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“You kno she gets in December and January Winters are hard for her ”

“I know ”

He pulled her into his arhtly “You two need to try harder ”

Meredith couldn’t help being hurt by that She’d heard it from him all her life; just once she wanted to hear him say that Mo their little fairy tale as she always did And she would try She always did, but she and her mother would never be close There was just too e “I love you, Dad,” she said, kissing his cheek

“I love you, too, Meredoodle ” He grinned “And think about grapes Maybe I can still be a vintner before I die ”

She hated jokes like that “Very funny ” Turning away, she went to her car and started the engine Putting the SUV in reverse, she swung around Through the lacy snow on the windshield, she saw her parents through the living roomDad pulled her an to dance haltingly, although there was probably no music in the house Her dad didn’t need any; he always said he carried love songs in his heart

Meredith drove away from the intimate scene, but the memory of what she’d seen stayed with her All the rest of the workday, while she analyzed different facets of the operation, looking for ways to e how in love her parents had looked

The truth was, she had never been able to understand hoo her husband while siht Mom didn’t despise Meredith and Nina She just didn’t care about them

“Meredith?”

She looked up sharply For a mootten where she was At her desk Reading an insect report “Oh Daisy I’uess I didn’t hear you knock ”

“I’ home ”

“Is it that late already?” Meredith glanced at the clock It was 6:37 “Shit Iit I’m late ”

Daisy laughed “You’re always staying late ”

Meredith began organizing her paperwork into neat piles “Drive safely, Miss Daisy”—it was an old joke but they both smiled—“and remember Josh fro We’ll need donuts and coffee ”

“You got it Good night ”