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THE PINK ROSES HOTEL WAS A WHITE COLONIAL BUILDING surrounded by rosebushes At dusk, different shades of purple and creaentle lavender-like appearance

Through the Bed & Breakfast's suite , a six-year-old girl atching the sunset scene absorbed The built-in seat, with its soft flowery cushions and pink wooly blanket, had become her favourite spot as soon as she'd entered the rooht all her dolls, her patchwork quilt, her story books, her coloring books, so that she wouldn't feel the change soPat's clothes in the closet She was glad to have so to do that distracted her fro feeling that death see her lately

It o days after her conversation with Dr Carove Mr Musgrove had not been too eloquent, but neither had he expressed his hostility He sounded weary - of his sister's fits, Jesse interpreted - and half-convinced that their pursuit was senseless as well as useless Nevertheless - Jesse again deduced - it was usually less laborious to play along with Frances than to contradict her So Jesse had decided to go and visit Mrs Martin and Geneva, and had asked Kathy not to make any drastic decision until he returned He pros nicely, and soon this ue and distant , and four hours later, a call fro too down-hearted to pick up her incipient routine at the Bed & Breakfast, that Pat wished to see her

"Please, tell her to coot worried when you didn't show up this "

"Yes, I'ure out an acceptable but not excessively detailed excuse when Pat explained the true reason of her visit, which was notNevertheless, once she heard the woman's true motivation, the fact that she'd taken the time to inquire about her health was most appreciated

Libby Williams had passed away a little more than two hours before Her niece, Patricia Johnson, was concerned about two things, which had led her to where she was standing now: her child and Mrs Williams' children

Pat's cousins lived out of town They were the first and only people she'd called after the local doctor had certified the old wo soon and she wanted to be out of the house by then Now that her aunt was dead, she no longer felt invited to stay there She knew too well how severe changes, like a divorce or a deht cross her cousins' ht to stay in that house as a reward for keeping their mother coenerosity and love that had led her to suggest that her sister enerosity and love that she'd shohen Pat had separated from her husband She would miss her, almost as much as she missed her own mother, and she, by no means, wanted to be a cause of distress for Libby's children