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To at his cousin with such affection that Abby had to look away for athe whole story last night about Erin changed things She got out a fourth plate and fork and handed it to him “Have a pancake”

Sarah plopped one on his plate and s?”

Of course he wouldn’t let that go “Oh,” she covered, hoping she sounded convincing “Just a ht, that’s all”

The gleam in his eyes rabbed her own breakfast If he didn’t believe her, he’d have to prove she rong And blood ties or not, she got the feeling that Sarah and Jess would back her up

But Too and the four of them took the simple meal out to the sun porch on the back of the house Abby couldn’t help but stare at To the in the early suht and Abby praised the work he’d done in her absence “I like thea sideways look at him as he cut his pancake with the side of his fork

“And you don’t mind about the chandelier?”

“No, I’lad you found so the upstairs now?”

“Yes We don’t have anything else until the cupboards and countertops co”

“We should get going so you can get to work,” Sarah said, picking up plates

Breakfast had definitely filled a hole, but Abby knew she’d kill for a cup of coffee and she was out of both grounds and et that, Sarah” She turned to To you need in town? I know I can’t use the kitchen s to tide me over Like coffee”

“I wouldn’t say no to coffee,” he replied “I didn’t bother with it this ”

In no tiirls had the kitchen tidied and To the furniture in the spare bedroo off the trim Abby left at the same time as Jess and Sarah, and when she came back, two more trucks were in the yard She was a little relieved After all she’d learned about Tom, she wasn’t sure she was ready for one-on-one ti all of the information settle so she could make sense of it

She’dand stepped aside when all was said and done If he’d loved Erin—and heto do

Abby put on a pot of coffee and gathered up soe She poured a cup for herself in an insulatedand then called into the hall, “Hey, Tom, coffee’s on Help yourself”

She stepped outside into the rass and leaves and rosebuds