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“And the house? It’s a right beauty, isn’t it?”

Was there a right or wrong answer to this question, too? “It’s definitely soave hih, perhaps”

His florid complexion seereed “Your great-aunt Marian took a lot of pride in her place until she got sick It’s a shame that it’s fallen into disrepair”

Abby suddenly re Marian to turn the house into a ?

“I’rease can’t fix” She lifted her chin a touch “It was built to last, just like the Fosters, wouldn’t you agree?”

Why she felt the sudden surge of faaze evenly

A spark of adlinted in his eye “I would It was Jedediah Foster’s pride and joy—at least that’s what the records say” A small smile touched his chapped lips “We sea captains are made of sturdy stuff”

“Fisherman turned mayor?” she asked politely, a bit charmed despite herself

“Captain Luke Pratt, retired US Navy,” he clarified Was it just her, or had his shoulders straightened ever so slightly when he said it? “So Miss Foster, what are your plans for the house?”

Niceties out of the way, she affected a nonchalant shrug “I haven’t decided yet I only just arrived yesterday”

“That’s good news”

“It is?”

He rested his hands on the edge of the table “Why settle on so so soon when there are options to consider?”

“And you’re going to tell me about one of those options, naturally,” she responded, curling her fingers around her coffee cup

“Have you been inside the house?”