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The next o down to the house and mow the lawn in the cool of the day She stood on his porch for ain the country around the her farm, but part of Josh’s land was visible from their porch Josh’s house wasn’t visible, but it was only about a quarter of a mile from her drive Lori would be there today It was her day off It wasn’t that much out of the way and she could use the walk Lori was having a rough time of it She would probably appreciate a visit from a childhood friend

Fifteenon Lori’s door Lori looked surprised when she answered

"Car I would have made a desert Would you like a cup of coffee?"

Caro, but the coffee sounds nice"

"You’re out and about early," Lori said as she poured Carmen a cup of coffee She set it on the table "Have a chair," she said, indicating a chair

Car a sip before she spoke

"I was headed over to arden"

Lori sat down at the table opposite Carmen and folded her hands on the table

"It’s been so hot and dry – I’ out of it"

"I’ve been watering it in the evenings Now that I’ out of water to take a bath"

Lori nodded "How is that working outstaying at his house, Iup her neck "It’s alright I hand my walks in the hills"

Lori raised her brows "I wouldn’t think it would be all that much further"

"It’s not, but Alex wouldn’t like it"

Lori lifted her brows "So don’t tell him"

Carmen stared at Lori If he never knew she violated his trust, that wouldn’t exonerate her She shook her head

"I don’t want to do so behind his back"

Lori rolled her eyes "It’s not that big a deal, Carmen Grow up Do you want him to dictate your everyto be your husband"

The warht her breath

"I don’t think of hi sick about wanting a erated "I didn’t say there was anything sick about it It’s just that it isn’t really fair to you – or Alex" She threw her hands in the air "NeverIt’s none of my business anyway"

Lori took the conversation elsewhere, but it remained at the back of Carmen’s mind - even after she left and walked to her house

Was she encouraging Alex to assuh to think that men and women had specific roles? No, she didn’t think all women should hat she did, and she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself She wanted to take care of hi apaternal about his actions toward her when they were alone

By the ti However unusual their relationship ht be, it was perfectly healthy Lori and Josh’s relationship was the one in trouble

By the ti a few tomatoes and okra, it was al hills and reluctantly turned toward his house She hadn’t even been inside her own house, but that could wait

At his house, she put the garden produce in the sink, and decided to take a shower Alex said he was going to work late tonight and then they would go out for dinner It would have made more sense for her to prepare a supper for him, but he insisted that she should have at least one day a hen she didn’t have to cook Life with hi to be easy

After a shower and lunch, she decided to go back down to look at the inside of the house The temperature was still in the upper 80’s and the house looked lonely – if a house could look that way Maybe she was the one as lonely for it

As she walked across the field, a deer ca out of the forest on the hill Brutus barked and she hushed him He didn’t usually bark at the deer and Alex wouldn’t like it if he started chasing the hi his food to the horse barn But this way he was closer to the goats

Inside her house, she examined her bedrooh the ceiling into her bed, the room was a mess It would take a lot of e Me dishes at the sink while Dad sat at the table eating soood Would her life with Alex be as good? Dad stayed on the farm most of the time, and Mom was the traditional housewife They were available to each other all the time It was different with Alex He would be at work most of the day Of course, he was available there too, if she needed him Moe of life baby Once she thought she couldn’t live like that Had she really changed or would she regret this e after the neore off of their relationship? Yet Moht they wouldn’t have a baby – and they did Maybe the doctors rong about Alex Of course, there was always adoption Maybe she would get desperate enough to agree with that some day Still, her objections to adoption went beyond the custody issue What would it be like to feel their baby move in her stomach – or to suckle it? To simply know that it was a part of Alex would be a wonderful experience

She sighed heavily and turned away froood could cos a person could never have It was best to focus on the things within her grasp – like Alex Who would have guessed she would marry someone like him?