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Everyone drank, ate, laughed, played with the two littlest Wildes and talked about what they’d been doing since they’d last seen each other

When it came to that topic, Ereed, she’d been kind of quiet altogether

Maybe so

Her sisters waylaid her in the kitchen

“Em?” Lissa said “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” she said brightly “Why would anything be the matter? What kind of question is that?”

A very good question, Lissa and Jailances Jaimie cleared her throat

“Well, you haven’t had much to say”

“Neither have you,” Emily said

Jaimie colored a little Lissa looked at her It was true Jaimie had been pretty quiet, too

“Work,” Jai her hand “I’ a little, people are putting their houses on theaboutabout Emily”

“E to sound amused “Let’s not talk about her as if she weren’t”

“Well, no Let’s beone of the four big wall ovens and peering inside “We’re all talking about what’s new in our lives You haven’t opened your mouth”

“If you’re checking on those pies, I think the crust on the one in the top oven ht be—”

“Don’t you want to tell us about your new job?”