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It demanded restraint not to lean over and whisper to Saet out of here and pretend this never happened?"

She didn’t, of course, but the temptation was there

Nichole took the chair by the fireplace Rocco hesitated and then sat down in the chair on the other side, which left the sofa open for Beth and Sam Sam sat down first, at the farthest end possible, almost as if he would be infected with Ebola if he strayed too close to her If it wasn’t so ridiculous, Beth would have given in to a fit of laughter

Nichole glared at the other reed to this dinner, he felt compelled to let Nichole and Beth knoas here under protest

Beth resisted sitting as far fro came into play, and she sat in the middle of the cushion, her hands priht pole She felt like a grade-schooler called into the principal’s office to be repri seemed like punishment and she was sure Sam felt the saht?" Nichole said once everyone was seated

Beth nodded

Silence

"Where did youat Sam Apparently Nichole’s question was Sao"

"Why here?" Saested he would have been saved this aard dinner if she’d chosen some other city

"I’m close to my aunt and she lives here Sunshine was the only one I knew in town before I started teaching at the high school"

Owen appeared, carrying a cheese platter with thin slices of cheese and crackers Rocco leaped to his feet as if his chair had sprung hiuessed he would have done just about anything to escape the tension in the room

Nichole’s husband returned just as Kaylene bounced her way down the stairs The teenager had dyed her hair purple and she wore ht s over to kiss him on the cheek

Beth watched as Sairl It was nice to know he could sretted that she wasn’t likely to see one of those smiles directed at her Her one hope was that he understood she had been an unwilling victiestured toward Beth "You remember Beth, don’t you?"

"Sure I’m in one of her classes Hi, Miss Prudhomme"

"Hello, Kaylene"

Rocco returned with the plates and napkins, and paused when he saw his daughter "Be ho voice

"And call if you leave Maddy’s house"

"Okay, okay" She rolled her eyes and looked at Beth "He forgets I’e next year Nice to see you, Miss Prudhoer was out the door As if he’d been practicing all day, Owen stepped forith the cheese plate "The yellow is cheddar cheese and the white is Monterey Jack," he announced

"Good job, Owen," Nichole said, praising her son

Oent to Beth first, holding out the platter as if he were offering her a fine delicacy She accepted the small plate from Rocco and selected one slice of the Monterey Jack and a Ritz cracker

Owen moved to Sam next and he took no less than ten crackers and about six slices of cheese She was about to cory and then decided better of it Anything she said would sound judg appetite

Oent to his mother next and then to Rocco

"The cheese is enerate conversation

Silence

"I told Sam that you like Mozart," Owen supplied, as if he felt it was his responsibility to stir the conversation "He asked e Strait"

"I have"

"What about Carrie Underwood?" Owen asked