchen chair, and her dog lay on his back, trying to woo Lazarus There was a coffee cup on the table, and her jacket hung by the back door

The wo to look picturesque, the way Hadley always didjust relaxing Or asleep, from the looks of it

"So? I’ her eyes "And I’ht"

The ie of Josh Deiner, cold and lifeless on the dock, slammed into him

Emmaline sat up "Shoot Sorry about that Poor choice of words"

"No worries"

She fiddled with the coo to the hospital today?"

He had He did every day, for sory?"

"How’s Josh?"

"I don’t know, Ery or not?"

She didn’t answer, but she stood up and took his hand "You need to deal with this, you know," she said gently

He took his hand back "Look I saved three kids Al Don’t ht it was your parents who psychoanalyzed everything, not you Now do you want dinner or not?"

His voice was hard

"Sure," she said "Why don’t I cook?" And she got off the couch and went into the kitchen

His phone buzzed with a text fro so decent? Hint: clean clothes are nice

Almost immediately, there was another text, this time from Honor Don’t come down for Top Ten Tus to do Like Emmaline

And another, this one fro wastheir brother Don’t be afraid to experiment

"Good God," he said He tapped Faith’s naht this be?" she answered, and he could hear the noise of O’Rourke’s in the background

"Leave irls!"

"You need any tips, we’re here for you, brother!" Pru called, and Honor laughed

He hung up, sainst the counter, staring at a pot

Jack got up and went over to her "I’ave him a quick sently, then boosted her onto the counter and kissed her not so gently, and ignored the sht be using her

THAT THURSDAY, EMMALINE rounded up her kids "We’re going on a field trip," she said "Try to contain your exciteroans and complaints and excuses "Oh, stop," she said "It’ll be fun It’s a sport Exercise and healthy living, kids The keys to a good life"

"Officer Eet into the squad car, and if you’re very good, I’ll put on the siren

She drove them to Pettiman Rink, where she played hockey each week

"I can’t skate," Kelsey said "I’nant"

"Really?" Dalton said "I couldn’t tell"

"I hate you"

"It’s not skating," E?" Kelsey asked

"It’s that thing with the rock and the brooms and the ice for losers who live in the Arctic circle and shit," Dalton said

"Is he kidding?"

"No, that’s about right," Emmaline said