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He stepped in, pulled her against him, and kissed her "I don’t care I wrapped up a case early and I wanted to see you, ot soe for our Super Bowl party"

As he followed her through the living room and into the kitchen, he was struck, as he usually was, by the number of books They were everywhere, on every surface, overflowing every bookshelf, even though three entire walls of the living room were covered with built-ins And there were flowers, three vases of the wildly, and at least half a dozen different kinds of ivy, all trailing happily over surfaces to the floor A good dozen bright pilloere tossed on every chair and sofa Even the rugs that covered the wooden floor were bright, each a different style It ar TV, reading, htly touched his hand to her shoulder "Have I told you how much I like your apart down soer than uestroo for you You need another body in there to make it feel like ho like that Remember you told me I was a natural?"

"Yes, I remember"

"What did you mean by that?"

She looked at the white curtains splotched with red poppies covering the kitchen s that Janette had sewn for her She closed her eyes a moment, drew a deep breath, and looked down at her nails She needed a manicure

"Well? What do you say? You want to ainst hiainst his neck, "For such a guy, that wasn’t a bad proposal at all I’ll think about it"

"Fair enough Then I’ll tell you I love you if you’ll say it at the sa," she said, and clicked off her fingers They were both laughing when they shouted out at the sa on the sofa, Callie on his lap, leaning against his shoulder, Ben said, "I know you’re grieving for your stepfather, but I ondering if there was soht over her "So about so you elsewhere"

She was silent

"I hope you feel you can tell , Callie"

She raised her head and looked hi like he did--it was for the best I know that"

He nodded, waited

"I guess I mean that it’s over All of it, and there’s only the after that" She kissed him on the cheek "Did I tell you that I am very happy you’re in hten, saw hu as he said, "Tell ?"

"Since I’uess I can handle anything you want to tell me"

"I think you’re a natural too"