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“Better have a look, son,” Archie said

Lake picked up a copy of The Invertary Standard with a sense of foreboding The nudge Maggie gave her husband didn’t help—it smacked of seaside postcard hu the next roun

d of nudge, nudge, wink, wink The front-page headline was so to do with the need for a new community hall

“Go to page three,” Archie said with a grin

Obediently, Lake opened the paper and stilled There, filling half the page, was a stunning photo of Kirsty She earing one of the high-necked sweaters she normally wore—this one was sky blue and reallyback in her chair behind her desk, arreen eyes flashed with anger She epitomised passion She was so alive it took his breath away Alive, passionate and obviously furious And it appeared the reason for this was him

He glanced up at two grinning faces

“Go on, have a read,” Maggie said “It’s priceless”

He wasn’t sure what that meant, but he read anyway As his eyes flew over the words, he started to grin He looked up at the owners, who grinned back

“How much do I owe you?” he said

“Take it,” Maggie said “It’s been years since we’ve seen KirstyShe used to be so full of life It’s worth every penny to see that look on her face again”

“Who kneould take a foreigner to ie to frown and elbow him in the ribs

“This war of yours could be the best thing that’s ever happened to her,” Maggie told him

It was on the tip of his tongue to point out that this war of his was an atteht not be so full of life when it was over

When the bell over the door jingled to signal that Kirsty had a custo

“I’ll be out in a minute”