tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71032427196473693782024-03-13T12:58:46.439-04:00Valorie QuesenberryValorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.comBlogger311125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-10479103018539091232019-06-26T15:24:00.001-04:002019-06-26T15:24:33.951-04:00Ode to Sweet Tea<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Some things are sacred in the south – sweet iced tea is one of them. You know how valuable something is by what people will sacrifice for it. I can only imagine how the King’s tea tax smote the heart of our Revolutionary forbears. Their devotion to country cost them dearly. Yet, Southerners have always prized liberty, even more than tea. That’s quite a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_qJ8NYvTaFH7JC2MQNw6z6_1u7tTOW17ftkiXJZ9vnchUligzkmxdaLYsjm4AaJswKtYD160g7rfJiAC-V81QucWuOB6U4vTSBHdHmoBH-UXy2dpBgbP_EBhT_XW0YUmhKcIsACj1jk3/s1600/tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_qJ8NYvTaFH7JC2MQNw6z6_1u7tTOW17ftkiXJZ9vnchUligzkmxdaLYsjm4AaJswKtYD160g7rfJiAC-V81QucWuOB6U4vTSBHdHmoBH-UXy2dpBgbP_EBhT_XW0YUmhKcIsACj1jk3/s320/tea.jpg" width="186" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> For our ancestors to participate in the Boston Tea Party must have been a true test of a southerner’s determination. Imagine the angst of seeing hundreds of pounds of tea floating in the scum of the Boston harbor. To pour out such a precious beverage to the unappreciative fish would be a true sorrow. Such describes for us their desire for liberty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> When you consider the fact that the first southerners were Virginians, you start to understand the southerner’s affinity for tea. Being English gentlemen, drinking tea was not only tasty refreshment, it was a social act. Teatime is a strict observance in English society—a deference for custom and etiquette. It’s about what is right and proper; the definition of good taste. And today it is still so. What southern hostess would not offer a glass of sweet iced tea to her guests?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Those Virginian settlers brought with them their pride, their magnificent horses, their gracious style of living, and their tea. A Virginian gentleman was known by his horse, his fashion in clothing, and his manners--drinking tea was one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Of course, those genteel first Southerners drank their tea hot. It was a couple centuries later before Dixie-Landers enjoyed it cold. Just who “invented” iced tea is not known, but there are a few interesting facts about it. Many ascribe to the theory that it was first served at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. However, a news article published fourteen years before the Fair seems to prove that account wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> In September of 1890, 15,000 men gathered in Nevada, Missouri for the <i>Missouri State Reunion of Ex-Confederate Veterans</i>. There was an enormous banquet served, and included in the list of menu items was “880 gallons of iced tea.” (<b>Nevada Noticer, September 28, 1890. Nevada, MO.)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;">It doesn’t surprise me that sons of the South were enjoying the cool refreshment of iced tea before the rest of the world had discovered it. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Pat Villmer of the St. Louis World's Fair Society wrote that tea <i>" wasn't 'invented' at the World's Fair. The good people of the South were serving iced tea in their homes long before the Fair. It was just popularized at the Fair. It was called sweet tea served cool not hot in the summer in the South. Ice, when available, was used. Remember, ice was the premium in the early days before refrigeration, not tea." (</i></span><a href="http://www.lyndonirwin.com/1904%20Tea.htm" style="color: purple;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;">http://www.lyndonirwin.com/1904%20Tea.htm</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;">)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> However and whenever it came into vogue, sweet iced tea is the gem of the South. No oil rig in Texas is more highly prized than the pitcher of sweet tea which has a special place in each southern refrigerator. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Like all good Southerners, I rate my restaurants by their tea. “They have good tea” is a fabulous recommendation for any eatery. From the franchises to the Main Street diners, it’s a precious secret—strong, fresh, and sweet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> There are a few things that help this time-honored tradition of tea-making. First is the color and taste. Tea should be a dark amber hue, decidedly sweet (bordering on “syrup” but not like a sickly elixir), and fresh. Tea can be tainted by its container—it can taste soured like old plastic or sudsy like dish soap. It has the best flavor if allowed to “settle” a few hours to allow the tanic acid and sugar to mix well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Second is the presentation. Sweet iced tea tastes good out of anything – Granny’s metal tumblers, fancy stemware, or paper Dixie cups. I’ve enjoyed good tea out of glass pitchers and plastic milk jugs at church dinners (there’s nothing quite as southern as a drink table laden with a bevy of milk jugs filled with tea and with “sweet” written in black marker on the side). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> A friend who lived in South Carolina once told me that the word sweet is added to tea to make a sort of new compound word: “sweet-tea.” It is said with a light emphasis on the first syllable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> There’s hardly an occasion where sweet iced tea doesn’t serve well. Fare thee well, exotic libations of refinement and expense. Forget the sticky stains of Kool-Aid and the watery brine of Gatorade. Save the milk for breakfast and the water for bedtime. Make mine sweet tea. It doesn’t lose its fizz or coat the stomach or up the sodium. Refreshing and delightful, it is the comfort beverage of the South. Served on the veranda swing or on the Sunday table, add a slice of lemon and you’re good to go. At least, I am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-56352273726598755472018-09-07T20:00:00.000-04:002018-09-07T20:00:08.065-04:00the freshman class<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW229531191" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/02/11/10/54/lafayette-college-80476__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania" border="0" data-lazy-srcset="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/02/11/10/54/lafayette-college-80476__340.jpg 1x, https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/02/11/10/54/lafayette-college-80476__480.jpg 2x" data-lazy="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/02/11/10/54/lafayette-college-80476__340.jpg" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/02/11/10/54/lafayette-college-80476__340.jpg" title="Lafayette College, Easton" /></a><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sonoma slapped the cover of the book shut and stared</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">out the window. The campus of the little Christian</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">college was pretty in the autumn. Sugar maples and</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">oaks scattered colorful leaves like a child shaking glitter from a bottle.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The afternoon sun cast a tawny glow over the stone buildings. A few</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">students were walking over to the dining hall—probably going to the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Coffee Nook where everyone gathered for snacks and conversation.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She ought to head that way herself.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{f92a58d3-399e-4c5d-8781-c934225eafe6}{196}" paraid="171397149" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Her college experience thus far had been like riding </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dippity</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Street back</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">home in Centerville—a succession of highs and lows. She had welcomed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">them all since God put her here in the first place. But, she had to</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">admit, collateral reading was not on her list of favorite things.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{f92a58d3-399e-4c5d-8781-c934225eafe6}{196}" paraid="171397149" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The door flung open. It was her roommate, Beverly. She was grinning.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Come on, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Roomie</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. I just saw him.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{f92a58d3-399e-4c5d-8781-c934225eafe6}{196}" paraid="171397149" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sonoma didn’t have to ask who. She rolled her eyes. “Let up, Bev.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{f92a58d3-399e-4c5d-8781-c934225eafe6}{250}" paraid="1778755593" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Beverly didn’t listen. She shoved back a strand of brown hair that had</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">escaped her thick braid. “You’ve read enough. Let’s go.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{9}" paraid="1513733091" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sonoma grabbed her book bag and her brown </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">hoodie</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> on the way out.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> The weather was getting chillier</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> every day.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Coffee Nook was crowded with students — talking, eating, studying,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">and laughing. Sonoma had discovered that Bible </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">college</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> was certainly</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">not a dull place to be; she was enjoying the friendships she had</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">already found here.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{49}" paraid="1103688598" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He was sitting with his back to them. Weston Lane. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A name that belonged</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">with ranches and big skies.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> He owned a truck, played the guitar,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was an Eagle Scout, had 2 little sisters — was there anything else? Oh,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">yes, he didn’t have a girlfriend.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{49}" paraid="1103688598" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Let’s amble over there.” Bev nudged her.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{49}" paraid="1103688598" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Are you sure about this?” Sonoma looked at her sideways.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{49}" paraid="1103688598" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Hey, he’s your brother. Let’s just join the group.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{105}" paraid="1611013708" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sonoma shook her head and pulled her roommate along with her. Wes</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was a good sport, but he didn’t usually appreciate her match-making</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">skills. She told him that all good preachers need a wife and he had better</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">be looking before he graduated. But he just chucked her under the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">chin and said he had plenty of time.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{131}" paraid="1156251036" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He looked up as they approached. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Hi, sis.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You girls done with the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">books for today?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{151}" paraid="1268045221" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Taking a break, I guess. I have some research to do in the library.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{161}" paraid="1039058537" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Beverly was kicking her in the shin. “Bev here </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was wanting</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> to see if</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">you had notes for that Psychology class she missed.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{179}" paraid="911653291" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Wes reached into his backpack and extracted a notebook. “It should be</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">in here. Have a seat, Bev, and I’ll find them for you.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{193}" paraid="1174079512" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Behind his back, Bev gave an impish grin and waved her head in the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">direction of the door. Guess that meant it was time for Sonoma to exit.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{207}" paraid="77541835" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Ok, then, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> going to get this research done. See you guys later.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{221}" paraid="1393721953" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The library was welcoming — neat shelves of books, attractive study</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">areas and warm track lighting. Sonoma found her favorite spot empty,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">sank into the leather chair and immediately lost herself in the research</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">book. It was only when she saw a pair of brown hiking boots in front of</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">her that she realized there was a backpack already nestled against the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">chair. She looked up.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{74af8bcc-b0c0-439e-b38d-86092a706088}{251}" paraid="1648913413" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“American Lit, right? Bev said you had a paper to write.” Sonoma</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">knew she must look confused.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{d2b071b3-f2a2-4a74-a331-3933fcc54e9a}{10}" paraid="1090610476" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He stuck out his hand. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Bale Smithton.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Bev’s my sister.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{d2b071b3-f2a2-4a74-a331-3933fcc54e9a}{10}" paraid="1090610476" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Wait . . </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.you</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> came to my church this summer with a singing group . . .”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{d2b071b3-f2a2-4a74-a331-3933fcc54e9a}{38}" paraid="312067130" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Wes told me you’d remember. Want to go down to the study area? I</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">had this class last year. Maybe I can point you to the right books.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW229531191" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{d2b071b3-f2a2-4a74-a331-3933fcc54e9a}{52}" paraid="1306259200" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She smiled. “That would be nice.” </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{d2b071b3-f2a2-4a74-a331-3933fcc54e9a}{52}" paraid="1306259200" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Call it a sibling conspiracy; call it</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">providence; call it the amazing plans of God. As Sonoma picked up her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">books, she suddenly </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">knew Daddy’s parting words were true. Following</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">God’s will for your life </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">more exciting than a drive down </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dippity</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Street. And the trip was just beginning. Maybe her roommate's brother would be part of it. You just never could tell. </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW229531191" paraeid="{d2b071b3-f2a2-4a74-a331-3933fcc54e9a}{92}" paraid="958793182" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW229531191" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW229531191" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i>— VQ</i></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-77858598043272371542018-06-29T20:30:00.000-04:002018-07-03T23:17:44.947-04:00starburst in july<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{160}" paraid="1109923533" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/08/07/15/47/fireworks-879461__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fireworks, Sky, Party, New Year'S Eve" border="0" height="266" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/08/07/15/47/fireworks-879461__340.jpg" title="Fireworks, Sky, Party" width="400" /></a><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It really burned. As many times as Callie had attended fireworks events on the 4th of July, she had never had a spark fall on her until now. It had been an unusually beautiful burst of color. She had been absorbed in watching it until the last glimmer faded, echoing in the “ooh” of her teenage sister Cara sitting beside her.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Then all of her attention turned to the searing pain on her arm, and she uttered a </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">very</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> undignified "Ouch!”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> And </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Cara jumped up, shaking the quilt as Callie grabbed her arm. A grandmotherly type woman was now steering them toward the first aid area.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{176}" paraid="1675930061" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">-------------------------</span></div>
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><br />
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{176}" paraid="1675930061" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{184}" paraid="1332053182" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Matt leaned back in his folding chair, flexing his arms behind him. No excitement tonight. For all their spectacular explosions of light, fireworks displays were generally quiet affairs for the EMT squad. Nothing exciting ever happened. Not that he wanted anyone to get hurt. A quiet evening was good. With all the classes he was taking, it gave his mind a chance to rest and drink in the fragrant summer air.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{184}" paraid="1332053182" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Hey, Matt, someone’s coming.” His partner gave him a heads up, and a grin. According to their unspoken agreement, it was his turn.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{184}" paraid="1332053182" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The girl was burned. He reached for the bandages and meds that were standard procedure. Because of the uneven light in their area, he didn’t get a good look at her face at first. “Doesn’t look too bad, Miss. I think we can get it fixed up right here.” He looked up to give her a reassuring smile. And forgot what he was going to say.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Hi, Matt.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Callie?” Memories flooded him. A little girl with blond braids licking a Popsicle, a pretty teenager smiling at him over a plate of chicken wings, a lovely face in the moonlight, crying as he said . . . “I didn’t know you were back.” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I’m home on summer break. I’ve been away at Bible </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">college</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He wrapped her arm expertly. Callie had always known he would make an excellent doctor. Healing was in his hands. And ministry was in his heart.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Oh. I guess I didn’t know that either.” Matt gave her a shy smile.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I wanted to tell you, but every time I started to, it seemed presumptuous. Like ‘I have my life in order now, can we pick up where we left off?’ So I never did. My parents kept me posted about you though. I knew you were still in school and working as an EMT. But I had no idea you would be here tonight.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You know I wouldn’t see it that way, Cal. Breaking our relationship was the most difficult thing I ever had to do. And finding out that you belong to Christ now makes this a very happy day.” Matt didn’t let go of her arm.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“But Matt, it’s been so long. I don’t want you to feel obligated. I know God has called you to medical missions. I won’t hold you back.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Matt stood and pulled her with him away </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">from</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> the crowd at the first aid tent. “Callie, you never did tell me what you’re studying at college?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> S</span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">he looked at him, eyes serious. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Missions.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Matt didn’t say anything, just put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “You knew it all along, didn’t you, you adorable rascal. You knew as soon as you told me what God led you into that I would ask you to marry me, just as I wanted to years ago, but couldn’t because we didn’t share the same faith in God. You’re just trying to get away from me, aren’t you?” His eyes twinkled with mischief and something else that made her heart pound louder than the boom of the fireworks.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You know better than that, Matthew Ralston. I just wanted it to be God that put us back together. But I never </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">dreamed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> He would do it this way.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“His ways are perfect; His timing is right. I still love you, Callie.” </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW143126283" paraeid="{5c68eb05-6489-4ed0-afca-9e4eee310f42}{208}" paraid="22096872" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And the sky exploded in a burst of color that showered like confetti around them. </span></span><i><span class="TextRun SCXW143126283" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW143126283" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-- VQ</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW143126283" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></i></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-34905270476861859932018-06-22T20:30:00.000-04:002018-06-22T20:30:01.299-04:00summer of the bicycle<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{ff430497-ec28-4557-9b81-25394ae9a115}{158}" paraid="1079280559" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/06/14/13/23/bicycle-2402188__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img alt="Bicycle, Pedal, Bike, Cycling, Road" border="0" data-lazy-srcset="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/06/14/13/23/bicycle-2402188__340.jpg 1x, https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/06/14/13/23/bicycle-2402188__480.jpg 2x" data-lazy="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/06/14/13/23/bicycle-2402188__340.jpg" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/06/14/13/23/bicycle-2402188__340.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" title="Bicycle, Pedal, Bike, Cycling, Road" /></a><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Stella couldn’t imagine life without her bicycle.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">As she pushed her ten-speed down the sidewalk</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">toward the repair shop, she had to smile to herself.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She could practically chronicle her life in bicycles.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><br />
<span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She remembered the first bike she ever</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">owned—a little pink one with training wheels. Her father taught her to</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ride, giving her repeated pushes and picking her up when she crashed.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Then the trainers came off and she was zipping around the neighborhood</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">with her playmates, pretending their bikes were ambulances, fire</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">trucks, school buses and any other vehicle that fit in with their play.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The next bike in her life was a yellow beauty with a basket on</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the front. The year she was in 6th grade, she and Gerald </span><span class="SpellingError SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Lampberger</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">had filled it with apples from his father’s orchard. The fruit hadn’t</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">tasted half as sweet as the joy of having him push the bike home for</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">her, glancing at her with adolescent adoration.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{ff430497-ec28-4557-9b81-25394ae9a115}{248}" paraid="1609570821" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> It was in the 11th grade that she first rode a tandem bicycle.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Joe Collins had come wooing her on one. She could almost see him</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">sitting in front of her—dark hair waving in the breeze, his long legs</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{11}" paraid="706015161" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">pumping the pedals, turning to give her a mischievous smile. How they</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">had enjoyed those rides! Joe was an adventurer; he had delighted in</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">discovering a new road for them to ride. The next year came a draft and</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Joe’s new adventure was a war. He died somewhere overseas. His dog</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">tags came home, but he didn’t. Stella always wondered if he ever rode</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">a bike again after he left the tandem leaning against her porch that long</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ago day. Joe’s final adventure was in heaven; it was his best one by far.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{53}" paraid="1109660582" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> She steered around a pothole and thought about the remaining</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">years of her life. There was the bicycle she owned in college; the beautiful</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Schwinn she bought with her own money from her first job; and a</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">succession of other two-wheeled prizes.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">As she saw the bike repair shop around the corner, she wondered </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">what her life would have been like without them. Maybe if she</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">hadn’t enjoyed the breezy freedom of life from a bicycle seat, she might</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">have married, had a family, enjoyed other paths in life. But such contemplative thoughts didn’t seem to mix with the sunny Florida day and</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the cheerful bustle of the little retirement community.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{107}" paraid="1750313752" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Stella leaned her bike against the shop and stepped inside. The</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">man behind the counter had his back turned. She walked closer and</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">spoke.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Hello, I need a new tire on my bike.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{131}" paraid="533602607" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> He turned. “Ok, I’ll be right with . . .” He stopped midsentence</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">and scanned her face. “It is, isn’t it? Stella Middleton?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{131}" paraid="533602607" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">As though her mind were sorting through </span><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">its</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> files, the answer</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">came to her in swift recognition. “Gerald </span><span class="SpellingError SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Lampberger</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">! Well, I never!”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{131}" paraid="533602607" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He put his elbows on the counter and smiled. “How are you,</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Stel</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">? Last I heard of you, you were making a name for yourself in Minneapolis.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{131}" paraid="533602607" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> "</span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And you were out west somewhere. Arizona, was it?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{131}" paraid="533602607" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He nodded. “Worked there with my uncle for years. Now, I</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">putter around with bikes and tell everybody it’s work.” He winked at</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">her. “Let’s have a look at yours.” He led the way outside.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{191}" paraid="1369812955" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Stella stood it up and pointed to the front tire. “It was fine</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">when I put it on the front porch last night, but this morning, the tire was</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">very flat. And, I’m afraid I’ve never been good with repairs.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{209}" paraid="413532766" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> He grinned. “I remember. Well, I think I can get you fixed up</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">in no time. By the way, whatever happened to the yellow bike with the</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> b</span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">asket?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{227}" paraid="1632764262" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> They talked while he worked, and soon Stella was fixed with a</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">new tire — for which he wouldn’t accept payment (“Let’s call it an old</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">friend’s debt,” he said.) Which all seemed perfectly normal until Stella</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was on the way back to her house and remembered how she first met</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Gerald so many years ago. He had pounded a nail into her bike tire.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW84666921" paraeid="{77776aea-add5-4185-b921-de80ac94d578}{227}" paraid="1632764262" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And she wondered if reform really did occur and if the bump she heard</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">last night had actually been the cat. Come to think of it, he hadn’t been</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">all that surprised to see her today, had he? And the network in the retirement community did make it easy to locate residents. Stella paused to glance at her bike and</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> s</span><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">miled. Maybe this summer would add another chapter in her chronicles.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Anything was possible. </span></div>
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<i><span class="TextRun SCXW84666921" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW84666921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">— VQ</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW84666921" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":2,"335551620":2,"335559740":480}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></i></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-18235766083643368062018-06-08T20:00:00.000-04:002018-06-08T20:00:07.815-04:00song of the mountains<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{2c477182-a106-482f-b818-971be36def4e}{160}" paraid="1730831961" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/09/22/16/09/ilse-falls-2776162__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ilse Falls, Waterfall, Long Exposure" border="0" data-lazy-srcset="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/09/22/16/09/ilse-falls-2776162__340.jpg 1x, https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/09/22/16/09/ilse-falls-2776162__480.jpg 2x" data-lazy="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/09/22/16/09/ilse-falls-2776162__340.jpg" height="275" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/09/22/16/09/ilse-falls-2776162__340.jpg" title="Ilse Falls, Waterfall" width="413" /></a><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">L<span style="font-size: small;">illy Jean hiked her skirt to her knees and dipped</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">her toes into the water. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ooooh</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">, it was cold. It</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">could be hot outside as bacon sizzling in her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">mama’s cast-iron skillet and the mountain stream</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">still felt like water dripping off an icicle.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She stuck her other foot into the water, keeping her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">balance on the slippery rock-bed; she had been doing this ever since she</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was a toddler. Lilly Jean </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hilkins</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> had been born to these mountains.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And this break in the stream was her favorite place. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She stood still a</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">moment while she got over the inner shiver that ran through her body.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Where was Donna Sue? </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Probably stopped to pick a few daisies.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">best friend loved flowers—the few books in her room were bursting</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">with pressed blooms. She had read in a library book about flower collections</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">and was now trying to gather as many varieties as the mountains</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">offered.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{2c477182-a106-482f-b818-971be36def4e}{190}" paraid="171397149" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Lilly Jean hummed a little as she skipped from one rock to the next. It</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was a really pretty June day—the kind just asking for a wedding. In her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">dreams, she always pictured a day like today—the mountain peaks covered</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">with a violet haze, the valleys blanketed with wildflowers, a sweet</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">br</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">eeze waffling through the piney </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">woods, and a caring man standing</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">straight and true, waiting as her Daddy brought her down the church</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">aisle. Except, of course, there was no caring man and her Daddy had</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">been dead for 8 years, since the logging chain broke and he was crushed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">under a ton of logs.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{2c477182-a106-482f-b818-971be36def4e}{190}" paraid="171397149" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It was time for her to be getting home. Mama would be pulling the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">breakfast biscuits out of the oven soon, and they had a full day of work</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">in the garden patch. Lilly Jean stood up and bent to pass under a </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">low-hanging</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">branch. She listened for a moment to make sure Donna Sue</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">wasn’t coming. They’d see each other later.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{73}" paraid="1513733091" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She took the left fork on the way home and took a minute to stop by</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Granny’s grave. The hump of earth was flattened now by the mountain</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">rain; fresh green grass and a few dandelions making a patchwork covering</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">over it.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{95}" paraid="1103688598" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hey, Granny. It’s Lilly Jean. Wish you were here to see this pretty</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{109}" paraid="1235837267" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">June day.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> I’d love like everything to sit on your porch and hear one of</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{121}" paraid="60394754" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">your</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> tales. Some of your peach cobbler would be tasty, too. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Gotta</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> go</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{129}" paraid="193086501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">now</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">; Mama’s calling. I know you’re up there singing with Jesus now,</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{137}" paraid="1842686870" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">but</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> I still remember our song.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{143}" paraid="593800435" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">———————</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{147}" paraid="1923339244" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{147}" paraid="1923339244" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tara Stevens slapped the laptop shut. The gurgling of the water</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">beside her was mesmerizing. She could hardly believe Grange had</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">been able to arrange this accommodation. The </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Great Smoky Mountains</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">were her favorite place; call it a blood tie. Their little romantic tryst</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">here every year was a tradition since their honeymoon. Someday, when</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">they had children, they’d bring them here too. It would be such fun to</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">introduce them to the moist woods and sweeping views, to ride the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">chairlift together and buy them a little stuffed bear like the one she had</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">as her first souvenir of the mountains.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">But more than that, Tara wanted to share with them the soul of</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the mountains. It was something she tried to describe in her best-selling</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">books, but had to come back here to understand.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{203}" paraid="218862605" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She heard her name and looked back toward the cabin. Grange</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was walking toward her. “You’re up early. Did you get the chapter</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">finished?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{221}" paraid="237481994" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She nodded. “I think Grandma Lilly would like it.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{231}" paraid="1611013708" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Grange slipped his arm around her shoulders and smiled.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You’re barefoot again. If your readers only knew that the New York</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Times Best-Selling Author wrote her masterpieces with her feet stuck</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">in a mountain stream.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{d9f1800f-b8d0-411c-9142-b62af5773020}{253}" paraid="1156251036" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She punched at him. “I can’t wear shoes here. It’s part of being</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">a mountain girl.”</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{00ff702e-3250-422b-9974-780d673c5d5c}{8}" paraid="245920734" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; z-index: 0;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Wild as the mountain and sweet as clover honey.”</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Grange</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">quoted Grandma Lilly. “Come on, let’s eat; I’m starved.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW262201594" paraeid="{00ff702e-3250-422b-9974-780d673c5d5c}{24}" paraid="1268045221" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tara put her hand in his as they walked back to their breakfast</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">biscuits. Behind them, the stream rippled and splashed to the mountain’s</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">rhythm. And in her memory, Tara could hear Grandma Lilly Jean singing too. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <i> </i></span></span><i><span class="TextRun SCXW262201594" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW262201594" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">— VQ</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW262201594" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></i></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-47666518845683769132018-05-11T20:00:00.000-04:002018-05-11T20:00:01.632-04:00the sea shell<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{154}" paraid="134049065" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{158}" paraid="1730831961" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/04/24/03/55/seashells-1348742__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Shell, Shells, Nature, Beautiful, Beauty" border="0" height="257" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/04/24/03/55/seashells-1348742__340.jpg" title="Shell, Shells, Nature, Beautiful" width="439" /></a><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I’m going to walk along the beach.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I drop the words over my shoulder as I walk past the recliner where my husband sits.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I touch his arm; </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">he</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> half-smiles, his eyes lazy with fatigue. “Okay. But don’t stay too long;</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I want to take you out for supper.”</span></span><br />
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">waggle my fingers in a goodbye motion as I open the door on a watery world. The</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">condo is one of several on this stretch of prime beach property in the Outer Banks region</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">of North Carolina. We don’t own it, but we have a generous friend who couldn’t use her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">time share.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{212}" paraid="48969615" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You take it.” She said. “After the wedding, you’ll need a quiet place to rest and</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">recharge</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.” She got an impish twinkle then. “And maybe, revive some romance.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I rolled my eyes at her, outwardly downplaying what sounded like a good idea. Or at</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">least, it might have if I hadn’t been to the saturation point with all things related to romance.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Weddings do that to the mother of the bride. What once seemed so sweet and wonderful</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">evokes near nausea. Oh, it has nothing to do with the groom, bless his heart. Poor</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">dear already fears his mother-in-law (gracious, is that me?) No, the sick feeling washes</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">over me every time I realize anew that romance in my daughter’s life means she’s</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">changed homes as well as names. My legs suddenly feel weak, and I sink to the sand. It is</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">sun-warmed and damp. I wish I could reclaim my emotional balance as well.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A wave breaks at my feet, its foam reminding me of frothy bridal dresses. I remember</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the other times she wore white – her christening, a friend’s wedding, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> high school</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">graduation. I wonder if white is a color anyway, or just an empty space left when the vibrancy</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">of life is gone.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A solitary shell sits a couple feet from me; I stretch to get it. The underneath is satiny</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">smooth, with a wondrous pink tint. I gentle my finger a</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">cross it. My little girl always </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">treasured</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">shells. Her collection in a large pickle jar sits on the shelf in her closet; it didn’t make</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the cut of the things that moved with her. I put the shell back on the sand for another little</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">girl to discover and release the tears that have been threatening me all afternoon.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A vortex of emotion controls me. I birthed that child, taught her to play patty-cake,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">told her the story about The Three Bears, scolded her, hugged her, dressed her and worried</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">over her. I miss my mommy role. Yet, I delight in the woman she has become, partly</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">with my help, partly in her own right, through God’s goodness. I would not keep her a</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">child, unaware of the greater scope of living. A mothe</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">r joys in the blossoming of her </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">child</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">though all the while she frets over the process. Oh, what a complicated thing is motherhood.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I hope a day will come when this season too will seem normal and good.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The phone in my pocket rings. “Hello?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Hi . . . Mom?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I swallow hard, put brightness in my voice. “Hi, baby! How are you?” </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">(Dumb</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">question.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> She’s a happy bride.)</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Awesome . . . except I just spilled shrimp cocktail sauce on my new skirt.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Uh-oh.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> The one we bought last week?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{1a64192c-73a1-4208-8e1a-ad8a2ac88230}{226}" paraid="579450910" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Mm-hm.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A big spot right in front.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> And I can’t remember if I’m supposed to use</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{f9e92625-ca18-4439-9d5f-fec7dce4901e}{193}" paraid="1766414151" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">hot</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> or cold water on this kind of stain.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{f9e92625-ca18-4439-9d5f-fec7dce4901e}{193}" paraid="1766414151" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The mothering nature in me wants to remind her how many times we’ve discussed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">laundry stains and their treatment, and then I realize I’m being asked something by my</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">adult daughter. She needs me. Sure, it’s a small thin</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">g, but after all, isn’t most of </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">mothering</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">about the small things in life? And the small th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ings usually turn out to be the </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">most important.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{f9e92625-ca18-4439-9d5f-fec7dce4901e}{193}" paraid="1766414151" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The world slowly tilts back into focus. The beach is beautiful. The sunny day is glorious.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The sand welcomes my toes. The clouds are happy puffs of white—white is a color</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> a</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">fter all.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a mother. Mothers make things better. I hug her with my voice. “Don’t worry;</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m sure you can get it out. Go to the restroom and dab it gently with cold water. Then,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">when you get to your room, use one of those stain wipes we packed, okay?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{f9e92625-ca18-4439-9d5f-fec7dce4901e}{193}" paraid="1766414151" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Okay.” I hear a voice in the background. “Oh, and I’m supposed to tell you (from the guy sitting across from me that the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">chicken salad at the reception was amazing, and that we can’t wait to visit and eat more of</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">your cooking.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{f9e92625-ca18-4439-9d5f-fec7dce4901e}{193}" paraid="1766414151" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The afternoon is totally brilliant. My heart and voice smile. “That’s sweet. I’m looking</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">forward to it too.” Come to think of it, she’d married a guy with some good qualities.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{f9e92625-ca18-4439-9d5f-fec7dce4901e}{193}" paraid="1766414151" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Well, I need to go now.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{f9e92625-ca18-4439-9d5f-fec7dce4901e}{193}" paraid="1766414151" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Okay, honey. It was nice to hear from you.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{f9e92625-ca18-4439-9d5f-fec7dce4901e}{193}" paraid="1766414151" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Bye, Mama. I love you.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7320351" paraeid="{f9e92625-ca18-4439-9d5f-fec7dce4901e}{193}" paraid="1766414151" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The words pull me into a wave of wonderfulness. I catch my breath and whisper. “I</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">love you too.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I stand up to start toward the condo. My phone rings again. The screen displays the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">name of a friend who has been with me through everything and who understands my</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">journey like no one else. I smile as I answer. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Hi, Babe.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Where are you taking me tonight?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Out of the corner of my eye, I see a mother and a little girl walking my way, collecting</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">shells. I pick up the one beside me to give to her. She’ll love it.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<i><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">- </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7320351" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7320351" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">VQ</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7320351" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":3,"335551620":3,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></i></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-12535608547589340772018-04-26T00:48:00.000-04:002018-04-26T00:48:38.895-04:00Married to Mr. X<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxn8Rixe7Lk8FtKmAsylhklT1HX-iKvPITAWKmL2qI12RRrdng2z2h8TdGQnngCm5PEhyphenhypheneD3zhAjK1jDYTDMK9BdT_1pvp2YeV82aFGlLYe2RHz_hvM7XwY1LDhJXyIBaWI01-rcClcC4v/s1600/22470fd2ed69ffd0dbc1c2c6ee1a2eec%255B1%255D%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="636" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxn8Rixe7Lk8FtKmAsylhklT1HX-iKvPITAWKmL2qI12RRrdng2z2h8TdGQnngCm5PEhyphenhypheneD3zhAjK1jDYTDMK9BdT_1pvp2YeV82aFGlLYe2RHz_hvM7XwY1LDhJXyIBaWI01-rcClcC4v/s320/22470fd2ed69ffd0dbc1c2c6ee1a2eec%255B1%255D%255B2%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Angela fingered the revolver and hoped it didn’t show under her wedding gown. It really would be too bad if she had to use it before she was ready. The extra time and trouble she had taken to find a special holster had been worth it though; no one could possibly guess that the jacketed dress concealed a weapon. Well, maybe the groom had a suspicion, but then she would expect him to. </span></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The sun was shining as </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">she mounted the church steps</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">; a lovely day for a lovely deception. If only everything went off the way it was supposed to. She had practiced until she knew exactly how many seconds it took to walk down the aisle, turn and face the man she was going to marry.</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{154}" paraid="1730831961" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{154}" paraid="1730831961" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The music started; in front of her, the bridesmaids swirled one by one in measured rhythm. Now it was her turn. Angela took a breath, let it out and started walking. Faces turned toward her, some smiles, some bored, but no one crying. Ah, yes, but this wasn’t a traditional wedding anyway. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{172}" paraid="645834539" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She reached the front, turned slightly toward the straight figure waiting for her and looked at – a perfect stranger. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{176}" paraid="1796344285" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She felt her guard slip for a moment. He met her eyes, shook his head almost imperceptibly. Angela held the bouquet with one hand; raised trembling fingers to tuck a feathery wisp behind her ear. He wasn’</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">t the one! Should she go through with this? What other chance did she have?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{182}" paraid="1358001413" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She wildly sorted her options as the minister’s voice droned on. She played the part, smiled, said the words, and even clasped the masculine hand offered her as the vows were said. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{186}" paraid="683064394" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">But she knew the kiss was coming. It was the pivotal point of the wedding, especially this one. Just like Judas, she’d said to herself in the days of preparation. The ancient signal had seemed a natural choice. She was prepared to endure it for the sake of victory. What should she do now? What. . . </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{186}" paraid="683064394" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{190}" paraid="885010558" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“. . . </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">may</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> kiss the bride.” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{190}" paraid="885010558" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{198}" paraid="1008957192" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It was time. The man beside her turned, lifted the veil and smoothed it back. She forced herself to look into his eyes, eyes that were . . . amused?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{198}" paraid="1008957192" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{202}" paraid="1419494770" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He put his arms around her, bent his head and whispered against her </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">lips</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">, “When I say 'now,' </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">follow me.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{202}" paraid="1419494770" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{212}" paraid="1092211772" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It wasn’t really a kiss, but it must have looked like it to the crowd. There were a few </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">oohs</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> and </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">aahs</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> and gentle laughs. But Angela was reaching for her composure as the minister presented them and the organ trilled out the recessional. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{212}" paraid="1092211772" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{224}" paraid="905592903" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She had not counted on this. Where was George Crowder, entrepreneur, debonair ladies’ man and Angela’s bridegroom? And who was the man she had just married? The agency was going to get an earful as soon as she could make contact. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{224}" paraid="905592903" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{228}" paraid="1186485911" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">While she wondered how she would explain </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">all this</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">to the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> well br</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ed group of well-wishers</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">, she quick-walked with him toward the back of the church, followed by a flutter of bridesmaids.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> In the foyer, he turned suddenly and said in her ear, “Now!”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{228}" paraid="1186485911" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{246}" paraid="333058350" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Down the basement steps he pulled her, through a narrow hall and into a dark room in the back. She felt a tug as her dress caught on something. Yanking at it, she stumbled, gripping his hand to keep from plunging headfirst into a sprawl. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{246}" paraid="333058350" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{ff6e4e02-6eea-4a3a-b04b-100b5ffd1403}{250}" paraid="790446517" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Hurry!”</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> He said and pointed toward a shaft of light coming from a corner where there were more steps.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{1}" paraid="812110141" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Angela was feeling frightened. She stopped and tried to glare at him, one foot on the step downward. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{1}" paraid="812110141" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{5}" paraid="1362468466" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Look, would you mind telling me who you are and what is going on here?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{5}" paraid="1362468466" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{9}" paraid="1355362204" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“We don’t have time for that.” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{9}" paraid="1355362204" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{13}" paraid="552538556" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Yes, we do. For goodness sake, I just married you, Mr. . . .”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{13}" paraid="552538556" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{17}" paraid="106891405" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Just consider me the guy who saved you from Crowder.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{17}" paraid="106891405" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{21}" paraid="1727764613" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“And how do you know about him?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{21}" paraid="1727764613" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{25}" paraid="1744590106" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“He happens to be my stepfather.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{25}" paraid="1744590106" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{29}" paraid="1286918130" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> “You mean you’re the George I married?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{29}" paraid="1286918130" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{33}" paraid="2128138196" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Guilty.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{33}" paraid="2128138196" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{37}" paraid="1203057974" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“But I don’t understand. What about the people, the papers, the pl</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. .</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> . ?” Angela stopped.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{37}" paraid="1203057974" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{45}" paraid="721969788" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The plan?</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Yes, I know about it. I’ll explain everything as soon as we’re safe. Now, let’s go, and please watch that thing.” He nudged her shoulder gently. And she froze. He knew she had a gun.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{45}" paraid="721969788" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{51}" paraid="2138935675" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Would you really have shot him?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{51}" paraid="2138935675" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{55}" paraid="1543992796" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You said you know everything. What do you think?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{55}" paraid="1543992796" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{59}" paraid="1352062767" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I think the agency asked too much of you.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{59}" paraid="1352062767" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{63}" paraid="908187885" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I carry my own weight; when I have a job, I do it.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{63}" paraid="908187885" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{67}" paraid="40043415" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“But this time you don’t have to.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{67}" paraid="40043415" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{71}" paraid="1756190625" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Angela didn’t know where this was going. They had emerged into a narrow alley, hemmed in by towering brick buildings and not in the greatest part of town. Suddenly, a black car careened to a stop in front of them. The man snatched the door open and shoved her in, jumping in after her as the driver sped off.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{71}" paraid="1756190625" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{75}" paraid="769500459" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“It’s over, Angela.” The man beside her took her hand and held it.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{75}" paraid="769500459" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{79}" paraid="2110148760" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Please tell me what is going on.” She wasn’t sure if she should slap him or hug him.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{79}" paraid="2110148760" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{83}" paraid="1922041378" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Let me first assure you that your country is grateful. The assignment wasn’t easy; you toughed it out.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{83}" paraid="1922041378" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{87}" paraid="231333517" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“So, I am to assume that you have both the knowledge and the clearance to discuss this topic with me?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{87}" paraid="231333517" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{91}" paraid="813354430" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You may. And you should also know that you haven’t been alone.” He winked. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{91}" paraid="813354430" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{95}" paraid="1573849915" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You mean</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> you’ve been tailing me?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{95}" paraid="1573849915" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{101}" paraid="251986512" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I guess you could call it that. The fact is, I never intended for it to go this far; I didn’t want you to be in any danger. But, of course, things never go as we plan, do they?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{101}" paraid="251986512" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{105}" paraid="318503624" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Tell me about it.” Angela stared out the window as the limousine turned off the freeway and </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">headed toward the distant peaks,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> cloaked in gold and crimson. “By the way, where in the world are we going? And what is next in the plan?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{105}" paraid="318503624" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{113}" paraid="1591115408" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“George” smiled and spoke softly. “I thought you’d never ask.” He took her hand. “Let me lay it out for you. First, we go to the agency’s mountain retreat for debriefing. Not the most fun, but necessary, as you know so well. Then, we change into casual clothes and have dinner at a great little place where there’s a fireplace and they serve hot cocoa in mugs as </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">fat</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> as pumpkins.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{113}" paraid="1591115408" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{121}" paraid="579110358" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“And then?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{121}" paraid="579110358" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{125}" paraid="1130429446" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Then, Angela, I ask you to marry me as </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">me, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">and not as an assignment.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{125}" paraid="1130429446" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{133}" paraid="1854169134" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“But you don’t even know me!”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{133}" paraid="1854169134" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{137}" paraid="1191091669" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. A man learns an awful lot about a girl when he’s been her shadow for eight months. Besides, I’m an agent, remember? I specialize in reading the character of others.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{137}" paraid="1191091669" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{141}" paraid="1158623523" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“So you’ve been ‘reading’ me, I guess.” Angela felt her face getting pink.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{141}" paraid="1158623523" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW10025861" paraeid="{30672cf5-db93-4f68-be51-dc94412ac0a3}{145}" paraid="154048630" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Just in the primer level, honey.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri,"Calibri_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> But I’ve got a lifetime to get my graduate degree. And, now, how about handing over that gun? The Lord and I will keep you safe from now on.” </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW10025861" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: "Gigi","Gigi_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW10025861" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">--<i> VQ</i></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW10025861" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":240}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-family: "Gigi","Gigi_MSFontService",Sans-Serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i> </i></span></div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-38031629216024730052018-03-23T06:00:00.000-04:002018-03-30T15:06:32.712-04:00a broken seal<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{154}" paraid="1250842450" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/07/09/22/47/plaque-838674__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Plaque, Roman, Bronze, Emboss, Medal" border="0" height="300" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/07/09/22/47/plaque-838674__340.jpg" title="Plaque, Roman, Bronze, Emboss" width="309" /></a></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Clau</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">dia adjusted her toga as she approached the garrison. Maybe she would see him today. She absently fingered her new coif and hoped that the hairdresser had woven the cords tightly around her cluster of curls. She had to look her best for Vitus. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She had scarcely believed her good fortune when he showed an interest in her. Though her father was an up and coming senator with his eyes on Rome, she had never been as glamorous as her older sister. To have the attentions of the dashing young </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">legionarii</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> had been most thrilling.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Almost as exciting as the events shaking up the province—insurrections, arrests, crucifixions. Claudia abhorred violence; the crosses made her sick to her stomach, but she was a daughter of a Roman family. She had grown accustomed to her nation’s ways. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She hoped Vitus hadn’t been involved in the recent executions. It always made him so depressed. She feared he might take in too much wine afterward; that’s what all the soldiers did to lessen the experience of hearing the tortured cries and watching the brutal deaths of the accused. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The sun was finally out. It had been so dark the last couple days. And, of course, the earthquake had damaged quite a few buildings around the city. She had seen several crews carrying off the refuse and repairing walls </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">and businesses</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. It was one thing her father took great satisfaction in—the organization of Roman influence, the pinnacle of the world’s achievement. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Claudia glanced behind her to make s</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ure her servant was still there</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">, then looked toward the citadel. He wasn’t there. On Sunday, he usually found some reason to be outside when she passed by. At times, he had even been standing guard when she came. Though he was </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">never free to acknowledge her, he would salute her with a look in his eyes that accelerated her heart rate. As for Claudia, just the chance to see him in full dress regalia, muscled, taut, and proud, made the day brighter.</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She sighed. Not today. She turned toward her servant escort. “Let’s go home, Drusus.” </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The streets of Jerusalem were so dusty; she’d have to visit the baths again before evening. Claudia turned down the street toward her home, which first passed by the Jews’ temple. She had never quite understood their religion. They were certainly a passionate people, quite different from</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> the apathetic</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Romans who only paid homage to their many gods to keep them pacified. But the Jews always had some sort of riot going with their worship. Her father had often complained about their attempts to drag the government into their disputes. Much as they claimed to love God, they were forever wanting to stone someone who committed some wrongdoing.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In fact, there was a crowd around the temple now. It wasn’t the angry mob of </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">last week dragging so</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">me poor </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">man</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> to trial, but a group of their religious leaders, men who look strangled in their holy robes and tight turbans. She had never seen one smile—must be a horridly miserable faith. </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The grou</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">p parted slightly and</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> several R</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">oman soldiers walked out. She gasped. O</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ne of them was Vitus. He looked up into her startled eyes. Claudia pushed Drusus gently. “Tell him to meet me tonight."</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-------------------------------------</span></span></div>
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The fountain was gurgling under a wedge of moon as Claudia waited for Vitus to arrive. The atrium was pleasant this time of year with the fig trees beginning to bloom and the sweet smell of spring blooms masking the stench of the city. She adjusted the tray of olives and </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">cheese. The outer door creaked and she saw the servant let him in.</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Vitus had shed his breastplate, leg coverings, and helmet. In his woven tunic, he cast a less imposing shadow, though he towered above her. </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He moved toward her and took her hand, drawing her down to sit beside him. He spoke softly. "Claudia, I have had the mo</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">st unusual experience.” His eyes scanned the shadows</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. “Something has happened today to Jerusalem, to Rome, to the world. I have no explanation for it. In all of my years in the legion, I have never had a weekend like this one.”</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Tell me. Vitus. I want to hear about it.” She stroked his hand, feeling the raw strength, the hardness, the small scar where he had been punctured once in a </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">gladius</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> duel.</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You heard about the crucifixion on Friday?”</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Claudia nodded. “Were you there?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I had sentry duty under the crosses. It was partly a Jewish affair, another religious rebel, and a couple of thieves. It was a pretty basic execution until the end. The guy in the middle just sort-of hung his head and died, even before Marcus gouged him with his </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">gladius</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. And then, there was the earthquake and blackness. The guys playing cards nearby started cursing and left. I was standing there trying to keep the rain out of my face, and I heard Marcus mumble something about the Son of God. I didn't really care at that point, just thought it was a lousy time for a storm. His blood mixed with the rain in dark puddles beside me.”</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Vitus stare</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">d off into the still night.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> “Like I said, the Jews were all furious about this guy and demanded that the legion guard his tomb. I was one of the soldiers chosen for duty.” He turned toward her. “I saw them, Claudia. I watched them close the tomb, with the governor’s own seal. The stone they heaved in front of the opening was massive, as large as your front gate. Then they left us, the Jewish leader</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">s smiling and happy.”</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Vitus stood up and paced a few steps. “We talked and joked to keep awake and walked around to ward off the chill. But what happened next is what I have to tell you.” He sat down again and took her by the shoulders. “Have you ever been paralyzed? Unable to move, in a trance? I was, Claudia. Just as the first slash of dawn shone, I remember feeling glad it was going to warm up and then I just froze. There was a blinding light and this tremendous power, like an underground presence that just burst forth. The stone started rolling away on its own, and I couldn’t do anything. I looked over at Antonius, and his eyes were fixed in a stare. He couldn't move either. It was like we were dead w</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">hile we were still standing.” Vitus</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> shook his head and dropped his hands.</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“What do you think happened?” Claudia had never seen Vitus shaken. He was Roman, powerful, in control, confident. Yet, he didn't seem weak or mentally disturbed now; it was more of a new realization sweeping over him.</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{d16bfded-3f2a-4806-83e9-ff5783bb9714}{163}" paraid="1916705446" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Vitus </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">rubbed the side of his face. “I don't</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> know. But he was gone.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{4c6063a9-ab96-49b5-8523-5029759ff833}{68}" paraid="1031020593" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Who?”</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{4c6063a9-ab96-49b5-8523-5029759ff833}{72}" paraid="1544042173" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The man inside.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{4c6063a9-ab96-49b5-8523-5029759ff833}{78}" paraid="1242470035" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; z-index: 0;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The dead man?” </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{4c6063a9-ab96-49b5-8523-5029759ff833}{78}" paraid="1242470035" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; z-index: 0;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Maybe he did need to see the physician after all. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Vitus nodded. “The wrappings were there, but he wasn’t. And when we told them at the Temple, they paid us off. Made us promise to say we fell asleep; then they fixed it up with the centurion.”</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{4c6063a9-ab96-49b5-8523-5029759ff833}{78}" paraid="1242470035" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; z-index: 0;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“What will you do now?” Claudia searched his dark eyes.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{4c6063a9-ab96-49b5-8523-5029759ff833}{92}" paraid="1532392725" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Find the truth. If they knew I’d told you, I’d be severely punished</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">, probably executed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">But, Claudia, in my heart, I know they’re wrong. Whatever happened in that tomb was good. There was hope there, light, promise. Help me find out what it is.”</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{4c6063a9-ab96-49b5-8523-5029759ff833}{92}" paraid="1532392725" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Claudia placed her hand over his. “Vitus, isn’t this dangerous?”</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW125300610" paraeid="{4c6063a9-ab96-49b5-8523-5029759ff833}{92}" paraid="1532392725" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Probably. But, all my life, I have lived in the shadow o</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">f death, violence and hate. I </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">can’t explain why, but I know that man was different, maybe even God. And I think I know where to start searching. There’s a guy named John Mark whose mother has an upstairs room we</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> raided last week...” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW125300610" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i><span class="SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: pre;"> - VQ</span></i></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW125300610" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW125300610" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW125300610" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-88523240159327943102018-03-02T18:00:00.000-05:002018-03-09T20:36:37.713-05:00the bomber jacket<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{152}" paraid="228627634" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-size: small;">( a story set in vintage times)</span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{152}" paraid="228627634" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{152}" paraid="228627634" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_0N8Als-5o4lKoClbCGMWOyjA-yZvk3Md-mYNohHQMLrsxF1m0mq7Q15zc29aPMrJ_V6CiKpEgrTMRSHp3JjKT6v7oXt2BGDDiYzDECjkXKSpsBgHHEBRPgjxhOq041cXUeuUxxl1-iv/s1600/bomber-2330366_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_0N8Als-5o4lKoClbCGMWOyjA-yZvk3Md-mYNohHQMLrsxF1m0mq7Q15zc29aPMrJ_V6CiKpEgrTMRSHp3JjKT6v7oXt2BGDDiYzDECjkXKSpsBgHHEBRPgjxhOq041cXUeuUxxl1-iv/s320/bomber-2330366_960_720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{152}" paraid="228627634" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">There was a hole the size of a saucer in the bomber jacket.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Allison </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Jean</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hopkins</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> stared at it and wanted to weep. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The steamy finishing room was almost intolerable by this</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> time of day, and her frustration</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> meter was already </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">in the red zone.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> She held the desecrated garment and rubbed a palm over the gaping hole as if she could replace the missing leather with a gentle touch. </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{152}" paraid="228627634" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Uncle Leon was not going to be happy. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{152}" paraid="228627634" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Wait a minute! What about the customer!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{204}" paraid="74777296" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Folding the jacket to hide the hole, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alli</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jean dashed from the back room through the hall and into the office. She </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">pulled up short at seeing M</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">s. Pink Sweater still seated at the desk. That really wasn’t her name, but giving people garment related nicknames was an occupational hazard of working in the dry cleaning business. With her pearl colored</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> hair, the woman reminded </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alli</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jean of a stout little mouse. But her manner was definitely more in line with a lioness; she ruled the business end of things, there was no question. Some folks wondered why Uncle Leon hadn’t married her after his wife died twenty years ago, but nobody in the family ever questioned it. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">There were some threads</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> that were best left dangling, as Mama always said. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{212}" paraid="2147285252" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> No way was </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alli</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jean going to brave the lioness at closing time, especially with a damaged jacket. Instead, she grabbed a paper Dixie cup and filled it at the water cooler, then offered a tiny smile to Ms. P.S. and sauntered back toward the steam room.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{222}" paraid="668011806" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> The customer had to be the young man Uncle Leon mentioned from this morning. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Probably a complimentary cleaning too, given her uncle’s penchant for helping boys in the service.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> He couldn’t quite forget all his buddies who’d died on the USS Arizona. Every man in uniform offered him another chance to honor them, even in a distant way. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He would never have allowed anything to happen to a garment belonging to a man in uniform. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{226}" paraid="759947024" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> She had to find out the name of the owner. Maybe there would be a phone number to call, though what could she say? “Hi, this is Hopkins’ Dry Cleaners. I just ruined your jacket.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{232}" paraid="1054073476" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> It had seen some wear obviously. Most likely it was </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">a treasure to some guy, a good-luck item and now she’d killed it. Hope he didn’t take superstition too seriously; his days in the sun may just have ended in her incapable hands. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{b3325150-4542-4257-969b-85fcd6f0dea4}{244}" paraid="1827808119" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Her gaze drifted to the poster of Jimmy Stewart looking perfectly splendid in his flight jacket. Underneath in block letters, Uncle Leon had printed the words “Flight Jackets Expertly Cleaned.” So far as </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alli</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jean knew he’d never charged for a one of them. There was a reason for that too. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">But then, all she knew about her fathe</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">r came from photos and the words of her mother and uncle. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{1}" paraid="115408650" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ms. Pink Sweater go down the hall to the back door. Good! Holding onto the jacket, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alli</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jean </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">hurried into the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> office and pulled the papers out of the new order file.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{11}" paraid="1421461763" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui", "segoe ui web", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Channing Scott </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Worthingham</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Wow. Quite a moniker. Alli Jean</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> cringed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> as she imagined the disappointment in his eyes when he saw what good care </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hopkin’s</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Dry Cleaners had taken with his treasure. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">But </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">then</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">maybe</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> she wouldn’t have to face him for another day. The </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">hands on the clock </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">had</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> just </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">tilted over to 5:00. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{53}" paraid="480767450" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Sighing, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alli</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jean walked around the counter and over to the door with the plate glass window. She reached her hand up to turn the sign around to “Sorry, we’re closed”</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> and saw a male</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> face instead. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In spite of herself, she gave a little shriek. The </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">face grinned </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">at her and a</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> hand motioned to the door. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">May I come in?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{73}" paraid="470405024" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> She nodded, knowing with a punch in her gut that this had to be Channing Scott </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Worthingham</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{83}" paraid="127465860" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> He looked even better on the other side of the glass</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">, and </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alli</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jean felt her cheeks pinking as she tried to pivot gracefully and walk back behind the counter. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Can I help you?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{91}" paraid="1078559112" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> “You can, I think.” He smiled again and rested his palms on the counter separating them. “I brought a flight jacket in early this morning, and . . . oh, that must be it.” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He motioned to</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> where she’</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">d dropped it on the shelf behind her.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{91}" paraid="1078559112" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alli</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jean made herself reach back and grasp it, bringing it around to </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">lay</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> in front of her. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Yes, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">it is. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And, I’m afraid. . . </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">you</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> see, I think your jacket has been damaged somehow. I am so sorry. I know it probably can’t be replaced,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> but we will stand good for the . . . for the . . .”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{127}" paraid="270942013" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> He was still smiling.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{135}" paraid="311734585" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> He raised both hands and said. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Stop.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> You don’t need to explain. The jacket isn’t mine; it’s yours.”</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{135}" paraid="311734585" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alli</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jean knew she had straight white teeth, but didn’t think she was at her best with her mouth open. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{135}" paraid="311734585" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">But he went right on. “You’re Allison Jean Hopkins, right?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{149}" paraid="27980049" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Nod.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{161}" paraid="1266172101" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> “Our fathers flew bombing missions together. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In the war.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">With the RAF before Pearl Harbor.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> My mother was English. The jacket belonged to your father. When my father passed away this year, he told me to find you and give it to you.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{173}" paraid="788256748" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> W</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">as she mute? </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alli</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jean pointed to the hole. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{181}" paraid="1519254827" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> “It w</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">as damaged on his last mission. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My dad couldn’t bring himself to have it repaired. Hope you don’t mind.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{191}" paraid="1120359467" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> “Oh no.”</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Guess she did still have her voice. “I thought I had . . .</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">” Her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> voice trailed off.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW131293878" paraeid="{6285718b-2390-4fa6-a25b-e9d3c7ac98cb}{201}" paraid="996439633" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> His smile was gentle this time. “I see </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">it's</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> closing time. Let’s go grab a soda and I’ll tell you all I know about your father. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">All right?” </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He opened the door for her and as they stepped into the late Georgia sunlight he reached</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> around and turned over</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> the sign on the </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW131293878" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW131293878" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">door which jingled as it closed behind them.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW131293878" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <i> -- VQ</i></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-54720899845946096352018-02-23T18:00:00.000-05:002018-02-23T18:00:43.633-05:00coffeehouse surprise<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/08/06/18/08/wooden-2594768__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wooden, Table, Coffeehouse, Shop" border="0" data-lazy-srcset="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/08/06/18/08/wooden-2594768__340.jpg 1x, https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/08/06/18/08/wooden-2594768__480.jpg 2x" data-lazy="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/08/06/18/08/wooden-2594768__340.jpg" height="296" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/08/06/18/08/wooden-2594768__340.jpg" title="Wooden, Table, Coffeehouse, Shop" width="443" /></a><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Bistro tables scattered at angles on a plank floor. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Book-lined shelves flanking a stone fireplace.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Leather chairs placed in little nooks. A glossy counter scuffed with years of scrapes from coffee mugs. Nor</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">mally</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">, it was the kind of place that Rayne Hartwell would delight in</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. .</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> . </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">but</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> not today. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Even the pinkish tinge to the spring sky and the hint of thaw in the air seemed out of place. She didn’t want to be in Vermont; her heart was in the jungle. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Somewhere, above a muggy rain forest in a little Cessna plane was the man she loved. She wondered whom he was picking up today—a new missionary family, a child with a fever, a warrior with a serious </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">wound?</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Each flight was a mission, an opportunity to minister. She could picture Dalton in the cockpit, expertly maneuvering the little plane over miles of terrain and landing on primitive runways. She wanted to be right there with him, pretending to be his navigator, handing him a cup of coffee from his thermos, stealing a kiss when the passengers were asleep. But, he was thousands of miles away and she was here, crying into her mocha cinnamon coffee. Which didn’t even taste that good. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{b4b91ae8-8ab9-4b1a-bae6-d0225f6462ca}{211}" paraid="1778755593" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> <span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Well, she’d have to make the best of it. They had agreed that she needed to complete her medical training before joining him on a </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">perman</span><span class="SpellingError SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ent</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> basis. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Permanent basis.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Marrying Dalton Ward was a dream she was almost afraid to believe might come true. Ruggedly good-looking with a passion for God and a winning smile, he had captured more than a few hearts in the girls’ dorm at Bible </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">college</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. The evening he asked her for a date, she’d actually felt dizzy with excitement. And the winter night when he proposed would go down in history as a heart-stopping moment. But now there were duties for each of them to fulfill. Until next spring, they were keeping connected with email, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Facebook</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> and Skype. But the time span felt endless. How on earth could she wait that long to see him? In spite of her resolve, another tear squeezed down her</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">cheek</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. She reached for her napkin to sop her drippy face and saw she’d dropped it on the floor. Bending down for it, she noticed a man’s shoe right beside her hand. She looked up. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And dropped the napkin again.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{b4b91ae8-8ab9-4b1a-bae6-d0225f6462ca}{211}" paraid="1778755593" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dalton winked. “Nice to know I have that effect on you.” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{b4b91ae8-8ab9-4b1a-bae6-d0225f6462ca}{211}" paraid="1778755593" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Rayne couldn't speak; she just stared. It couldn’t be. He looked wonder</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ful</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">; always did to her, of course, but now maybe it was the firelight on his skin or the fact that he held a coffee mug in his hand or maybe just that she couldn’t believe he was here. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{16}" paraid="1923339244" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“May I sit down?” He was grinning. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{26}" paraid="218862605" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She stammered. “Yes, please, what are you doing here? I mean, how . . . ?” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{26}" paraid="218862605" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He pulled a chair over on her side of the table and draped an arm around her, squeezing her in a tight hug. “You’re sweet when you’re speechless.” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{26}" paraid="218862605" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She punched him playfully. “Watch it, mister!” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{56}" paraid="1156251036" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He laughed softly and set his coffee mug down, turned to look into her eyes. “Let me look at you a minute. It sure beats that faded picture taped to the flight control panel! Boy, honey, I’ve missed you.” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{56}" paraid="1156251036" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She took his free hand in both of hers. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And started crying again.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{80}" paraid="1039058537" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Here now, stop that. I’ve only got a couple days here; let’s don’t spend them crying.” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{90}" paraid="911653291" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She smiled. “Okay, but explain this, please. What happened?” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{100}" paraid="1174079512" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The Cessna is undergoing an overhaul; Steve is flying for me, and the mission board needed me to come stateside for a couple weeks and take care of some paperwork and a few other important items. I con</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">vinced</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> them that a couple days deputation in New England was very important . . </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.and</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> here I am!” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{118}" paraid="77541835" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui","segoe ui web","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Rayne leaned into him, loving his strong presence, savoring the delight of his nearness. She knew there’d be more separations before they were together for always, but, with God’s help, they’d make it to the wedding . . .</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">and a life of ministry together. It was all in the flight plan. And their Navigator had a flawless record</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW158363319" paraeid="{18a507f3-0723-41ff-9996-f7726864abd5}{136}" paraid="898046809" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<i><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman_msfontservice" , serif; font-size: 14.66px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-- </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158363319" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "gigi" , "gigi_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.33px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158363319" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">VQ</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158363319" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":3,"335551620":3,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "gigi" , "gigi_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.33px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></i></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-32645690502577562452018-02-10T20:30:00.000-05:002018-02-20T20:17:17.850-05:00a police escort<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/11/13/18/30/cruiser-2946429__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cruiser, Light, Police Car, The Police" border="0" data-lazy-srcset="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/11/13/18/30/cruiser-2946429__340.jpg 1x, https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/11/13/18/30/cruiser-2946429__480.jpg 2x" data-lazy="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/11/13/18/30/cruiser-2946429__340.jpg" height="212" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/11/13/18/30/cruiser-2946429__340.jpg" title="Cruiser, Light, Police Car" width="320" /></a><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Gracie Peters pushed the gas pedal harder and fought against her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">better judgment. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A girl had a right to a trip now and then, even if it was only</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">to see her sister-in-law in the next state.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ka-thump.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She put her ear close to the window. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A flat tire?</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> She craned her neck</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">over the dashboard; no, just rough roads. The state of Indiana really should</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">invest in some roadwork. Gracie tried to relax against the seat of the rented</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">car, and then, giving up, adjusted it with a sigh. Joe had always teased that she</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was the “cutest little girl driver around!” And she’d always respond with a</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">pout and a flounce. She missed that; there weren’t many chances for a</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">woman her age to pout. Widowhood revealed strange longings.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{10bace2e-f83e-4cdc-908e-1f33a825ad97}{198}" paraid="1571515515" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A woman’s voice startled her. “Turn right onto Highway 9.” Gracie</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">swerved wildly and barely made the corner, though she felt the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">back end of the car slide a little. That crazy GPS; she pressed a hand to her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">heart and let out a breath. There. Time to settle down and drive with purpose;</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ellen was expecting her for supper. She stomped on the gas.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{17}" paraid="186990751" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">***************</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{55}" paraid="54888895" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Officer Mark Douglas adjusted the visor of his patrol car. The</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">piercing afternoon sun would be a nuisance to the work traffic starting to</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">accumulate on the state highways and freeways. He breathed a prayer of</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">thanks that his shift was almost over, and that he had the night off. Out of</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the corner of his eye he glimpsed an out of control car. The sleek silver</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Camry careened onto the entrance ramp and shot down the highway. He</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">didn’t need the radar to tell him that its speed was in excess of the limit,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">quite in excess. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{59}" paraid="1923339244" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pulling on the lights and siren, he u-turned in the median.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It took him only a few seconds to gain on the car and pull behind</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">it. Mark looked at the plates and groaned - an Ohio driver. Or, wait a minute,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was there a driver? The front seat looked empty. No, there, he could</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">glimpse</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> a bit of blond hair. It was </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">probably some teenager, newly licensed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">and enjoying a drive in a new car that could only be a gift from an</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">indulgent family. He’d never have given his sons anything that shiny to</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">start off in; Emily had agreed with him that old beaters were the best way</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">to start. But then again, times change, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">and Emily wasn’t here any longer </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">to support him. She’d been in heaven five years already.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{109}" paraid="218862605" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The car pulled over, reluctantly, and sat subdued on the shoulder</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">of the road. Mark reached for his cap as he got out, shutting the car door</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">with back of his hand. It was time to see who the hotshot driver was. He</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">settled the cap on his head and walked forward.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{131}" paraid="237481994" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Stopping at the car’s window, he leaned down. The driver was</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">female. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Middle-aged.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Cute.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> And the expression on her face was one he</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">wasn’t used to seeing on women her age; he would describe it as a pout.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{161}" paraid="1156251036" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mark cleared his throat. “Ma’am, I’m Officer Douglas with the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Indiana State Police. Do you know why I stopped you?”</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{177}" paraid="1268045221" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The woman looked at him piously. “I could guess.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{187}" paraid="1039058537" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In spite of himself, he wanted to laugh. The way she said it made</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">her sound like a naughty little girl.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{201}" paraid="911653291" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“That’s not necessary, ma’am.” He put on his mean-man-in-blue</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">persona. “I stopped you because your driving was erratic and your speed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was in excess of the posted speed limit.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{233}" paraid="175349085" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> “Oh, I </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">am </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">sorry, Officer, really. I’m, uh, due at an appointment in</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">thirty minutes, and I almost missed my turn. And these roads, well, they</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">didn’t help anything.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{5cac6637-f96b-4ceb-bde7-e885d9c02611}{237}" paraid="1174079512" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A sassy Ohio driver.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I do apologize for the roads, Ma’am, but</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">regardless, the speed limit is posted to ensure your safety. May I have</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">your driver’s license?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{6}" paraid="77541835" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She reached into a sequined purse on the seat beside her and</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">fumbled for her wallet. Opening it, she handed the license to him with a</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">little exasperated breath.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{24}" paraid="1393721953" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He smiled calmingly. “Thank you, Ms. Peters. I’ll be with you in</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">a minute.” Mark pivoted and started back to his patrol car. He glanced again at</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the name on the license and stopped. Wait just a minute! Turning back to</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">her car and placing his hands on the window ledge, he swallowed a grin.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{46}" paraid="1648913413" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You are Grace Peters?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{56}" paraid="1090610476" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Yes, Officer, surprised?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{66}" paraid="1268319598" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9526999" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> "Amazed</span><span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> is how I’d put it."</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW9526999" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{66}" paraid="1268319598" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW9526999" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> "Oh?"</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9526999" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span></div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{96}" paraid="911824251" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> H</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">e smiled. “It’s this way. You’re the guest of honor at my</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">cousin’s dinner party. And I am your escort.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{100}" paraid="878827385" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Really, Officer Douglas.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How fascinating.”</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Grace batted her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">eyes mischievously. “Am I in danger? Or is Ellen just overly anxious?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{120}" paraid="1022548150" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Well, ma’am, considering the way you were driving, we might</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">both be safer if you’d just follow me.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{134}" paraid="263684728" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> "</span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">That’s so thoughtful of you. I was worried about getting there.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{134}" paraid="263684728" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He’d never seen anyone more un-worried.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">But he could act the hero. “Well then, ma’am, I will be delighted to assume</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the responsibility of seeing you safely to your destination. Just follow</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">me.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{166}" paraid="90360590" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{172}" paraid="2075405981" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">*******************</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{176}" paraid="885918273" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{202}" paraid="861375774" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Gracie rested her hands on the laptop keyboard. Morning</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">sunlight spilled into the room, glistening on the silvery dress laid across the bed.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Before the flurry of this fabulous day, she’d wanted to put down in writing</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the way God had brought Mark and her together. It still seemed unbelievable</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">– that a traffic stop could result in finding love again. She smiled</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">and closed the laptop. It was time to head to the church.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{206}" paraid="1659630533" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Grabbing her carefully packed bags and draping her quiet wedding</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">finery over her arm, she hurried out the front door. A man in uniform</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">stood in front of a patrol car with flashing lights.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{224}" paraid="1838719275" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“My bridal escort?”</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Gracie tried to look miffed.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW89514161" paraeid="{e97e0575-9d12-423b-bde0-749ff45423a5}{236}" paraid="692509570" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mark just grinned. “Uh-huh. I heard you have a tendency to exceed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the speed limit when you have an appointment, and I want to make</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">sure you get to the church on time.”</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And he leaned down to kiss her pouting lips. <i> </i></span></span><i><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "0igi" , "0igi_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">— VQ</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW89514161" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW89514161" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW89514161" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":720,"335559740":240}" style="font-family: "timesnewroman" , "timesnewroman_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></i></div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-53788909645208141492018-01-26T19:30:00.000-05:002018-01-27T14:34:40.496-05:00a yellow umbrella <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{155}" paraid="657121270" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<b><i></i><br /></b></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{161}" paraid="1674099221" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b> <i>It's a bit fanciful, a bit fairytale-ish, but still fun. This </i></b></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><i>little story was inspired by my own mother's fondness for this Norman Rockwell</i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><i> original </i></b></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><i>as well as my personal sentiment for the romance of rainy days. Enjoy. </i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{161}" paraid="1674099221" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-O1QByEouF9tgwAfwMSM3k6p8OCdvLdhV4u2eQba3kg7xK7VaJhHQGAjSf4k5Roq-y_TpdoGu-EX-LYUpCtJ6V00914rcEyFPq6qJ5VzmGE6-KilSEsytbUn1PQ9qj2iHUBWWU-Ah3n8w/s1600/license.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i></i><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-O1QByEouF9tgwAfwMSM3k6p8OCdvLdhV4u2eQba3kg7xK7VaJhHQGAjSf4k5Roq-y_TpdoGu-EX-LYUpCtJ6V00914rcEyFPq6qJ5VzmGE6-KilSEsytbUn1PQ9qj2iHUBWWU-Ah3n8w/s1600/license.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{169}" paraid="1326473838" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-O1QByEouF9tgwAfwMSM3k6p8OCdvLdhV4u2eQba3kg7xK7VaJhHQGAjSf4k5Roq-y_TpdoGu-EX-LYUpCtJ6V00914rcEyFPq6qJ5VzmGE6-KilSEsytbUn1PQ9qj2iHUBWWU-Ah3n8w/s1600/license.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Rae powered off the computer and glanced out the window. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; font-style: italic; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Rain.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She had hardly noticed earlier. It had been so busy today. Of course, that wasn’t unusual for a Thursday in her office. People wanted to get the license before the weekend.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> She</span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> scooped a peppermint wrapper from the floor and swiveled around to drop it into the waste can. She remembered the girl who must have dropped it - petite, brunette and hanging onto a giant guy. She had to stand on tip-toe to reach the counter. It reminded her of the classic Rockwell print that had been her mom’s favorite.</span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{169}" paraid="1326473838" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{169}" paraid="1326473838" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She picked up the remaining papers and laid them in the tray for later filing. The rain was pelting the window now. And she didn’t have an umbrella. Well, she’d throw her jacket over her head and dash to the car.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She didn’t know why, but as she passed the counter, she turned to look at the book – the one containing the names of thousands of couples – infatuated kids, college sweethearts, and older couples finding happiness after grief. All of them floated through that office, stars in their eyes and smiles on their lips. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{223}" paraid="174984842" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{229}" paraid="1926466929" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Rockfield County Courthouse was a landmark. The vintage red-bricked building with the cupolas and grand architecture was a drawing card for couples in love. But the chance to sign the book that possibly contained their grandparents’ name was the piece de resistance. And though Rae could trace her lineage back in it for 3 generations, she herself hadn’t yet signed her name on its pages. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{233}" paraid="1392271774" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{237}" paraid="1124372670" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She locked the door of the County Clerk’s office and stepped into the hall. Her heels clicked on the marble, just like when she used to come visit her grandfather who had presided over the court here for over 30 years.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Outside, she pulled her jacket over her head and headed in the direction of her car. And almost bumped into someone. She saw his shiny shoes first.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{c91b6350-59cc-443d-8b2c-5549344e3131}{255}" paraid="454245763" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{6}" paraid="1327188960" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Hi, Rae. You’re getting soaked.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{12}" paraid="1251032182" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.66px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.66px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{18}" paraid="120769238" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She raised her head with the jacket above it and almost had a coronary.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> "</span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pastor Daron?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{36}" paraid="2136323921" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{42}" paraid="36054839" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He grinned, nice and easy. “Hi. Here, get under this.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{48}" paraid="1201647408" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{54}" paraid="807923046" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Rae looked up then. He was holding a yellow umbrella. “Hey, that’s . . . “</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{60}" paraid="1658034368" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{60}" paraid="1658034368" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Yours. Uh-huh. I was coming to return it to you.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{72}" paraid="24690359" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{78}" paraid="1351847071" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She knew she looked confused. “Where did you find it?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{84}" paraid="402432777" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{90}" paraid="1166636582" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Where you left it last night. In the back of the church.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{96}" paraid="1141623696" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{102}" paraid="1169513269" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Rae was suddenly aware she was standing so close to him under the umbrella that she could smell the faint fragrance of fabric softener from his dress shirt. She tried to focus. She would not be one of those girls at church who lost their heads around the single pastor. “Thank you. That was nice of you. But you didn’t have to interrupt your day to bring this to me.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{108}" paraid="1955155745" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{114}" paraid="1097037132" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He just smiled again. “Actually, I was already planning to come to the courthouse.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{120}" paraid="979323559" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{126}" paraid="225145981" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Oh, did you need to look up something? I can still unlock the door for you.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{132}" paraid="368651236" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{138}" paraid="233639700" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He shifted the umbrella and held out his other hand to her. “Rae, for weeks, I’ve been wanting to ask you out for dinner with me. And when you left your umbrella last night, I knew this was the time. So, how about tomorrow night? I heard you liked Italian and I know a great place.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{144}" paraid="1299702474" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{150}" paraid="1175570828" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Rae finally took a breath. And put her hand in his. “I’d love to. I’ve been wanting to get better acquainted with my pastor.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{156}" paraid="1732594284" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI","Segoe UI Web",Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW7185501" paraeid="{17d9e59d-6ea3-480a-98a3-239d15439000}{162}" paraid="190544168" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And just like that, under an umbrella in front of the courthouse, Rae began to wonder if it wouldn’t be long before she was standing on tiptoe to sign her name in the book. And it made her smile as she walked in the rain with a man who held her arm ever so gently. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW7185501" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "gigi" , "gigi_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7185501" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">- VQ</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW7185501" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559731":288,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}" style="font-family: "gigi" , "gigi_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-33725886934003921032018-01-23T03:00:00.000-05:002018-01-23T14:07:08.222-05:00it's brilliant<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8txbXYFPfOTNFb4IarY-Nl4PaMk3Y2CXXxYVOOOMBMLH9HZPOrbOyy3xvqEHbZuqdrt87CUxaox0kwX_SfSvs43WCeauv7HVOOntd3iRGTXN6kOkNbpUsJwAXPVspXUV6D65zXa16vRAz/s1600/MP900430898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1280" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8txbXYFPfOTNFb4IarY-Nl4PaMk3Y2CXXxYVOOOMBMLH9HZPOrbOyy3xvqEHbZuqdrt87CUxaox0kwX_SfSvs43WCeauv7HVOOntd3iRGTXN6kOkNbpUsJwAXPVspXUV6D65zXa16vRAz/s320/MP900430898.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There is something shining about love, more specifically, about romance. Even little children recognize it. You've seen them giggle delightedly when the bride and groom kiss, turning their little eyes away from the brightness of the moment. The sheer glory of it transcends our senses. </div>
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Human love is a wonderful mystery, old as the couple in the Garden; new as a schoolgirl's crush. It ought to be. After all, it symbolizes the heart of Christ for His church. The story of redemption is a holy romance, the delight of the Hero in his bride, the thrill of her heart in being pursued and rescued - that's the story of God wooing humankind, put into a setting we can understand. He had an eternal perspective in mind all the time. Hallmark and Hollywood believe they invented romance. But there was always a bigger scope to something so glorious, a holy symbolism that only those who get to know the Creator can see. </div>
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Why should a wink, a smile, a brushing of the hand bring such chills of delight? To be sure, there are physiological explanations, yet the simplest answer of all is that God created it to be that way. The romance between a man and a woman has a powerful intensity that always thrill us, and sweetly shocks us with its bold majesty. Beyond the mystery of its eternal symbolism, it is His gift to be treasured now, sought wisely, protected arduously. </div>
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He puts these brilliant moments into our lives to remind us of Him. It's as common as a wedding kiss. And yet, what is common about observing that? I may need to lower my eyes at the shining glory of it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uMUWIOurK5plYn0PO3H-wuIq2YHQk_rCFnRGo_D-y9vIPHzQLoV8MPflU9JoZ8a-7dqgXP_DcSwdr4rEwsdo1rMKol7UwhOPNTJXnXNJv27qpTZfNO_B2gIL63qvUDvpYTNwYsH8xPPB/s1600/190760_113514012061348_6025783_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="466" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uMUWIOurK5plYn0PO3H-wuIq2YHQk_rCFnRGo_D-y9vIPHzQLoV8MPflU9JoZ8a-7dqgXP_DcSwdr4rEwsdo1rMKol7UwhOPNTJXnXNJv27qpTZfNO_B2gIL63qvUDvpYTNwYsH8xPPB/s320/190760_113514012061348_6025783_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="207" /></a>To explore this subject deeper, read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Redeeming-Romance-Delighting-Sisters-Studies/dp/0898274699">Redeeming Romance</a>, published by Wesleyan Publishing House. </div>
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Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-22330761310955339982018-01-16T06:48:00.000-05:002018-01-16T06:59:43.150-05:00White Castle on a Winter's Eve<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDA5NJsHIoSF86URp4PPXN5Nb8xe0kj0-s4j_KgZra_rkBuXjruLDIOIRS-n3FMmKW5Ap7vIuv2etvGwF2Cs-Mu0qiU0jb-pW-MhgPdVGD4H7VJ_OvYW5mMKTB9JfJApQyK3GXH7ETXryL/s1600/whtie+castle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDA5NJsHIoSF86URp4PPXN5Nb8xe0kj0-s4j_KgZra_rkBuXjruLDIOIRS-n3FMmKW5Ap7vIuv2etvGwF2Cs-Mu0qiU0jb-pW-MhgPdVGD4H7VJ_OvYW5mMKTB9JfJApQyK3GXH7ETXryL/s1600/whtie+castle.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sliders by the sack</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I work the night shift; eleven to seven. That means I see a sampling of the people, vocations and tragedies in my city. Nurses on their way home from the ER or surgery or cancer ward stop for a high-carb snack. Garbage truck drivers come in for pre-dawn coffee before making their smelly rounds. Weary travelers find us open and fill up on grease and comfort before logging more miles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We’re a 24-hour, fast-food joint. We sell sliders by the sack and hope with a smile. At least, that’s how I like to think of it. If you’ve ever worked in the food service business, you know what I mean. You can see desperation in faces; people who are hanging over the edge of despair and just need a reason not to let go. Sometimes they are well-dressed and other times, you can tell they’ve slept in the same clothes for days. They might smile and act like everything is cool, but the eyes always betray them. I’ve gotten pretty good at reading eyes over the years. And I try to give them a word or two of understanding and a smile that doesn’t mock their troubles but says things are going to be all right. I think that’s what Jesus would do if He worked the night shift at the Castle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I like the quietness around 3 AM when there’s time to clean up a bit between customers. I do love a gleaming coffee pot with a fresh brew trickling in. In fact, the other night I had just made a fresh pot when she walked in, nicely dressed and running from something. I can tell that look a mile away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“What can I get for you, hon?” I said. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ve learned over the years to use endearments wisely. Other women are sensitive to what seems to be a patronizing or condescending tone and rightly so. But my gut told me she needed it. And turns out that was exactly right. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Coffee, please.” She swiped at her eyes and rummaged in her purse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Just made up a fresh pot.” I smiled. “Hope you like it scalding hot.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“It will be fine, I’m sure. I probably shouldn’t be drinking it anyway.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Oh?” I raised my eyebrows just a bit, not too rude, but taking the bait she was subconsciously offering along with her debit card. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She laid a hand on her flat belly, “I’m pregnant.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Congratulations!” I said. “And you know, just a little caffeine isn’t bad. Everyone needs a cup of coffee once in a while.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Yeah, well, I don’t think it could do any more damage anyway.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I sat her coffee on the counter and handed her the receipt. “Is something wrong?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tears came to her eyes and she grabbed her cup and squeezed it as though it would keep her from falling over. Behind her, the dining area was mostly empty and the drive-thru was quiet. Odd at this time of night, but then I’ve seen enough of Providence to know better than to ask questions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“I got the results of my genetic testing today. There’s something wrong with the baby. I don’t remember the name of it. I just walked out of the doctor’s office and started driving. I haven’t even told my husband; I can’t face him. He has wanted a son for so long, and how can I let him know that this baby won’t even realize he’s carrying on the family name? I thought coffee might give the strength to call him.” She grabbed a napkin from the chrome box and dabbed at her eyes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I reached out my hand and patted her younger one. “Honey, you better call that man. He needs you, and you need him. You can face this together. Besides, you never know what’s wrapped up in that little package God’s sending you. Special needs bring extra effort, but they also bring extra reward.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She looked at me with conflicted eyes. “I want to believe that. My doctor started talking to me about my “options” today. I know what he means. Do you think God would forgive me for doing something like that?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“God always forgives when we’re sorry, but I know He would rather you accept this baby along with His strength to care for it. Regret can be a terrible thing; He wants you to choose life—for the baby and for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You sound like my mama.” She tried a brave smile. “I need to call her too.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I handed her a couple more napkins. “Sounds like you have a lot of calls to make. Why don't you get started and I’ll keep the coffee and the prayers coming.”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, she sat down in a corner booth and pulled out her phone. As I turned around, I heard her say “Jeff? I’m so sorry, honey. . . .” </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I wiped up around the coffee pot and thanked God for the night shift, where miracles happen at White Castle. – VQ <span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></span></div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-2217595975896019542017-12-24T08:22:00.000-05:002017-12-24T08:22:12.970-05:00time to ponder<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoR9yOiro_pllgUb1UK3YSWiGyFotHEJ2nbCrN8HuSvLZ2LMkMvlOLn6RvhEvyC23FYXpjCAkL3HR9c3168ZILwyFnbHLt4mtw3JZUm58o4716N6eSZOzaX7WspNbQOoNFx2xDevofr1k/s1600/nativity%252C+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="510" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoR9yOiro_pllgUb1UK3YSWiGyFotHEJ2nbCrN8HuSvLZ2LMkMvlOLn6RvhEvyC23FYXpjCAkL3HR9c3168ZILwyFnbHLt4mtw3JZUm58o4716N6eSZOzaX7WspNbQOoNFx2xDevofr1k/s320/nativity%252C+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I rubbed my swollen stomach and grimaced as my foot slipped
on a loose stone in the road. Dust
swirled around my sandals and clung to my clothing. The crowd of people traveling with us grew
with each mile. Surely that meant we
were nearing our destination. By sheer
willpower, I made my weary feet speed up so I might catch up to my husband a
few yards ahead. I laid my hand on his
arm and asked, “How much farther?”</div>
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Joseph gave me his gentle smile, concern in his eyes.“I think we will reach the village by
nightfall. How are you, my love?"<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Very tired,” I answered
truthfully. My legs are aching, and I am
having more pains.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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His eyes widened,“Is it time?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I hastened to reassure him. “I
think not tonight. It is just the walking
that makes the pains come. But it will
be soon.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“I promise you the best room in Bethlehem. I brought extra money just for that
purpose.” Joseph squeezed my hand before
I dropped back to walk at a slower pace with the other women.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My mind, however, would not slow its rapid thinking. It seemed to be having trouble keeping up
with my body as we made this journey. Things had just happened too quickly, too unexpectedly, for calm,
rational thoughts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We had barely settled into the routine of newly married life. Joseph had just completed crafting our
household furniture after our quiet, hasty wedding. And I, the soon-to-be mother, was in the midst
of a flurry of activity, preparing for this special little one. Then, the announcement from Caesar was made
in the village square. And everything
was disrupted as we departed on this very unwelcome trip at such an
inconvenient time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was just like the Romans to snatch from me even this joy – the birth
of my first Child. I laid at their feet
the blame for my grief as I struggled to accept the fact that my cherished
dreams of motherhood were not to be fulfilled. I had imagined a tranquil setting – giving birth in my own home, with my
family nearby and time after the hard labor to ponder and rejoice. With the present
circumstances, that was not going to happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If Yahweh were truly in control
of this miraculous event, why would He not at least grant me the luxury of my
own home and the attendance of my mother for the birth? In all I had experienced in the months since
my Baby’s unexplainable conception, I had clung to the words of the Most High
as delivered by His messenger. I
believed Him. Now, amid the flurry of
feet and shouts of travelers, I couldn’t sense Him. The quiet peace of my waiting in Nazareth
were gone. I felt panic clutch me as
strongly as the birthing pains that occasionally knifed through my stomach. As I glimpsed the shadowy outline of
Bethlehem’s streets ahead, I felt tears warm my cheeks. I wanted to sit down in the dusty trail and
give full sway to my emotions, but instead, I kept walking . . . .<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
. . . that was three days
ago.<br />
Tonight I sit beside a straw-filled
feeding trough which holds the most precious possession I have . . . my infant
Son. He is wrapped in the traditional
swaddling clothes. His tiny hands are
curled against his face; he smiles as he dreams, in the universal way of
newborns. I move about gingerly in the
manner of every woman whose body has just experienced the trauma of birth. My husband slumbers nearby in the exhaustion felt
by new fathers since the beginning of families. And yet truly I know the Baby's Father is One who never sleeps, who always watches and keeps. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
The Baby stirs, and I trace a finger along His silken cheek. His very presence stirs my soul, and I feel
oddly awakened after years of sleep, strangely seeing after years of
darkness. I know in my heart that this
awareness is the beginning of the fulfillment of His destiny. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
The messenger promised He would save His
people. And I, His mother, need to find
that salvation as well. Yet, He is so
ordinary, this Child who is God’s own Son. There is nothing outwardly about his small form that demands worship. Yet, those with waiting hearts will know Him,
I’m sure. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
No, I won’t tell you that I sit tonight in the tranquil place I hoped
to give birth. I won’t tell you how
excruciating was the pain, or how much I longed for my mother. Things weren’t perfect. In fact, everything, even His first bed, is
rough and unlovely. But I am discovering
that the surroundings in my life are only the background for what Jehovah is
doing. The true savoring of the event is
in my soul where an unearthly peace rules when I relinquish and rest. So, I turn to cradle my Son, and then sit
back to ponder and rejoice. <o:p></o:p></div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-29929718082197384572017-12-22T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-22T10:33:01.671-05:00silent night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDOqrOFBBKhmGWn4j0x6Y_ru06nb5jAwR4mObSBHOn3DL1j7VzlwdvkfgfH6UzDmeshw5ATnejFCqbXNEK1k77RIZEfYoJygwpUvkPznAT28lXAljRG2RWID8h_MYU18D7Nu0IxZFJQ5N/s1600/newborn+feet%252C+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDOqrOFBBKhmGWn4j0x6Y_ru06nb5jAwR4mObSBHOn3DL1j7VzlwdvkfgfH6UzDmeshw5ATnejFCqbXNEK1k77RIZEfYoJygwpUvkPznAT28lXAljRG2RWID8h_MYU18D7Nu0IxZFJQ5N/s320/newborn+feet%252C+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Christmas Eve. Sure enough, not a creature was stirring, but
that was because it was 11:00 pm in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of
Parkland Memorial Health Center and the little ones were too sick to be active. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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McKendra Gordon sank into an empty
swivel chair at the nurses’ station on third floor. She reached for her cup of coffee, trying not
to remember that her college-age children were gathered around the dining room
table at her home, playing board games with their father. There was, no doubt, lots of laughter as the
siblings regaled each other with tales of childhood pranks. There would be cocoa, Christmas cookies and a
crackling fire in the fireplace. The
blue spruce tree decked in country-style would be shining from its corner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But this was the year that she pulled
Christmas Eve for her holiday shift. And, she had determined early that she
would be cheerful about it, if it killed her. So far, it seemed it might.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A beeping pierced her reverie. Labor and Delivery. A newborn was in trouble. Jerking up, she quick-stepped down the hall,
joining her colleague, Taneeka, in the sprint to the L&D unit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Inside the birthing room, both
nurses began their well-rehearsed routine, assessing the infant, starting the life-sustaining procedures. A tiny
baby boy lay in an isolette, his fragile lungs struggling to take in
oxygen. He was preterm – 6 weeks
early. His was a textbook case – there
was not enough surfactant to expand the air sacs in his underdeveloped lungs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As they prepared to wheel the baby
to NICU, McKendra’s glance took in the terrified eyes of the pale, young mother
and the rigid shoulders of her husband, both of them weary, scared and trying
to be strong. Unexpectedly, she reached
out and grasped the mother’s hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In a quiet voice she said, “He is
with us, you know. Emmanuel. That what Christmas is all about.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Then she and Taneeka were gone,
racing the baby into the sterile environment behind the secure doors of the NIC
unit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Dr. Jameson joined them, inserting
the tube for the ventilator, staring the intravenous line in the baby’s
scalp. Such invasive procedures for this
tiny human, and on his first Christmas in this world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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McKendra watched as the newborn
took shuddering gasps of air through the mask. Taneeka was easing him into the incubator. They stepped back, and looked at each
other. Taneeka laid a gentle black hand
on the infant’s life-giving cocoon of wires and plastic and began softly, “Oh,
Jesus . . ."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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McKendra reached out her own hand,
joining her friend in their special ritual. “Thank you for this special Christmas gift. Hold this little boy close to Your
heart. We ask for Your healing. And give his parents strength and peace. In Jesus’ name . . . .” They both whispered “Amen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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McKendra needed a break. She excused herself and headed for her
favorite, quiet place. There was a
little alcove in a scarcely-used side waiting room. It had a window looking out
over the back lawn of the hospital. She
wished she could personally thank the architect who designed the little
space. She had spent many a solitary
moment here, nourishing her soul in the Lord’s presence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Tonight the view was a blanket of
snow, as soft as the flannel coverlet on the infant she had just left. She leaned against the window, feeling
through the glass the chill of the frost outside. And in the early morning stillness, a verse
from the gospel of Matthew formed in her mind. <span style="text-indent: 0in;">“For I was hungry ,., , . ." (Matthew 25:35, 36, 40) </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The least of these . . . a baby
coming into the world naked and hungry, a newborn stranger.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
McKendra smiled through misty
eyes. She and Taneeka had served Jesus
while they cared for the little preemie in NICU. What a glorious way to spend Christmas
Eve! The third floor of Parkland
Memorial suddenly seemed a cathedral.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
The lights on the silver and red
trimmed Christmas tree winked at her as she swished by the nurses’ station on
her way back to the babies. Beside isolette
number 4 stood the young parents – the mother wrapped in a wheelchair, both she
and her husband gazing intently at the baby.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
The father spoke. “He seems to be
breathing better, doesn’t he?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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McKendra hesitated. NICU parents were characteristically overly
optimistic, often in denial. But she
leaned over to check the baby anyway. And couldn’t believe her eyes and ears. Beautiful pink color filled tiny cheeks which already looked
plumper. His breathing was even and
getting stronger. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
She looked up and smiled.“Yes, he’s improved a
lot. It won’t be long until you’ll hear
those lungs all the time!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
The young mother grabbed her
head. “Thank you for taking such good
care of our Matthew. Thank you so much.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
On impulse, McKendra leaned down
and hugged her. The little stranger’s
name seemed to fit. And she whispered ever so softly,
“You’re welcome, Jesus.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-87552905666589310552017-12-19T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-19T11:04:12.880-05:00a gift in words<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMBMEFt-Uulldt4AKDRnzPIvG6BqAjbhW7Y-m2wc2-wxT5o3XOw9RMdBcffXaVLcrKAILdBzicSNPAxWADs2GAnWBPKEXpUZ3NY8jlEJzo60MrI46Z_IcbwGONH4dmB86fgXUdEEfg8yt/s1600/christmas+bells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="509" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMBMEFt-Uulldt4AKDRnzPIvG6BqAjbhW7Y-m2wc2-wxT5o3XOw9RMdBcffXaVLcrKAILdBzicSNPAxWADs2GAnWBPKEXpUZ3NY8jlEJzo60MrI46Z_IcbwGONH4dmB86fgXUdEEfg8yt/s320/christmas+bells.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The library had a different kind of quiet today. Emma could feel the holiday spirit just under
the surface in the youngsters who jostled past her desk on their way to the
children’s department. Christmas was
only 3 weeks away, and the town was bursting with holiday cheer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Emma had made sure the library was full of the joy of the season. Her favorite design book had given her some
marvelous ideas for the display area in the adult department, as well as some
suggestions for the wreaths for the front doors. Even now, she reveled in the woodsy splendor
of the Blur Spruce tree that reigned in the traditional corner. Yes, Christmas had come to the library.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Emma sat back in her desk chair, glancing at the books which she had
just finished covering with clear book-wrap protectors. Books. They had been her life. If
Dickens should have chosen to characterize her for his “Christmas Carol” masterpiece,
he would have used books instead of ghosts. They represented her past, present and future. A scrapbook photo from her childhood showed a
seven-year-old clutching a new book with a birthday banner in the
background. Her high school annual
pronounced a bright-eyed brunette as president of the literary society. A snapshot from college days revealed her
dorm room as a place of soft lamps and neatly shelved books. Now, the name card on her desk called her
“head librarian” – a dream whose fruition she still sometimes doubted. Books had been her friend for so long that
she was still amazed at her good fortune to be able to spend her waking hours
getting paid for doing what she loved. Books at home, books at work, books for leisure, books for learning,
books for life. Yes, words were her world. And, as the years passed, she'd made a tentative peace with her lack of family and relationship because of their comfort. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A sturdy voice interrupted her reverie. “Excuse me, I need help with a book.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Emma was a bit surprised. Requests for help with books were getting rarer these days what with the
computerized cataloging system the library used. Back in her younger years, librarians were much more involved in book selection. These days, young people preferred to do things on their own.</div>
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<br /></div>
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She looked up, smiled because it was her job. “Yes, of course. Which book do you
need?”</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
The face she looked into was cheerful, determined and youthful. A dark jacket was slung over one arm, a
leather attache case held in the other hand. A young entrepreneur? A business
major at the university?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
“Oh, I know where the books are. I just need an opinion. You see,
I've read some of the articles you write for the university newspaper. I really admire your command of words. I want to know which of these books you would
recommend.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
The books he extended to her were theology tomes, recent additions from
noted evangelical authors. She gave a
demure smile. “I’m afraid I’m not read
up in this department. I’m sure both are
excellent. They are checked out
regularly.’<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Thanks, maybe I’ll just take them both. You see, I’m preparing an address for my 3<sup>rd</sup>
year Christology class. It has to been
given before the Christmas break. I have
to make it good.” He gave her an
engaging grin and handed her his library card.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Over the next two weeks, Emma often noted his curly black head bent
over a library table. The young man would
be tapping furiously on a laptop. Sometimes he would stop by her desk on his way out and chat for a minute
or ask advice on how to word a particular phrase or how to solve a certain
grammatical problem. Other times, he
just waved congenially as he hurried to start his work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On the last week before Christmas, she was helping a young mother check
out a book on Christmas crafts when she saw the now familiar jacket as he
approached her desk. He waited
courteously until she was free to talk to him.
He smiled, as always.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Hi, Miss Emma. I’m getting
ready to go home to my family in Chicago for the Christmas break. But I had to share the news with you – I got
an “A” for my Christology address! I
wanted to thank you for your help. And I
want you to have a copy of it.” He
handed her a manila envelope tied with a bright bow. “Have a wonderful Christmas.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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And he was gone, waving merrily over his shoulder as he went out the
double doors with the pine-scented wreaths. <o:p></o:p></div>
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With the usual afternoon flurry of activity in the library, Emma didn’t
have another thought about the envelope until she was tidying up her desk when
the library closed at 6:00. She saw it
lying there on her desk, and instead of starting her rounds of the library
tables to corral errant books, she sat down and opened the clasp.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was neatly typed and full of Scripture.<br />
She expected that; she had heard Scripture
passages before. But these particular
verses seemed strangely significant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God . . . .” (God was a God of
words?) “and the Word was made flesh and
dwelt among us . . . “ (John 1:14a) Jesus Christ was born of man and for
man. He became one with His creation so
they could become one with Him. The
Savior incarnate. This is
Christmas.” She paused in her reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That reference must be to Jesus. God
could have chosen some other means of communication with His creation. But He chose the power of the written and
spoken word - the Bible and the Son.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Funny that she had never considered that before – the fact that the
thing closest to her heart also represented the heart of God come to earth in
the form of a tiny Baby. Words. Living words. God’s words. The Word. Why had she said “no” for so long to the words of
salvation she had heard as a child? Why through the years had she shut up her heart, not only to others, but also to Him? She
bowed her heard, a solitary tear tracing a path along her cheek.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was time. Time to embrace the
words that would set her free; words that would transform her life with their
power. She closed the pages of the
manuscript and opened her heart in prayer. And a new chapter was written in the public library while the snow
whispered outside the window and the angels wrote in heaven’s book. <o:p></o:p></div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-57394474543155382052017-12-18T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-18T06:00:02.010-05:00christmas in a mason jar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMbZYCn11wK18KrvEe7tlUzE0e3I9Agbu-r4Wy3MEirO4Rnzmz5flfioDyG9TEWKGfSbOJ5IBOZBrgm74WYawB2C4wmqH0SdijqnuocMqvSDbxR3PmHcGl6PLHu0CiGY228aDXhEXSPRT/s1600/christmas+jar%252C+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="510" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMbZYCn11wK18KrvEe7tlUzE0e3I9Agbu-r4Wy3MEirO4Rnzmz5flfioDyG9TEWKGfSbOJ5IBOZBrgm74WYawB2C4wmqH0SdijqnuocMqvSDbxR3PmHcGl6PLHu0CiGY228aDXhEXSPRT/s320/christmas+jar%252C+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(an old-fashioned tale of the season)</div>
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It started quite simply, as many times these things do. A quart of soup in a Mason canning jar seems such an insignificant thing but don’t try to say that to a little farming community in the Midwest. They won’t hear you. They remember the story of the prairie schoolteacher who bravely struggled through her first year teaching the three R’s to a gaggle of towheaded kids. They know how she tromped through knee-deep drifts, started fires in a frigid shanty schoolhouse and pressed on through planting season, drought, diphtheria and wildfires. They have been told the tale of her first Christmas, alone in her cabin, scarcely anything to eat when a knock on the door brought a visitor with a hearty gift. They know well that the stew brought her more than nourishment; it was an act of giving that warmed her heart and bonded her to the townsfolk forever. Not to mention, of course, that she married the farmer son of the woman who brought it!</div>
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So, today they still keep the tradition of the Christmas jar in that little rift in the fields called home to a stalwart few. Every December, a Mason jar filled with a Christmas remembrance is sent to the newest member of the community, sometimes lavishly appointed, sometimes embellished with homely bits of trim. It might be filled with cookies or caramel popcorn or pudding, but it is always at the very soul of the Christmas spirit itself. The original jar is no more, of course, having fallen victim to careless little hands carrying it on its joyful mission. But hearts in this town are quick to forbear and forgive and a substitute jar hasn’t made any difference to the cheer in which it is received. </div>
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This year, the members of the Remington family are to be the bearers of the gift. Theirs is a happy estate, situated on acres of land as flat as pancake, as they say, and teeming with soil that is good for growing things. Mr. Remington’s great-grandfather first staked claim to this property many years ago and his descendants have lovingly worked it since. In summer its fields are full of robust crops of soybeans and wheat and corn, guarded by brilliant sunflowers. In winter, as now, the land lies still and beautiful in frozen sleep, covered with a quilt of snow. </div>
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Mrs. Remington has filled the Christmas jar to the brim with homemade goodness, placed a bright scrap of fabric around the lid and tied it with a bit of twine. As she hands it to the noisy twosome putting on coats and gloves and boots, she reminds them of their important task.</div>
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“Shelly, remember to take this straight to Miss Calvert’s home. And keep it safe in this basket until you get there.”</div>
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“I will, Mama.” Shelly is a pink-cheeked youngster whose pigtails always seem to escape their bands. </div>
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“And I know why we’re taking it to Miss Calvert.” This from Tommy, the little brother whose boots betray his fondness for muddy ditches.</div>
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“Why, dear?” Mrs. Remington pats his check in spite of the tracks he is making on the kitchen floor.</div>
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“Because she is the newest people in our town!”</div>
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“It’s person, not people, Tommy.” Shelly shakes her head in grownup dismay.</div>
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Mrs. Remington smiles. “That’s all right, Tommy. She is new to our town, and we want her to feel welcome.”</div>
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“Because of Grandma Connors and the soup, right?” </div>
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“Mmmm-hmmm. It’s a lovely tradition, I think. Now, hurry, children, I want you to be home soon for supper.” </div>
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And so out the door they go, Shelly swinging the basket with the jar, Tommy nearly tripping over his dangling boot laces. In a few paces, they have gathered their sleds from the porch and have started down the road toward the smattering of houses they call a town. It isn’t a long walk and certainly not dangerous. The sun is smiling down, though not warmly enough to melt the snow and the neighbors watch the path for children at play. The Remington children are thus carefree and exuberant as they skip onward, unaware that the basket on Shelly’s arm is lighter than before, that the Christmas jar lies in a drift, its fabric trim growing stiff in the cold. They are eager to give the new teacher their gift, to show that this community cares for its own, especially its newest members.</div>
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Though there is another district where one might wonder at the truth of this statement. The folks there have no Christmas traditions, other than drink. Their homes are not brightly lit, nor filled with wonderful aromas and happy faces. The Christmas trees there are dismal affairs and the children have little expectation of Christmas morning. </div>
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James lives in one of these hovels. He is named for his grandfather, the last good man in his family tree, a man who died serving his country and whose offspring didn’t possess the same firmness of character as he. Little James was born to poverty; life has given him little comfort. He sleeps with his sister and brother underneath a paltry blanket and scrounges for his own breakfast in the chilly kitchen where his breath is warmer than the stove. This morning he thinks about a mug of cocoa. He’s only tasted it once, at a party with his mother when he was much younger, but he remembers the sweet taste and comforting warmth. </div>
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And he recalls there were little squishy bits of white floating on the top of the drink. Oh, how he’d love to have a cup of that for Christmas. So, standing in his bare feet on a cold, sticky floor, he naturally turns to a Source his granny told him about – the Father in heaven. In simple terms, he asks for cocoa, please. Then he eats his crumbling crust of toast and runs to find his coat with the short arms and the broken zipper. In a flash, he is dressed as warmly as he knows and out the door. He doesn’t call out to the others in the house; no one will miss him when he is gone. </div>
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By chance, he takes the road toward the “other” town. He doesn’t plan to go there; he just wants to walk a ways and view the festive houses from afar. And so, he thinks little about where his feet walk, his eyes are trained ahead, eager for the sight of the happy town. </div>
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But, wait . . . he suddenly sees something. Was it an angel who brushed the snow off the little jar and caused the sun to pick up the glint of glass beside him? Who can say? All we know is that the Heavenly Father cares for the little ones and their Christmas prayers are heard and cherished. </div>
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It takes James a few minutes to realize what he has found. Mrs. Remington put on the lid tightly and he has to twist it a few times before it comes off. But when he dips his finger in the powdery stuff and brings it to his tongue, a look of delight comes on his face that I think the heavenly hosts must be able to see. And he is quick to pop one of the bits of white into his mouth too. Certainly, no marshmallow has ever been more appreciated. And James turns back toward his pitiful home, the gift held firmly in his little-boy hands. It is proof that granny was right, and he is happy with his wonderful treat. He doesn’t know, of course, that his granny’s prayers are at work nor that Mrs. Remington teaches a Sunday-School class and will soon find him on her visiting rounds through the countryside. He doesn’t understand that sometimes God works through Mason jars and hot cocoa and tiny marshmallows.</div>
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And what of the new teacher in town, Miss Calvert? She never will tell that the students dropped her gift in the snow. She smiles tenderly at Shelly and Tommy, wipes their teary eyes and goes right out to buy another jar to replace the one that was lost. It is love that is the real gift after all and that has been delivered in abundance. </div>
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And as for the boy from the hovel, well, it will be many years before the full story will be known and by that time, James will be a young minister with a little boy of his own and a heart dedicated to helping others. He will retain a fondness for hot cocoa topped with marshmallows and will be quick to share a cup with anyone he can. Because to his way of thinking, there has never been a gift as full of hope and love as the Mason jar filled with cocoa by Mrs. Remington and dropped in the snow by angels that winter’s eve on the prairie. </div>
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(Copyright by Valorie Quesenberry, 2013. All rights reserved.)</div>
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<br />Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-21777722556597429072017-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-16T06:00:27.986-05:00a story of Mary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8fktkqXrJqcfYGbFTVsDzDcS9E7lq7uvh17xl9hl36oRyWiTwOCibliXwnDTsQxwQR7jIyLawgtOuQOhu8wZoAnyeGRK7x4_cXzscI_XT3rqfIoXQWi1pTlYEJU1qB4AwuDlLhbOJKn_/s1600/mary%252C+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8fktkqXrJqcfYGbFTVsDzDcS9E7lq7uvh17xl9hl36oRyWiTwOCibliXwnDTsQxwQR7jIyLawgtOuQOhu8wZoAnyeGRK7x4_cXzscI_XT3rqfIoXQWi1pTlYEJU1qB4AwuDlLhbOJKn_/s320/mary%252C+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">My name is Mary. When I was born, there were many
girls with this name. And just like my name was common, so was everything else
about me. I had the same dark eyes and hair of my people, olive skin, and a
nose just the least bit prominent. As I grew up, my stature was average. There
were no outstanding features about me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In the first century village in which I was raised,
the houses were made of mud bricks with rooms on the ground floor and a stair
case leading to the roof. Our house looked just like all the others. We ate
sitting on the floor around a low table and slept on mats on the floor. We
carried water from the village well and bought our food at the community
marketplace. Our lives were the ones of poor people: working hard to provide
for our needs, enjoying the small celebrations in our town which provided a
break from the routine, sharing with our neighbors, going to synagogue
faithfully, living for the day when Messiah would come and free us from the
Romans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In fact, I often heard my father and older brothers
discuss the Roman oppression as they ate the evening meal. Like submissive
Hebrew women, my mother and I ate after we had served the men. But I listened
intently while I helped my mother. I have always been full of questions. My
brothers were apprenticed to merchants and tradesmen in our village of
Nazareth. They already had the full beards of mature Jewish men and would soon
take a wife and establish their own homes. Just like all the men in Galilee, they
hated the Romans. And my father shared their bitterness. I often heard him say
that the Romans were cruel and unjust, taxing the Jewish people severely to
keep them in poverty, and that they took delight in squelching any hint of
pride they found in a Jewish patriot. I remember hearing their exclamations of anticipated
victory as they ended their discussions with "When Messiah
comes........" It seemed He was to be the answer to the Roman problem. I
wondered what He would be like and when He would come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For several years now, my mother had been preparing
me to take care of a house when the day of my marriage would arrive. We would
talk of it as we washed the clothes by the river or ground the wheat to make
bread. "Someday," my mother would say, "Your father will arrange
a marriage for you and I want you to make the best wife in Nazareth, Mary. Always
keep the housework done and respect your husband." It seemed so far off to
me then that I would just give a little smile and say, "Oh, mother, I will,
I will."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But the day came. After the evening meal, my father
asked to speak with me. My mother came and sat by the fire with me as he spoke.
He told me about a young carpenter with whose father he had done business over
the last year. They were a good family with an established trade. They were
members of our synagogue and faithful to the law of Moses. Just today my father
had agreed to a betrothal between me and the carpenter's son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I remember my first question. "What is his name?"
And my father's reply, “His name is Joseph." So, he couldn't be all that
bad with a name from the patriarchs. I wanted to know more of course, but
father was not given to noticing all details of appearance and manners. He was
concerned with my future husband's religious fervor, job security, and family
background. This Joseph seemed to pass all these tests. I would just have to
wait to find out the answers to the rest of my questions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Since the women are separate from the men at synagogue,
I did not meet Joseph until the day our betrothal was celebrated. Though I had
seen many such ceremonies in my fourteen years, I still was a little dazed that
it was happening to me. The rabbi said the words from the Torah and then my
father gave a blessing, putting my hand into Joseph's for a second. I remember
how rough his hand was and thinking, "That must be from long days of
working with wood." And I wondered if he was gruff on the inside as well. Then
my mother placed the betrothal head ornament on me and the ceremony was over. I
peeked once again at Joseph as we parted, and saw that he was quite a bit older
than me, his beard long and full, his stature well-muscled, and his sandaled
feet athletic and lithe. His face was not handsome nor was his manner winsome. Indeed,
he seemed quite somber, as if he were fully aware of the significance of such a
day as this. As I turned to go, he looked my way and our eyes met. There was no
thrilling feeling, only a bonding -- a sense that, in the split second, our
futures were unalterably sealed. I left that day with a wondering inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The next weeks were filled with much preparation for
my wedding day. My mother and I worked many long days readying my small
trousseau. Many of my aunts and cousins stopped by from time to time to help
out. But my favorite cousin, Elizabeth, did not come. In fact, our messages to
her were not answered. She seemed to be in some sort of seclusion. Of course,
this might have been due to that fact that her husband, Zacharias, had recently
suffered a horrible attack which left him unable to speak. At any rate, I
missed her very much as the preparations continued. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">My new husband's parents were to host a great feast
in honor of our marriage, but my family must provide my wedding garments and supplies
for our new home together. It was on one
such busy day that I turned to pick up a piece of cloth and saw him sitting
there in the room. He wore a white garment, but had no beard and seemed to have
been observing me at my work. When I looked up, startled to see a strange man
in my room, he spoke and his words pierced my consciousness with their clarity.
Somehow I knew he was not just a man. His very manner seemed to indicate he was
a messenger. When he said I was very blessed and that God was with me, I
remember feeling relieved that I was not being warned of coming punishment
because of wickedness. But when he told me that I would conceive a child, my
astonishment must have been written across my face. And then that most
remarkable of all explanations -- this child would be God's Son, in my womb to
carry, but the seed of Jehovah Himself, the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For minutes after he left, I just sat, gazing out
the window of my room, pondering those words. As unbelievable as it seemed, I
believed it. I could not explain the deep conviction I had that this was real,
that this prophecy would come true. Maybe it was because I have always had a
strong loyalty to Yahweh, and because I never tired of hearing the Torah read. Maybe
this certainty was a gift from Jehovah, for He certainly knew what difficult
moments I would soon face. All I knew then was that I was changed and my life
was not my own, but His. I was a handmaiden, fulfilling every detail of the One
I served.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The task before me now was how to inform my family
and my betrothed -- Joseph. I decided to wait until my pregnancy became more
evident before saying anything. In this way, I figured the proof would be
undeniable. And since I was never out of the house without my parents'
approval, they would know I had not dishonored my virginity. And since God's Messenger
had explained to me about Elizabeth I was very eager to see her. By this time,
the news of her pregnancy had reached our village and we understood the reason
of her seclusion. Since there were several months before my marriage and it was
customary for women members of the family to go and assist a new mother, I was
able to convince my parents to allow me to travel to Judah, to Elizabeth's
lovely home in the hill country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The 3 months there were an unexpected joy. The very
day of my arrival God miraculously revealed to Elizabeth the news that I was
carrying the Sacred Son of God deep within my womb. And throughout the weeks
that followed, we had many conversations about the ways of God and the great
bond we shared in His plan. Of course, there were also conversations about
pregnancy and motherhood, which were a great source of comfort to me. Surely,
God had planned this visit. By experiencing the supernatural herself,
Elizabeth's heart was prepared to receive my news and to help me the most in
those first difficult months of my pregnancy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I stayed with her as long as my father had specified
and then returned home when my brother came to get me. Being a man, he did not
recognize my slightly swollen stomach as pregnancy, but instead teased me about
eating up Elizabeth's food instead of helping to prepare for the baby. But my
mother's keen eyes missed nothing. That night as I prepared for bed, she came
to my room. Her face told me what was coming. Her words were sad and
disheartened. Her voice had an incredulous tone. "Mary, what has happened?
You are with child. When did this come to be? Why have you not told me?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I did my best to explain to her. I even showed her
where the angel sat and told her the very words he spoke to me (I have never
forgotten them, even to this day). My mother has never possessed either great
intellect or great faith. And while she could not accept what I was saying
totally, she loved me deeply and somehow believed me enough to know that
whatever had caused this condition was not my fault. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But, explaining to my father the next day was very
different. He was a man of plain fact, a man who needed clear reasons and who
possessed a great pride. My explanations of God's Messenger and giving birth to
Messiah seemed to him a creative, devious plan concocted by a desperate,
pregnant teenager. While I do not think he would have asked the council to put
me to death as the law commanded, neither do I think he would have dared to protest
if they had. His fear of God and loyalty to the law were great. The shame which
I was bringing upon his house caused him to withdraw from me as the days
passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">As was the custom, my father went to talk to Joseph,
telling him of the breach of contract and leaving further decisions about my
future in his hands. As the betrothed, he had the right to bring this sin
before the religious council for their judgment or quietly to break the
engagement, leaving me with the shame of a fatherless child and a life of
shunning. I did not know until later that Joseph actually considered the
"quiet" approach. But even as he pondered it, it bothered his just
nature. As I would later learn, Joseph was a man of impeccable principle. He thought
deeply about every decision. In this case, though all the evidence pointed
against me, he had a nagging doubt. He could not justify this course of action.
And then came the night when his dreams were interrupted by God's Messenger,
who brought him the words of Jehovah concerning the Child I was carrying. Joseph
was a steady, unexcitable carpenter, but God's Words are always convincing. The
next morning, he let my father know that the betrothal would not be broken. He
would marry me on the planned date. My father had only words of praise for
Joseph, "such a merciful man" he would say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">My mother and I continued the wedding preparations,
while I dealt with the symptoms of pregnancy, so new and unexpected to me. We
did not often talk of the Child to come; this seemed uncomfortable to my
mother. But she did try to prepare me as best she could for the days ahead and
for the birth as well. It did seem to dampen the wedding spirit. My brothers
were ashamed of their sister's seeming transgression and avoided me as much as
possible. My father had little contact with me -- he could not seem to sort out
his feelings about what had happened and chose to ignore the situation as best
he could. My wedding was not going to be a joyous affair at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> I cried into
my sleeping mat many times at night. My world had turned upside down and in all
my 14 years I had never faced so many difficulties. It was during those lonely
nights that I learned to turn to Jehovah. Now, I had been taught that we must
go to God through the priest, and this I did at every appointed time. But, now,
I just lifted my heart to God at night and whispered to Him my confusion and
disappointment. It was unexplainable really, but I would feel His strength
surrounding me and I could go to sleep, at peace. And I even felt hope for the
days to come. . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-1471458680341275002017-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-15T06:00:07.872-05:00a cookie cutter story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSC7CUZFytoDBinulfs-YE5Ggv-5qgSJ5-jQ-fw3Bry2N42ZiritQyrRykM4diEclYie-lSuhqEItLv3rEqPxdZ6tEr6AWqzbelmuIOdmXUjhUHNCC1D63OHadwyP8fkROvKOVjKWMLKs/s1600/cookie+cutter%252C+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="453" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSC7CUZFytoDBinulfs-YE5Ggv-5qgSJ5-jQ-fw3Bry2N42ZiritQyrRykM4diEclYie-lSuhqEItLv3rEqPxdZ6tEr6AWqzbelmuIOdmXUjhUHNCC1D63OHadwyP8fkROvKOVjKWMLKs/s320/cookie+cutter%252C+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As Catherine took the cheap, tin cookie cutters
from their jar, she remembered the story. She always did when she made Christmas cookies with Grandma Kitty’s
cutters. It was a story passed down for
2 generations — from mother to daughter while they shaped stars and angels and
filled the farmhouse kitchen with the scent of orange peel and sugar. A story that began in this very kitchen……<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Katherine (Kitty) Engel was a
girl of 7, the daughter of immigrant parents. Through the hard work of her father, they gained a small patch of
land in the Great Lake country. Here
they daily reached to enjoy more of the golden promise of America — free
enterprise, freedom, and faith. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Kitty spent most days helping
her ma, after she trudged home from the one-room school where strict Miss
Hodges held court. She liked school,
even if her brothers didn’t. And she
didn’t whine about her chores — they were just part of life. But today’s job was going to be fun, not
work. They were doing Christmas
baking! That meant Ma would go to her
kitchen shelf and pull off the tattered book she had brought from the old
country. She would mix and mutter to
herself and then roll out the dough on the counter where Kitty would help her
with the cutting. There would be stars,
bells, and angels — they were Kitty’s favorite.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>But today, when Kitty pulled
down the glass jar that held the cookie cutters, the lid was off and the
cutters were gone. Her ma was expecting
her to flour the table and wash the cutters off from their long sleep since
last Christmas. Kitty turned to her
ma. “They’re gone.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>“Now where…..” her Ma stopped mid-sentence. “Hans. I let him play with them this afternoon, but I thought I put them back. Kitty, go look for him.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>And Kitty did. Everywhere she could think of, in the
farmhouse and the barn. But little Hans
wasn’t there. Kitty was running back to
the house when she saw it in the snow — the angel cookie cutter, half buried in
the snow, and beyond it, tiny footprints. It took just a few minutes for Pa and her older brothers to get started
searching. And they finally found Hans,
in the dark woods behind the farm, shivering, clutching the other cookie
cutters in tight little fists. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>They figured out the
story. Hans had been happily playing on
the floor with cookie cutters, but when Kitty and her brothers had come home
from school, he had managed to innocently slip outside where he wanted to“make
a snow angel” but the“the angel had got losted in the snow”and he had apparently
wandered into the woods looking for it. Around the pot-bellied stove, they pulled him close and hugged him a
long time. Then Pa prayed a fervent
prayer, his strong voice breaking as he thanked “Gottvater”(God the Father)
for sending another angel to watch over little Hans. And always after that, the angel Christmas
cutter was special, very special.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Catherine dusted the flour from
her hands, and like her long-ago namesake, carefully washed the cookie cutters
and put them back in the jar. The cookie
cutter story and its reminder of the care of God was as much a Christmas
tradition as carols and cider. And how like God to use something small to
bring salvation. Just like the small
Christ child brought the promise of salvation to the entire world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Mommy!” It was her daughter, Katie, bouncing into the
kitchen with 7-year-old zest. “I have to
draw angels on this paper for a project at school tomorrow. Teacher said to use a cookie cutter. Do you have one I can use?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Catherine smiled, and again
reached up for the jar. It was time to
tell the story to Katie. A story about
little children and Christmas and, especially, about angels. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-46202236814771582502017-12-13T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-13T07:55:39.989-05:00yellowstone christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzhfeIuVtHvyGrF7JCnXwfZEcbNwbIaN0vFnU3XtZ1zdVA1bbxkITjWvelT5Csfl0SUl4TEAkQTQ4N4LBiJahlxHUJnWffqDFN8Bm47vK9asnMy85vUcIosxR1Z8l4gn4ZzvMU_8JdLJB/s1600/christmas+tree%252C+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="510" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzhfeIuVtHvyGrF7JCnXwfZEcbNwbIaN0vFnU3XtZ1zdVA1bbxkITjWvelT5Csfl0SUl4TEAkQTQ4N4LBiJahlxHUJnWffqDFN8Bm47vK9asnMy85vUcIosxR1Z8l4gn4ZzvMU_8JdLJB/s320/christmas+tree%252C+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I never
dreamed I would spend Christmas Eve away from my native Midwestern roots,
without the comfort of family and familiar foods. But, then I never dreamed I
would be a widow at age 29 either. But both are true. And now, by the generosity
of a fellow teacher, I am ensconced in a plush room at the Old Faithful Lodge
in Yellowstone National Park, awaiting the holiday festivities. That is, my daughter
and I are sharing a room next door to my fun-loving friend, Christy. Though my
parents will sorely miss having my 3-year-old opening her gifts at their home
tomorrow, I could not bring myself to come without her — we go everywhere
together — we are best buds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Christy
bounces in. “Hurry already!” She tosses her jacket on the chair. “They're
having the most awesome buffet downstairs in the great hall.” She smooths her
skirt and starts toward the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I stop
her. “Christy, thanks. For this. The trip . . . everything. I mean, it’s been 2
years and still . . . well, holidays are difficult.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">She gives
me a quick hug. “Hey, I know. I have loved having you and Kenna here with me.
Now, how about that food . . . .”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I make a
face and grab Kenna's hand. And we're off to join the other guests for a
scrumptious and hearty meal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The Old
Faithful Snow Lodge is the quintessential mountain structure — exposed beams,
hewn stone, oversized seating, and a mammoth fireplace with snowshoes on the
mantel — just being here makes you feel like a Klondike adventurer. And with
the snow piled deep by the door and the Christmas trees catching the sparkle of
the crackling fire . . .well, it almost rivals Christmas with my family in
Indiana . . .almost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">When I
cannot possibly swallow another appetizer, I pull Kenna back on my lap and
settle into an Adirondack chair. She sits still for a minute, then pulls back
to look at me, and points toward the window “Mommy, please, let's go see the
snow.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I can’t
refuse her. I want to see it too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We go
over to the room across the hall and gaze out the huge window at the silent
world being draped in a frosty coverlet. And seeing isn’t enough. Kenna and I
want to feel the feather-soft snow on our faces. A quick dash upstairs, and we
are bundled into parkas, gloves, and caps. We go through the main hall and out
the door. I happen to catch the gaze of a young park ranger as we go out the
door. Thinking he might attempt to dissuade us from our play, I quickly slip
out, hoping he won’t follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The snow
is incredible. Kenna and I twirl in circles like 2 sisters, laughing at the
shower of tiny snowflakes. She is so tiny there beside me, an elfin child in a
world of white. Then…...she is gone. I don’t see her. And the panic is
unbearable. I turn toward the lodge, opening my mouth to scream. And look up into the face of the ranger. His face is calm, chiseled against the wintry night
sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> I point. “My little girl. She was right here.
I can't find her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">He
lightly touches my shoulder and is gone. I hear a radio and realize he is
calling help. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Someone
holds out a hand, “Come back to the lodge. They'll find her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">As I
stand by the window, I moan my stupidity. What was I thinking? To go out in the
snow, at night, with a child? And I find myself running to my Father. “Oh God,
I‟m so sorry. Please keep her. Help him find her. You said You‟re a help to the
fatherless — please be with Kenna. Help her not to be scared.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">It is
really a very short time, though it seems much longer, and Kenna is back safe
and sound, her nose very red, and a few dried tears on her cheeks. She snuggles
close to me by the fire. I try to thank the ranger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">He smiles
and leans down. “I heard you and Kenna praying over your meal, and I knew she
was in good hands. <i>He </i>just used me to find her. And anyway, I’ve been looking out
for you since you came yesterday. You seemed a little out of your league here.” </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">His eyes
twinkle; he extends his hand. “I'm Bruce Grayson — park ranger, Sunday School
teacher, from Montana.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I put out
my hand. “I'm Claire Isaacs — Kenna's mom, Kindergarten teacher, from Indiana.
Wait a minute . . . Bruce Grayson . . . from Montana . . .you’re not . . .you
were my husband's hunting buddy? The one who led Him to Christ?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">He nods.
“I heard about Dave . . . can't believe he got to spend Christmas in heaven
before I did. We used to talk about that by the campfire</span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">.
</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">He always wanted me to meet you. I’m glad I finally
get the privilege.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">It‟s
getting late. Kenna’s head is lolling around on my shoulder. I get up. “Again .
. .thank you. I am very grateful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">“You’re
welcome.” His tone takes no credit, just rejoices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I start
toward the stairs, glance back and see Bruce walking toward the front </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">desk. </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">Our
very own guardian angel. Who would have guessed?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">A few
minutes later, I am wrapped in my chenille bathrobe, fuzzy slippers warming my
feet, when I hear a knock on my door. A bellboy stands there with an envelope.
It’s from the ranger. “Please join me for breakfast tomorrow. I have some stories
about Dave you probably never heard. The lodge kitchen makes a mean French
toast platter. — Bruce.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I smile. <i>An
angel who likes French toast</i>. I prop the note on the night stand and switch
off the lamp. God is looking out for me — my present and my future. Maybe Bruce
will be part of that. But for now, I am content. Christmas is alive in my
heart. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-16984585262550004042017-12-11T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-11T06:00:27.051-05:00far from home<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP5Qgw_5bDFuiNQVpnPB4EWcI7cQ0_nXdvSittaB0U46cOjOLSppgQAoFIQP_TFMNU-DOyy8LUIc0oyLBO-WwrGguaWvSxOhEb4i_nQ-TpxrH4-bEI7rgaVgJAb1bJXmCMEskVezI8a_S/s1600/Cabin+in+snow%252C+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="490" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP5Qgw_5bDFuiNQVpnPB4EWcI7cQ0_nXdvSittaB0U46cOjOLSppgQAoFIQP_TFMNU-DOyy8LUIc0oyLBO-WwrGguaWvSxOhEb4i_nQ-TpxrH4-bEI7rgaVgJAb1bJXmCMEskVezI8a_S/s320/Cabin+in+snow%252C+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The
wind on the lake flung ice crystals against the glass window pane of the cabin.
Britta could barely see the fir trees in front. Such a storm! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The
cabin was warm enough; the rocking chair made by her husband’s skilled hands
sat in front of the fireplace, a cheery braided rug at her feet. But she was
not one for relaxing; that was what she took from Mamma—busy hands. Right now,
her hands were clicking knitting needles. It was a surprise for Anders—a new
sweater of lovely blue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He
would need it in the winter months to come. This America, ach! Such a wild,
cold land. She remembered the first time she had seen their new home, six
months ago, on a glorious summer morn that rivaled any at home in Sweden. The
lake was pure azure and dark green trees gleamed on the shore; the sun warmed
the little house as Anders carried her over the threshold. She was perfectly,
wondrously happy. After their long separation while he came to America to clear
land and build the house, it had been unspeakable joy to be together again.
Sometimes, Britta still couldn't believe it was true, and she would raise the
lid of the cedar trunk to take another look at the wedding dress packed safely
inside. She was now Mrs. Anders Lindgren. In their own happy little home, she
could put aside the memories of the big ship pulling away from the dock and
Mamma and Pappa, waving goodbye, and growing smaller and smaller in the
distance. With sunshine and a garden and summer nights to enjoy, she didn’t
have to think about her oldest and dearest friend, Linnea, who was expecting
her first baby any day now. She and Anders had picnics on the lakeshore and
long drives in the twilight. It had been different in the summer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But
it was winter now. This place named Minnesota was frozen; the Lake called
Superior was solid. There was no warmth, no waves and no color—only wind and
snow in shades of grey and white. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Still,
Sweden was terribly cold too. And the winter days there hadn’t seemed
unbearable. Pausing to pick up a dropped stitch, Britta thought about the
difference family and friends make. She hadn’t really considered how important
they were, especially at Christmastime. A plump tear rolled down her face as she
thought about Mamma, with golden braids wound around her head and a crisp apron
around her middle, baking pans of <i>Pepparkakor (ginger cookies) </i>and s<i>affransbullar
(saffron buns)</i>. She wondered which of her sisters would be chosen to be the
Lucia Queen on December 13. Perhaps it would be Helena; oh, how she would love
to see her in a white gown, wearing the candle crown and carrying a tray of
coffee and sweet rolls for everyone to enjoy. She would miss the wonderful
Christmas Eve smorgasbord and the Christmas church service. Yes, being without
loved ones was awful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Of
course, she loved Anders too much to tell him about it. He was working so hard,
and he would worry if she told him about her sadness. This is what being a
prairie wife was all about. She must buck up and do the job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At
least, that’s what Mamma would say. Britta thought about the quiet night last
spring when they were sitting on Britta’s bed, stitching pillowcases for her
trousseau. She remembered Mamma’s words: "Britta, soon there will be an ocean
separating us. I could not let you go so far on your own." She stopped sewing
and laid her hand on Britta’s. "But I know our dear Savior Himself goes with
you always. And it was His plan that a woman stay with her husband. You must
honor His way, even when it causes hurt. And, if you do, He will be true to
you. I know it." Her eyes had been shining with misty tears and love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Britta
stopped knitting. <i>So, I am here. The snow is piling at my door, and my
husband has gone to help a neighbor. But, I have spices and sugar and flour and
eggs; it is time for me to do the baking. I will make Kanelbullar (cinnamon
buns). </i>She hid her knitting and got up from the chair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Before
she started mixing and stirring, she went to the cedar chest and took out
candles. She fashioned a little wreath with fir sprays and tied a bit of ribbon
here and there; then she set the candles inside and struck a match. She lit
candles in the two glass windows Anders was so proud of. Then she stood looking
out at the wintry sky; "Lord, I have lit the candles in honor of the Christ
Child. I am here, following Your way. I’m waiting on Your answer."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">She
had barely finished when there was a bang on the door. Outside, with snow
peppering down on golden curls was a young woman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Britta
threw open the door and smiled. “Hello, welcome.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The
stranger smiled back at her. “I’m Olga. My Gunnar knows your husband. He said
you might like a visit." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Oh yes, I would! Come in! I'm just going to make <i>Kanelbullar.</i> Let's do it together!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-49497366663037927492017-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-09T06:00:09.799-05:00christmas crash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbiu_Y6-D2dytSIYpDuXl8KIabT9OtGb-Wm8PsQrjJho_HSh1_5NTIfqwwZnIaMygAPME8AL6VkVdh9BFQcqoeeM4IQkJP6q-cmOlfxrmsj3e9yQnZdlg6wMJ8UbFiz_neaUFV11_UwBV/s1600/christmas+tree+1%252C+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="510" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbiu_Y6-D2dytSIYpDuXl8KIabT9OtGb-Wm8PsQrjJho_HSh1_5NTIfqwwZnIaMygAPME8AL6VkVdh9BFQcqoeeM4IQkJP6q-cmOlfxrmsj3e9yQnZdlg6wMJ8UbFiz_neaUFV11_UwBV/s320/christmas+tree+1%252C+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">The calendar on the
refrigerator had so many dates circled it looked like a geometry test. The
kitchen sink was piled with white bowls and plates like a mouth crowded with
teeth. A laundry basket in the hallway grinned mockingly, the red sock hanging
over the side looking amazingly like a stuck-out tongue. The oven light was
out, and the soup had spilled over and burned on the eye of the stove, filling the house
with an acrid aroma. There wasn't enough milk for Janie‘s sippy cup; there were
cookies due for the playgroup party tomorrow, and Noah has just discovered the
Christmas presents trying to hide in her closet.</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
Then the phone rang.
It was the neighbor. The dog had broken loose from his run and ransacked their
trash barrel. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
Celeste was tempted to
tell Mr. West to donate him at the Salvation Army kettle by Walmart, but she
prayed, grit her teeth, and tried to sooth the none-too-amiable older man next
door. She hung up the phone
and collapsed on a kitchen stool. Was this the real picture of holiday joy? She
heard a crash from upstairs.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Mommy!</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
She found Noah sitting
among the shards of her favorite figurine, his tiny thumb dripping blood. It was, as her grandma
used to say, the breaking point. She cried, sat down next to her toddler and
howled for a moment. Noah was so shocked that he quieted and looked at her in
wonder.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>I can‘t do this, God. Maybe I wasn't ever cut out to be a mother. I
mean, I can‘t even handle a normal household and a couple kids, let alone keep
my husband happy and wear a smile to church! What am I supposed to do here? I
need major help. Please!‖ <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
If she had expected to
hear the rustle of wings or see a shining light, she was disappointed. The
floor was still littered with sharp, glittery pieces, the kitchen was still in
disarray and at that moment, Janie woke up and began crying. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
Her domestic world was
still a bit fractured. But somehow she had the strength to wipe her eyes, hug
Noah and start the process of clean-up. A band-aid, a broom, and a few minutes
later and the mess was gone. She picked up Janie and put her in the baby swing.
She got Noah settled at the table with a cup of yogurt. Then she faced the
kitchen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
It taunted her again;
she ignored it. First, clear the sink, then clean the stove, next, fold the
laundry. Now, give Janie a cup of juice and sit Noah down with a coloring book.
Finally, remove the calendar and make a list of the events they needed to
attend. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
The afternoon was gone
too soon. Celeste never did get that quiet moment to read the new book on her
nightstand. Instead, she read ―Baby Bunny‘s First Christmas to a little boy
with a band-aid on his thumb and eyes that looked like his daddy‘s. She rocked
a baby girl and changed two diapers in the space of an hour. She explained
again that Noah couldn't experiment with the light strands on the Christmas
tree because it might hurt him. She put dinner in the oven and wiped the smears
off the bathroom mirror. She still wished for a wonderful hour of comfort and
joy, for a latte and a nap. But she found that she had just enough calm to make
it through the day, and she counted that a great triumph. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
Somehow she had picked
up the idea that the peace Jesus promised would erase the stress of life, even
the busy season of motherhood or the crowded holiday schedule. But maybe that
was wrong. The Father promised strength in measure to her need. It didn't
remove the outer strain, but would match it with divine stamina. Without that
grace, the equation of life was unbalanced. With it, there was no missing
factor. And as Celeste sat by Christmas tree with her children on her lap, she
knew that, in a few days, she would feel merry again. But, in the meantime, His
grace was enough.<o:p></o:p></div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-30928219868240193782017-12-07T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-07T06:00:00.254-05:00the christmas swap<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
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In that very odd manner that train stations
have, it was cozy and yet too full at the same time. To Pastor Dillingham, it
was a haven. Or at least the prelude to a haven. He was on his way home for the
Christmas holidays. And everything within sight fairly sparkled with homecoming
cheer. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
It had been a tiring year in his parish. The
war, you know, complicated everything. And while he delighted in the everyday
mechanics of ministry as well as the time spent in the pulpit, the burden of
grief he carried along with the families in his charge felt at times too
monstrous to bear. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
If hadn’t been for the unselfish assistance of
the “twin saints” as he called them, he doubted he could ever have managed.
Emma and Susan had been members of the Faith Chapel congregation for as long as
anybody could remember. Sisters who had seen more of life than he was old, they
were industrious souls, collecting clothing for the needy, distributing baked
goods far and wide and ministering to the children of the city; he felt sure
there could be wings hiding under their sensible coats. But, whether maiden
humans or heaven’s angels, he thanked God daily for them. Yet even they could
not entirely lighten his load. He needed a rest, a Christmas break. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
And so home to the farm he was going.
Pastor Dillingham felt like a schoolboy at the thought - for there was nothing
like the village of Greyston in December.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
Leaning back against the bench in the station,
he closed his eyes and conjured up in his mind the look of the little town nestled
in a glen against a backdrop of wooded hills. He recalled the scent of cinnamon
escaping from the bakery and the twinkle of colored Christmas bulbs in the
front window of the hardware store. Of course, being a minister, he naturally
thought of the little chapel on the main street and wondered if the village
children would be staging their annual production of the nativity story,
complete with farm animals and turban-shrouded shepherd boys. The parents and
grandparents would agonize through each line uttered, a beatific smile on their
proud faces as their quaking offspring participated in the thespian triumph.
The cocoa and cookies following would not be the best, but it would be devoured
amidst cooing over the young stars among the commoners. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
The real delight though would be to lie in his
bed past 9:00 and then putter around in his dressing gown if he felt like it.
The fireplace in his childhood home would crackle with welcome all day long;
mother would bake his favorite treats and stuff him with fattening goodness and
father would draw him into a discussion of war tactics or the new model
Chrysler was making – both of which he was miserably inadequate to discuss -
the first because he was a preacher, not a soldier and the second because, as a
preacher, he couldn’t afford the new model of car. But never mind that; he and
father would go at the discussion as if both of them had the brains and the
means to merit both subjects. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
It was while he was wrapped in the comfort of
these anticipations that he took notice of a young man hunched on a bench a few
feet away. The uniform was a trifle rumpled though his shoes retained a glint
of spit polish in spite of the snowy weather.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
He was obviously on leave from the service, a
weary warrior needing rest. Pastor Dillingham sympathized with him. Whatever
the battle a man was in, Christmas was a welcome break. But the look on the
young man’s face didn’t reveal any hint of hope for relaxation and comfort.
Rather, he looked as if he were headed back to the front if the drawn
expression and slumped shoulders were a clue.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
Pastor Dillingham walked over to the bench where
the young man was seated and nodded in friendliness. “Where are you going to
spend the holidays, young man?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
The boy seemed startled to hear a human voice
directed at him. “What?” His eyes looked bewildered. ‘Are you talking to me?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
“Indeed, son. Where are you going for the
Christmas holiday?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
Pastor Dillingham took the vacant seat opposite the young man, not
bothering to ask if he could. “Oh, to a canteen, I suppose. They have free
beds and food.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
Pastor Dillingham leaned forward. “No family
of your own?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
“Nah. My grandmother died a year back and I
never had anyone but her anyway. No reason to go back to that place. They had
to sell the house to pay for her doctor bills.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
“I’m so sorry.” And Pastor Dillingham was. In
his way of thinking, there were few creatures on God’s earth more miserable
than the man without a home. It reminded him of the Scripture where the
Psalmist referred to himself as an owl in the wilderness. This boy had the look
of wilderness all over him. He sank back in his seat, closing his eyes and
letting his hands fall open at his sides.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
Pastor Dillingham knew what he had to do. But
he resisted for just a minute, just long enough to relish in his mind the
sounds and smells and comfort he wasn’t going to enjoy. Emma and Susan had
assured him that his seat at their table was open on any occasion. They
wouldn’t be a bit surprised when he showed up on Christmas Day. If he knew
them, they’d already been stirring and baking for days as if the entire Royal
Army was going to be fed in their parlor. And he almost smiled in spite of the
lump forming in his throat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
Pastor Dillingham straightened his back and
signaled the porter. Then he scratched out a quick note on a scrap of paper
from his pocket. "Father and Mother, please receive this young man in my name.
Give him my room, my favorite foods and all the love that I know you have in
your hearts. Believe me, you are doing this as unto me. I know your love unites
us though we may be apart. Happy Christmas. May He who came from heaven for us
all grace your hearts as you open them to this representative of me. Lovingly,
Your Son. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Sir, please see that this is telegraphed
ahead to Ephraim Dillingham in Greyston. And I find that I must return to the
city. This young man and I are trading places for a while. I know I can trust
you to deliver him safely to those who will be waiting.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The porter nodded agreeably and ambled off. And Pastor Dillingham took the ticket held limply
in the young man’s fingers as he dozed and reaching into his overcoat, he
tucked his own glorious passport to home and love into the uniformed shirt
pocket and stepped back with a smile on his face. He hoped the “twin saints”
had roasted a big turkey. Pastors had big appetites, especially at
Christmas.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103242719647369378.post-10393452456928524642017-12-05T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-05T06:00:06.118-05:00the christmas village<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsRVxLrSKpUWMPGMvd5WPc9rF8BXEeJd7nFY-UrQ3QJvKEL3BYLozxfesp408vCcDaMaMfJuuYToC8oNCvk9CFhTiohvlsjE8PQkYvvBvbEi6VFPLKNHR0sGrW2IVxEGihaRTwUKL9CEa/s1600/christmas+village%252C+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="453" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsRVxLrSKpUWMPGMvd5WPc9rF8BXEeJd7nFY-UrQ3QJvKEL3BYLozxfesp408vCcDaMaMfJuuYToC8oNCvk9CFhTiohvlsjE8PQkYvvBvbEi6VFPLKNHR0sGrW2IVxEGihaRTwUKL9CEa/s320/christmas+village%252C+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Marian held her breath and opened
the box. She peered inside. Just as she had thought. The clinking sound was the
pieces of her porcelain church – the centerpiece of her tiny Christmas village.
Broken. She could hardly believe it. This village had survived four moves,
three children and decades of holiday unpacking and repacking. Now her favorite
piece was shattered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;">In spite of herself, a couple tears
welled in her eyes. She backhanded them. It was a little sentimental to cry
over a toy building. Yet, she knew the reason. The Christmas village had become
a special symbol to their family through their growing-up years. She remembered
the clamor of little voices and the flurry of little hands as her children
helped set up the tiny cottages, the trees, the carolers, the general store,
the school house and especially the church with real windows and a beautiful
belfry. Oh, how they admired it every year when the set was plugged in and each
miniature building was warmed with an inner glow. If the Christmas village was
out, the world was right. It was a tradition that the children cherished. And
so did she.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, Marion wondered what would be the
response of her three adult children? Would they remember the
significance of the village? Would they care if a piece was broken? Would they
think her ridiculously sentimental to mention it? <o:p></o:p></div>
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And then she remembered with a pang
that Alexa was not coming home for Christmas. It was just another symptom of
her drift, both from the family and from her spiritual moorings. Although she
had never been openly rebellious, she had seemed to struggle more than Clay and
Caitlin in the teen years. Now that she was grown, it was as if she preferred
to walk politely away from her faith. And the little broken church Marion now
held seemed to illustrate the fractured state of their family. Closing her
eyes, Marion breathed a prayer for her daughter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gently, she arranged the intact
pieces in their customary places and hurried to put away the boxes. She was
going to her eldest daughter’s house for the traditional lunch with the
grandchildren on the first Monday of Christmas break from school.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the drive to Caitlin’s house,
Marion continued her talk with the Lord, asking Him to work on Alexa’s heart,
surrendering her once again to His care and love. She knew how headstrong Alexa
could be. Even her mother’s heart began to doubt in the face of such obstacles
to faith. She and Frank would just have to keep praying and waiting for Him to
work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At lunch, Brett and Bethany kept up
a lively conversation about their school Christmas parties and the toys they
wanted for Christmas. They were precious youngsters, high-spirited, but
well-mannered, thanks to Caitlin. Giving them goodbye hugs two hours later,
Marion promised to take them shopping the next day, along with Clay’s little
girl. They would buy ornaments for the tree.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Driving home, Marion was thinking
about replacing the broken church. She really needed to get that done as soon
as possible. Maybe Caitlin and Clay wouldn’t notice the change when they came for Christmas dinner. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Marion entered the kitchen and laid
her purse on the counter. She slipped off her coat and walked to the hall
closet to hang it up. Then she remembered her cell phone was in the coat
pocket and fished it out. <span style="text-indent: 0in;">The light was blinking. She had a
voice message. Strange that she hadn’t heard the ringtone. </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;">Marion opened her voicemail and listened. She knew the voice right away.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">“Hi, Mom. This is Alexa. The most
incredible thing just happened. I had to call and tell you. I was walking past
a gift shop today before lunch and in the window display was a Christmas
village like we used to have. But the
church was broken; I guess somebody dropped it. But what’s really weird is that
God talked to me, Mom. Really. He said that’s what I was doing to our family
and to my relationship with Him – breaking it. I’m . . . sorry, Mom, so sorry. Can
I still come home for Christmas? I need to talk with you and Dad. Oh, and Mom,
I bought a new church for our village. I know you already have one, but this
one is kinda special. I hope you understand. And Mom . . . I love you. Bye.”</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Valorie Quesenberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268306348628523969noreply@blogger.com1