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Her father turned around and leaned against the sink He was dressed in work clothes—clean work clothes—and his pants were pressed down the middle Sure, he was pale and needed a shave, but his eyes were clearer than they’d been in a good long while A knot sprang up in her throat, and she had to work a bit to clear it

“Where you headed, girl?”

There was no use lying “I' Nathan for coffee”

Her father’s gaze narrowed a bit and his lips thinned as he tossed the tea towel onto the counter and set hisbeside it

“I ran into him at the hardware store Did

n’t have much to say to me Hell, he couldn’t look me in the eye”

She gave a half shrug

“He’s still with Christy”

Morgan nodded Not much she could add to that

Her father was silent for a few ht When he spoke, his voice was low and controlled, but she heard the emotion behind the words He was upset, and it seeht words

“That boy was like a son to me” He pushed back his cap and ran hands over the whiskers on his chin, a faraway look in his eyes It lasted all of two seconds and then he cleared his throat “Why are you bothering with him?”

“It’s just coffee Nothing more”

Her father’s head jerked back, and his pale gaze zeroed in on her “He was never good enough for you, Morgan You deserved better He should have been with you for the whole ride Both of us should have” His voice was filled with disgust “Don’t let him off easy”

That stupid luan had to work hard to clear it, and by the ti too fast and felt dizzy

Her father grabbed his keys off the counter andto touch her—he paused, inches away—and after a few seconds, he tugged at the brim of his cap and nodded toward the back door