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"But Danny is gone"

Laura nodded They rocked

"He says I redeerocery coupons, you mean?"

Finally Laura said, "I love hiht I wouldagain I mean, love aabout soe, Shane; you’ll be forty before too many moons, so isn’t it tiible"

"I try to be"

"How about you, Thele belly She was seven nant

"Very happy, Shane Did I tell you-maybe twins?"

"You told me"

"Twins," Thelma said, as if the prospect awed her "Think how pleased Ruthie would be for les to reassert the pattern that was ht And sometimes, happily, it succeeds

They sat for a while in co the healthful sea air, listening to the wind sough softly in the Monterey pines and cypress

After a while Thelma said, "Remember that day I caet practice in the backyard?"

"I re, daring the world to tackle you, guns hidden everywhere That day you toldwhat fate threw at you, but you were not just going to endure any ht to protect your own You were very angry that day, Shane, and very bitter"

"Yes"

"Now, I know you’re still an endurer And I know you’re still a fighter The world is still full of death and tragedy In spite of all that, somehow you just aren’t bitter any more"

"No"

"Share the secret?"

"I’ve learned the third great lesson, that’s all As a kid I learned to endure After Danny was killed, I learned to fight Now I’hter-but I’ve also learned to accept Fate is"

"Sounds very Eastern-mystic-transcendental-bullshit, Shane ’Jeez ’Fate is’ Next you’ll be telling me to chant a mantra and contemplate my navel"

"Stuffed with twins, as you are," Laura said, "you can’t even see your navel"

"Oh, yes, I can-with just the right arrangehed "I love you, Thelma"

"I love you, Sis"

They rocked and rocked

Down on the shore, the tide was co in