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For once, I don’t immediately answer Instead, I stare back at Malone a minute, then decide to take a chance “No,” I say softly “It see for you”

He looks back at , then covers the space between us, takes my hand and leads me to bed

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AT LEAST I DIDN’T wake up alone, I think the next day as I slice onions for potato soup Malone was already dressed, granted, and it was still dark out, but he kissed o” And he did

But he kissed me, he woke ht ether This ht? The fact that I still don’t know o out and not just go to bed This idea holds a good bit of appeal in theory, until I re at each other at the restaurant Maybe I should go ahead with that list and just hand it to hi questions What is your first na to introduce irlfriend?

The sun is shining brightly today, the air cool and clean, and business is slow A few people come in to pick up an order, but that’s about it for the lunch crowd It’s Octavio’s day off Since we’re so slow, and since she’s reading a novel anyway, I send Judy home at noon and handle the few customers who actually come in to eat

After I close, I take Colonel ho by the soup kitchen with the vat of soup and a few dozen biscotti Then I spend an hour or triting letters to touris to lure soht Even if Joe’s wins best breakfast in our county, or even in the whole state, it wouldn’t change much Gideon’s Cove is just too far from anywhere to be popular

I take a walk to the harbor My brother’s boat is in, but Malone’s, the Ugly Anne, is not I wonder how he picked the name, who Anne is Another question for the list, I suppose I walk back home, oddly deflated

Having cooked all day, the last thing I want to do is et into my car, which is caked with dried mud, drive twenty minutes to the next tohich has a car wash I’ve always loved the car wash, that feeling of surrender to the conveyor belt, the ease hich the car is suddenly sparkling clean As I’ quarters into the vacuum machine, another car pulls up next to me

“Maggie, how are you?” says Father Ti out “Great minds think alike, don’t they?”

“Hi, Father Tim! How are you?” I haven’t spoken to hiives me pause He hasn’t come into the diner since…heck, a few days And I haven’t really noticed

“We ently, fishing around in his pockets for quarters of his own

“Right Shoot I’s to take care of,” I say My face and other parts groars were, but I cover by vacuu the back seat

When Father Tilances down the street “Would you care to grab a cup of coffee, Maggie?” he asks “I thought I saw signs of life at Able’s”

“Sure! That would be nice”

Able’s Tables is a tiny little café down the street, and they are indeed open, though business is light at this tiht, but I don’t expect Father Tim and I will be around for that We order coffees?and Father Tiets a brownie the size of Rhode Island?and sit at a table near the

“I a bit lonely, and who should I run into but you A happy coincidence God knows our hearts and hears our prayers, sure enough”

“Why were you feeling alone, Father Tim? I’d think you’d love a little solitude, away fro a sip of my cappuccino

He laughs h, that’s true sometiht But today, I think I’ie,” he tells me “Sometimes, even when a person’s surrounded by others, he can feel a bit on the lonely side of things”

“Sure,” I murmur sympathetically

“Ah, yes You know just what I’htfully, his eyes soft and kind onmarried with a baby and all”

I sit up straighter “No, it’s not hard,” I say, frowning “I love Will And Violet…well, don’t get me started It’s not hard I’m very happy for my sister”

“Good for you, then, Maggie, good for you” He pauses “I’ you a decent man haven’t panned out”

I shake my head “No, no, don’t worry about it Not at all Thanks for trying”

“A lovely girl like you should have someone,” he continues almost sadly

I don’t answer for a ht be seeing someone,” I venture

“Is that right?” Father Tiie?”

I blush “Sure”

“Wonderful, then,” he says “It’s funny, I was thinking about you the other day and that person we met at Dewey’s, the fisherman Dark hair?”

“Malone?” I say,from blush to inferno

“That’s it Malone I wouldn’t want you with so He was hardly civil the whole time ere there Couldn’t take his eyes off Chantal, either”

“Actually?” I attempt

“So I’ie I’d hate to see you settling for soood heart that you have”

My mouth opens and closes a couple of times before the words co”

Father Tim’s mouth falls open with comical surprise “Is that?is he? Oh, dear I’

“He’s not really that churlish,” Iwith faint praise “Let’s change the subject”

The waitress coo, Father,” she croons She ignores my now-empty cup

“Ah, thank you, that’s lovely,” he says, srow pink

Is that how I am? Oh, God, it is, isn’t it? Gross I’ over hioes back behind the counter, her eyes still on my companion