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Of course, I wasn't I was there beside theThe wind had picked up and the surf crashed on the rocks below Slowly, I peered through a corner of theagain He was above her, his hands on her breasts, his back arched, his face turned in s raised and wrapped around him He opened his eyes and I was sure, by his expression, he sawin the

I didn't wait to hear him cry out I turned and ran all the way back to the house, coughing and sputtering when I reached the wooden steps up to the yard I was dry heaving My stomach felt like it had been turned inside out

Then I looked back because I heard the sound of a door in the boathouse being opened I saw hi in my direction

"Nelson?" I heard her cry "Come on back Coht"

"All right," he said, lingered a moment and then returned to the office

I took two deep breaths, helda hole in my chest, and walked back to the house I was so soaked with my oeat, I felt as if I had fallen into the sea Iup htgown and went to the bathrooown and crawled back intothe blanket up to my chin

My heart thumped dully undermyself I had indeed been outside and I had indeed seen theht

In two ht, she was supposed to be married to Carson McGil in a ceremony that would take place only yards fro love with the only man I loved

I heard Belinda return to her rooet up to confront her Instead, I pretended I knew nothing e bothShe rattled on and on to Mother about how boring the event had been and why she had to come home early

"I never heard you come in," Mother told her "Did you hear her, Olivia?"

I looked at Belinda

"Yes, I he

ard her come home," I said quickly Belinda smiled

"I had to take soht to sleep myself," she said I stared at her, but she didn't notice

"I have to get to work We have a lot doing today," I said and left the house as quickly as I could because I felt if I reer, I would scream out what I had really seen and who knehat that would do to Mother I shuddered to think ould happen when Daddy found out