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"No, Peter, that’s not it"

"Swear it"

"I swear it," she said softly

"Why, then?"

They’d already had this discussion once, and here he was again needing reassurances he’d notwith his own

"I fell in love any nu him what she hoped were reassurances

"Then why?"

Time to own up to hiot sidetracked with my success"

"And?"

He knew there was more, and Sunshine doubted that she could have hid it from him "And," she repeated, "I never found another man I could love as much as I did you"

The line went quiet The only sound was their breathing, which quickly fell into unison

"You’ll never hear froain," Peter whispered, and he sounded co for ain "What do you want? You who has everything"

"It’s a simple request"

"Fine Tell me"

She held herself stiff "The woman you fired Give her back her job"

Peter snickered

"Is it so much to ask?"

"No"

Sunshine would rest easier now "She had good intentions"

"Maybe," he conceded

"Thank you"

"Always thinking about others … one of the reasons I fell in love with you"

Sunshine’s eyes teared up "Good-bye, Peter"

She held on to the phone and then she heard the soft click as he disconnected For severalinto space until she collected her thoughts She didn’t doubt his word Peter would rehire Sondra Reacher and never contact Sunshine again

After a while she sighed and reached for her novel

Friday afternoon, Sunshine met her sister at Portland’s Waterfront Hotel The invitation to lunch was unexpected, although she could guess the reason Ellie was sure to plead her case in regard to Beth and Sauy was abhorrent to her sister

They met in the lobby Ellie wore a deep blue St John knit suit and her hair, as always, was perfectly styled

"Thank you for agreeing to see reeted Sunshine stiffly