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"Not really," she s it would be before I'll be able to show off pictures of randchildren Or even if I'll be around to see them born"

"Oh, Mother, don't talk that way," Alanna murmured with a catch in her voice

"I wasn't referring to an early deht melodious sound "My dear, since you turned sixteen, there's been a string ofat our door and you haven't taken one of the to become one of these modern career women? Not that I don't think a wo that you ht be able to include a husband and family in your life, too"

"I'm twenty-one That practically makesthrough her that her rasp on the future

"Seriously, Alanna," her mother smiled, "what about Kurt Matthews? Is he the one? Are you in love with him?"

A momentary stillness swept over her She looked down at the pictures in her hand "I think so," she nodded

"Think so?" Disappoint voice "My dear, I doubt if it's love if you only think so When you're in love with a ry that you can't think straight or he transports you to some heavenly plateau"

"Is that right?" There was an ilanced at her mother "Is that the way dad makes you feel?"

"After thirty years, he still has the power to exasperate ly "But the heavenly plateau has beco that exists only in the sweet romance of courtship Which is just as well, because it isn't wise to go through life with your head in the clouds all the time"

Alanna sht her mother's idea about love was a bit old-fashioned and sentimental Love wasn't like that today, probably it never had been except in ro that happened It was soenuine affection and ad more solid But she didn't voice her opinion There was no reason to debate the point

Chapter Three

IT SEEMED TO ALANNA that her father was a bit preoccupied during dinner that evening His eyes kept straying to his henever he felt she was looking at him, a

nd there was a faintly troubled light in his eyes and a certain tension about his finely chiseledlines in his handso at the te thickly full

They were such a perfect couple, Alanna thought, not for the first time They were so devoted to each other, each more concerned about the other's wants and needs than their own Perhaps that as bothering her father now She knew herin her ave him cause to worry He would be more apt to seer since Alanna had been away and wouldn't be able to discern any s to see her through her father's eyes, but she noticed nothing

"Oh, Dorian," Ruth looked up from her plate, "I called the plu to see what's the matter with the pipes in the laundry rooot"