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"How bad is it, Miss Ginger?"

Tears sprang to her eyes "It’s bad, Grayson It’s in his liver Doctors say there isn’t much they can do"

Gray took a deep breath "Is there anything I can do to help? If you need o somewhere else for treatht throwin’ money at this would help him, I’d have been on the phone callin’ in favors froh our doors" She shook her head "Money can’t help him now It’s in God’s hands"

He bent his head and closed his eyes Ginger put her ared her close When he opened his eyes and looked across the kitchen, Evelyn had tears strea down her face

EVELYN’S HEART ACHED FOR GRAY IT WAS CLEAR HE loved Bill and Ginger Briscoe, that the four years he’d spent at the school and in the dorms were some of the best of his life, and that Bill had helped shape the ood senses of huh the rough ti support system, an entire school apparently, because it was clear a lot of people loved them both Gray, Trevor, and Drew all worshipped Bill

She listened to story after story about what a hero he was to theotten into trouble, or how he’d disciplined them when they’d crossed the line But it was all said with such respect that it left Evelyn with a sense of awe about the acy behind It was a sha roasted chicken and said there was plenty for everyone

Evelyn had convinced her she could be useful in the kitchen, despite Ginger’s protests that company didn’t help out So she’d sliced carrots and peeled potatoes and had ry er and do soer asked

Evelyn didn’t quite kno to answer that, so she started with the truth

"Actually, I work for his father"

"The senator?" Ginger took a side step back "What do you do for hi with Gray

"Now that’s interesting work You hed "I think I do okay"

"I’lad to hear that It’s important to always hold your own, Evelyn Never rely on ain life"

"Oh, I never intend for that to happen"

"Good Haven--that’s our daughter--she’s the sairl has an independent streak as wide as the Rio Grande Always thinking of her career first, no tioing to give hter live here?"

"Oh, no She couldn’t wait to get off this cae, she ularly to visit, more so now that Bill has been sick She’s here today--that’s her car in the driveway She wandered off to visit some friends, so she should be back soon"

"That’s nice that she has her independence but she’s not so far away that she doesn’t co here? Is there some party I didn’t know about?"

"Oh, that’ll be Haven now," Ginger said, wiping her hands on a dish towel

The screen door banged open

"Hi, honey," Ginger said, hugging her daughter

"Hey, Mo blue eyes entered the rooed her slender body, but nothing could hide those spectacular breasts Woas she ever stunning

Haven smiled when she saw Evelyn "Oh, hi I’m Haven Briscoe"

"Evelyn Hill Nice to o to school here, Evelyn?"

"No I’m here with Gray Preston"

"Ohhh" She turned to her mother "Gray’s here?"

"He’s out back with your dad Drew Hogan and Trevor Shay are here, too"

"Oh Well Trevor’s here, huh?" Haven sucked in her lower lip "I’ll be upstairs for a uys first?" Ginger asked

But Haven was already halfway down the hall "In aHer entire deuys all came back inside

"Did I hear Haven coer said "She ran upstairs She’ll be back in a minute"

"Haven’s here, huh," Trevor asked as he washed his hands at the kitchen sink

Also interesting, as Trevor took a long glance down the hallhere Haven had disappeared

Evelyn wondered what that story was about She’d have to ask Gray

"That laer is done for," Gray said,Trevor out of the way as soon as he’d washed his hands "I’ll hit the hardware store and get you a new one"

"You’ll do no such thing," Ginger said, putting the carrots in a bowl and setting then down the road as ere co his turn next at the sink "Several of the students fro business I guess they’re staying in town for the su a road sign as you were passing by?" Ginger asked, folding her arht have jotted the nuht have called while ere out back"

"It would take so to mow," Gray offered "Especially now that we’ve determined the mower isn’t repairable"

"It’s a teet a neer, it would give those boys soer held out her hand "Give me their number I’ll look into it"

Drew pulled the number up on his phone and wrote it down on a piece of paper, then handed it to Ginger She smiled as she put it in her jeans pocket

"Now sit All of you It’s tiirl," Bill said, pulling her into his arms "Did you have a nice visit with your friends? I’ot in"