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The last sip of her drink soured in herwe never met when she was alive Family couldn’t have been too important” She felt tension build at the base of her neck So the town had pestered Marian They’d probably approach her, too She should be prepared for that

“Maybe she wanted toyou the estate”

“It’s not like I can exactly ask her, can I?” Abby replied bitterly There’d been ample time for Marian to connect with Iris or even Abby, but she never had Not once The idea of selling it outright and being well shot of it had a certain allure “Look, as I said, I’ll consider your offer I can’t promise more than that”

“That’s all I ask” He sat back in his chair and she exaood-looking? It wasn’t fair Maybe it made her shallow but it was harder to say no to a man like To

But it was ood looks with Tom He was so sure of himself, so confident in his abilities She envied him his self-assurance It came naturally to him, while she had to work at it every day

She cut into the rest of her sandith vigor, Tory and she was tired and she was starting to co and didn’t want to If she hired hi if—he would be at the house all the tiular basis She would be tied to hi tied to someone like him was attractive, in reality it would be trouble He was interested in her house and that was all

And wasn’t that a laugh Someone was interested in her for her money when all her life she’d barely had two pennies to rub together It hy she had to keep a clear and logical head about this whole thing

“What do you do, Abby? For a job, I mean?”

She finished the last cru ridiculously giddy that he’d called her Abby instead of Abigail or Miss Foster “I’rade one”

His sleamed “Of course you are”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning you look like a teacher Sound like one, too” He tapped the rilass “Do you read?”

She s a teacher and all”

His lips twitched “I mean for pleasure”

“Constantly” The adht her new things and took her places she could only dream of As a kid she’d always had her nose in a book