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A fewat her calves “Hey,” she said “I have to run, but I poured boiling water over these lanced at hiht , so there’s coffee if you want it”

“Good ,” he said

Her ears went red “Hi Sleep well?”

“I did You?”

“Yes, thank you” She cleared her throat “I’ so back for you?”

“That’d be great”

She nodded, pulled her wet hair into a ponytail “So you really think we can get this place up and running by the tiets back East?”

“Yeah, definitely,” he said So long as he worked twenty hours a day or so “It won’t be what he’s used to, but it’ll be livable”

“He won’t care He’ll be so excited about the dog And the ocean, too He swims like a fish” She paused “As you know”

“This water’s too cold for swi,” James said “It’s not like Rhode Island”

“Well, he’s five Hypotherrew soht about how to pay you,” she began

How about in sex? You could pay me in sex, most definitely “You don’t have to pay me”

“Don’t be ridiculous Of course I do”

Right The help must be paid “Your father already took care of it,” he lied “Now, get to the diner Don’t you have so for you?”

“Yes U here?”

“Sure,” he said “We can bond”

“Good luck with that” Her smile hit him in the chest like a line drive

Three weeks together before her kid caton Welles He didn’t knohether to laugh or shoot himself

TO PARKER’S SURPRISE, Joe’s Diner was uessed there’d be a line Then again, it was the only place in town, from what she’d seen yesterday The sreeted her, practically ht hadn’t been anything to write ho her, which was proving to be quite uncomfortable

All that work he did—for her—well, Harry was paying hiht up some very conflicted memories

Because you were slutty, chided Golly

“You have a point,” Parker said

“Morning,” said a rough voice,her jump

Oh, yes This was uy with one nalory “Hi,” she said “Hi again Great to see you How are you? Malone, right? You were very, uht”

He stared at her Not sain “So, Malone, I think I owe you a drink, since you straightened me out on my little property issue and all Which I can’t say I appreciate, really I would’ve much preferred the first house”

So out of practice on this boy-girl stuff

Maybe it’s not so bad, Spike co

It was true A little, anyway “You going in?” he asked

“Yes, yes” Parker pushed through the door of the little diner and turned back to Malone “Uton I don’t suppose you know her, do you?”

“Last booth on the left” He nodded, then turned as someone slapped him on the shoulder

Last booth on the left A wo the menu She looked up as Parker approached “Pahkah?” Lavinia Harrington looked like she sounded—soed Deep, leathery face framed with frizzy white hair

“Hi,” Parker said, squeezing past a buxo a baby “It’s really nice to—”

“Hurry it up, girl Sit down”

Parker obeyed, sliding into the red vinyl seat “So, you’re Lavinia,” she began “I’m not one-hundred-percent sure hoe’re related, to tell you the truth”

“Could you hush up for a few? There’s a surprise planned”

“Oh Sorry” Rather a strange welco and adorable, like a piece of Norman Rockwell Every seat was filled—fa at the counter, babies, toddlers, old folks— Oh, hey, there were the Three Musketeers from the hardware store yesterday She waved, but they didn’t see her

At the counter directly across from Parker’s booth was the stacked woman and her baby, as dressed in blue Six uessed, all drool and se! The uy next to her stared appreciatively at her wares Aside fro out theandexcitedly

“Here she coe “Act normal, everyone!”

“Maggie, Maggie!” said the toddler next to her “Maggie co!”

“Shh,” the dad said “Be cool, Violet, sweetheart”