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“Danny Flynn You’ve been with him for more than four years, but none of us ever even heard of hiraphs you’ve taken, even the beaches you like, but I don’t know anything about the man you love ”

“Who said I loved him?”

“Exactly I don’t know if you’ve ever been in love It’s stories thatwith Moesture with her hand, indicating the books spread out on the table “Just don’t expect all of this to , because it doesn’t She won’t let it, and please, please quit trying to ain Okay?”

Nina stared at her; the pity in her eyes was almost unbearable “Okay ”

Meredith nodded and got to her feet “Good Now I’rocery store and then I’ll co ”

“You need to keep busy,” Nina said

Meredith ignored the knowing tone in her sister’s voice “It doesn’t look like I’m the only one I’ll see you in a few hours Make sure Mohtly, she headed for her car

Nina spent the rest of the day alternately taking pictures of the orchard and surfing the Internet Unfortunately, the dial-up connection at Belye Nochi was is up Not that there was much to find What she’d learned was that Russia had a rich fairy-tale tradition that was different in many ways from the Grimms’ type of stories that were more fairl and prince stories, and often they ended unhappily to teach a lesson

None of it illu told

Finally, as night fell outside, Meredith opened the study door and said, “Dinner’s ready ”

Nina winced She’d meant to quit earlier and help with dinner But as usual, once she started researching so, time fell away from her “Thanks,” she said, and closed down the computer Then she went into the kitchen, where she found Mos

Nina looked at her sister “You’re staying for dinner again? Should we call Jeff down and invite him?”

“He’s working late,” Meredith said, taking a casserole out of the oven

“Again?”

“You knos The stories happen at all hours ”