Susan X Meagher The Lies That Bind

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She giggled and then cringed at how immature it sounded. No, I was well
behaved. Like I always am.
He assessed her, his clear blue eyes roaming boldly up and down her body.
Nodding, he said, There s nothing wrong with being well behaved. After thirty
years of police work, I ve had my fill of bad actors. There s something very
appealing about people who know how to behave.
Gail laughed nervously. Then you re going to love me. A look of horror came
over her when she realized what she d just said. Goodness, that came out all
wrong.
Dan leaned over and brushed her cheek with his lips. He looked directly into
her eyes, and as a half-smile settled onto his face, he said, Maybe not.
d
Several days later, Gail was getting ready for another date with Dan, her
second that week. Why won t you come with us, honey?
No offense, Mom, but I never wanted you to come on one of my dates. I
can t imagine you or Dan need a third wheel. Besides, I think I ve seen enough
Thanksgiving pageants to last a lifetime.
Well, I think the town doctor should go to all of these cultural events. Gail
chuckled. Some day, I want to have some grandchildren singing off-key and
missing their cues. I m just staying in shape.
I d like that, too, but I m not in a rush. Thank goodness, she said, laughing
ruefully.
You re lucky, honey. I was the only one who could have a baby when your
father and I married. You might be able to talk your partner into being the one
to experience the joys of childbirth.
I have to talk someone into going out with me first. I don t think it s wise to
bring up childbirth until the second date.
You re very prudent, Gail said, bending to kiss her daughter goodbye. Maybe
you should be less prudent and a little more reckless. There has to be a woman
out there who would love to marry a beautiful doctor. You just have to get busy
and find her, and I m sure she s not in Essex, so you d better get out more.
I ll get around to it. She leaned back in her chair and took a long look at her
mother, smiling as she did. Are you ready for the fallout you ll get from taking
Dan to a big, public event?
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Susan X Meagher
Gail rolled her eyes. Everyone knows. The old ladies keep coming into the
library just to look at me.
You do look happy, but it s not a huge change.
I don t think I look any different, but people are treating me differently.
Snagging an eligible bachelor has cast me in a whole new light. Older men
practically wink at me!
Erin laughed hard, imagining some of the more straight-laced old men doing
just that. I think they should be winking at Dan. He s the lucky one.
With a thoughtful look, Gail said, Not having dated all these years must have
made people think I was& well, I don t even know.
I think people have assumed you weren t interested. Refusing every offer
you ve ever gotten probably cemented that reputation.
I ve been interested for years, Gail said, grinning playfully. But I wasn t
going to go out with a local divorced man. I wouldn t think of hearing how I
was buying someone s damaged goods. No, if Dan hadn t moved here, I d still be
happily going about my life.
Erin nodded, even as the thought flitted through her brain that having people
talk was a thin reason to stay at home. You seem happy, so I m glad Dan came to
town. I know you don t like to be the main topic of gossip, but that ll pass.
Goodness, I hope so. Is it wrong to hope that Jimmy Edgar falls off the
wagon and starts cheating on his poor wife again?
Erin got up and hugged her mother, sharing a laugh. Yes, Mom. It s wrong.
You ve got to tough it out.
d
After Gail left, Erin was feeling antsy, so she drove over to Nashua to see a
movie. She chose the multiplex closest to her home and lucked out, finding an
action-adventure movie that was scheduled to start soon. She bought a large
popcorn and instructed the young woman to put extra butter on it, even though
she knew the yellow grease had little to do, then or ever, with butter.
Two hours later, she was feeling much better. The movie had gotten her blood
flowing, and the junk food gave her some much needed sinister pleasure. She
was feeling so happy about her popcorn indulgence that she bought a candy bar
the size of a paperback book to munch on as she walked to her car. When she
got home, her mother was still out, so she picked up the phone and called her
friend Kim. Hey, Kimbo. Any news?
None, Kim said desultorily. You?
No, no news, but I do have a question. Remember that woman who was in
the fender-bender with Darrell?
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The Lies That Bind
How could I forget? You saved her life.
Right, Erin agreed, chuckling. Well, I called her the other night to tell [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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