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Back to the New House, which had an air of abandonment about it, even if Mrs J still vacuuiously

So if it was hers, it was ti with Dad, Honor told her siblings to come over and raid whatever their father and Mrs J didn’t want Ned had an apart where Faith and Levi used to live, so he took a good bit of furniture, and Abby clais for the future, as she’d be headed off to college next year Pru and Carl had finished the basement and took a queen-size bed for reasons best kept (but not actually kept) private

Then Honor broke out the paint, starting with her bedrooine red Her sedate quilt was replaced with a fluffy white comforter that looked like a cloud, and an array of various-size pillohich were instantly clai blue polka dots and put it by theoverlooking the big any cedar chest and, best of all, a ift shop in town--little paper birds in a riot of color She went to the used book store and bought two shopping bags full of romance novels and horror stories and fully intended to read theer was this the bedroom of a spinster workaholic This was the room of a woman as, finally, comfortable with herself Who could relax Who appreciated sosos would change She wouldn’t be alone forever

Just for now For a little while, and then she’d register on those dating websites again and find soain Or call an adoption agency She wouldn’t mind an older kid, even someone with an attitude If she could win over Charlie, she could probably win over anyone

Except for Tos remained silent

It was May, the month of apple blosso up The seaplane show on Keuka was coreen that weekend, too Dad and Mrs Johnson’s wedding was next weekend, and after that, Honor had a sales trip to the city planned In the meantime, tour buses pulled into Blue Heron’s lot daily, and Honor and Ned led two tours a day each Every time they cah she tried so hard to be practical, she missed Toh, his ray eyes, his endless patience with Charlie, even the way he called Spike Ratty She ,hands and irreverent sense of huh yes, there was definitely that) But she also , the warmth of his skin, the way it felt to wake up with his heavy ar of his eyes when he was about tothe pillow just weren’t enough any goodbye That was all

On the fifteenth night of staying hoanize the bookcases in the living roo, which was having a ht?

What would Mom advise?

These past weeks, when her heart felt bruised and weak, Honor missed her mother almost unbearably Mos for Honor to do, kicking Dad out of the roo doith some pithy words of wisdom She summoned her mom’s memory as best she could, the smooth curve of her neck, the smell of her hair, her pretty, capable hands

"What should I do, Mom?" she asked her mother’s picture

Get out and let the wind blow the stink off It was one of her o to O’Rourke’s No ht talk; now she could answer the question of What happened, honey? with the line she had prepared--We just weren’t suited for each other in the end

Right up there in truthfulness with I’ht now

Because Tom had felt pretty perfect to her Not every day, no, and not at first But now, she couldn’t i soan for years, sure, but that had been a childish love, one-sided and unrealistic She’d idolized Brogan

Tom, she knew Flaws and qualities both He was real He was home, he was hers

Or he had been Alh, she wiped her eyes and gave herself aIf you eat my shoes, it will coed, then leaped up on the couch and burrowed under the throw pillow, her tiny head sticking out as if begging to be the cover shot on a calendar of Ridiculously Cute Dogs Honor kissed her, scratched her little bitty chin and headed into town

She opened the door to O’Rourke’s, and there he was

He was sitting at the bar, talking to Colleen, and he was sh his eyes were somber Didn’t anyone else see that, how sad his eyes could be, even when he was s? Didn’t they see that he was lonely? That his heart had been yanked out of his chest when Charlie moved?

Then he looked up and saw her, and his save a sht, and Honor was grateful The Yankees ga from the cheers from the patrons on that side of the bar In addition, the fire departs, which see quarters off her elbow Brogan wasn’t there, at least, though she’d seen his car at the firehouse the other day Gerard Chartier whispered into Jessica’s ear, and she rolled her eyes and slapped hi to Honor Now there was a wole See? It could be done

Welp Time to say hello to her ex-fiancé

She took a breath and went over, her heart stuttering "Hi, Toet over the way he said her nas said, rubbing Ben-Gay into their knees

"How are you?" she asked, and by sorace, her voice was steady

"Quite well And yourself?"

"Just fine, thanks"

How’s Charlie? Have you heard fro in town? Please don’t oodbye I think about you all the tiood to see you," she said, and this time her voice was husky

This was a mistake She shouldn’t have come, because it seemed like she was about to cry

"Hey, Honor"

She jerked her eyes off Tolanced between her and Tom "Um, want to have a drink?"

Honor waitedfor what, she wasn’t sure For To, I want to talk to you, and then tell her he’d ht, then," he said, turning back to his beer "Take care, Honor" Maybe there was soame

"You, too" She followed Dana to a table and sat doith her back to To down across from her

"Yes"

"I’m really sorry"

The words sounded sincere "Thank you"