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“Do I?” Mary gestured him back into the chair and sat down on the sofa Jenny was hovering in the doorway, a tray in her hands A pitcher of iced water stood on it She smiled at Dan “Iced water? Was that all you wanted? No breakfast?”

“I had h”

“No, I’ve had o Still, are you certain all you want is water?”

“Well, to be honest, I’d have asked for iced coffee but then you’d have had a glass, as well” He smiled “And Keir would scold the both of us”

Mary laughed “Bring us some cake, please, Jenny And a pitcher of that decaffeinated stuff” She looked at Dan “It’s not so bad, once you get used to it”

“I know it isn’t I drink it myself, sometimes”

“Do you?”

“Yes I have, for years My asn’t supposed to have caffeine, either, so I drank it for her sake and grew accustomed to it”

“Ah Your wife” This was a day of firsts Dan had never mentioned her before Mary sat back while Jenny put the tray in front of her “I do recall, froo”

“Eight years” He took the glass she held out to him and nodded his thanks “You and she would have liked each other, I think”

“Would we?”

“Yes, I’m sure of it You’re very different from my Flo, but—”

“Different? How?”

“Well, you’re out in the world, so to speak My wife never had a paying job She was a home and cooking and cleaning” He smiled at the memory “She made this hash, from leftover roast beef—”

“So did I”