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"What?" she snapped, glaring at her friend

"Scott was talking to you just now"

"I know He was talking to you, too He was talking to everybody"

"Doesn’t that rets and all?"

Chrissie was saved fro to anshen Abbey walked in Grateful for the escape, Chrissie edged her way out of the kitchen Her relief was short-lived, however No sooner had she entered the fa a discussion…"

"Yes," she said with an exasperated sigh "As I recall, it was about air quality"

Scott grinned, whichChrissie doubted hers was the only heart he’d broken since leaving Hard Luck

His eyes grew solemn "I meant what I just said I made a lot of mistakes, and I want you to know I’m sorry for the pain I caused you"

Chrissie dropped her own eyes, rather than let him see how deeply his words affected her She’d never expected Scott to apologize, and it took her a y accepted," she whispered

"Can you really forgive me?" He clasped her shoulders and co, but she wasn’t sure she could say what he wanted her to "I have forgiven you I put everything behind h as if he’d been waiting a long tiazed into her fate Then he said, "I’d like to see you again"

"See me?"

"Go out with you," he corrected "As in date I’d like us to start again"

Oh, Lord, she was tee to refuse him, Chrissie would never know Slowly she shook her head

"I did say I’d forgiven you, Scott," she said "But there are consequences to one’s actions Nothing you can say noill ever undo the past I wish you well, Scott, I really do, but I’ain"

He didn’t say anything for a few seconds, then finally let his hands fall "I can understand that," he said quietly

He turned away, and she didn’t stop hied on the bed, i for her husband to return fro, and she wanted to discuss the O’Halloran party with him When they’d left, Mitch had dropped her off at the house, then stopped at the station to check with the night dispatcher, a habit he’d developed during his twenty-five years in law enforceer to talk about the events of the evening Especially the exchange she’d witnessed between Chrissie and Scott

The sound of the door closing propelled Bethany off the bed "I’ her husband in the kitchen She was barefoot, her eyelet cotton gown reaching nearly to the floor

"Is Jack in?" he asked

"Present and accounted for," she assured hih-school student Their older son, Jereton in Seattle "Did you notice Chrissie tonight?" she asked right away

"She was helping serve, remember?" Mitch re roo his shirt as he walked

"What Chrissie was doing," Bethany told hih to recognize that Chrissie was keeping herself occupied all evening in an effort to elude Scott--not that her plan had worked

Mitch frowned and sank into his favorite chair in front of the television "I thought she was over Scott I assuive hiiven hi on the ar over hie to throw her arhter and comfort her Hoell she understood the doubts and uncertainties Chrissie felt; it was like seeing history repeat itself

"I’d better have a talk with her," Mitch said, still frowning "Someone has to tell her"

"Tell her what?" Bethany de she didn’t When it came to police matters, Mitch was closemouthed As he should be Bethany respected his discretion But her husband sometimes kept private fears and concerns to hi Scott and Chrissie, she wanted to hear it

Mitch’s gaze clouded with indecision "I’ any deep, dark secrets, if that’s what you’re thinking It’s just--" He abruptly changed his mind about whatever he’d planned to say "Actually, Chrissie ive estions--unless, of course, you’d prefer to talk to her"

"I’d gladly talk to Chrissie," Bethany told him quietly, "if I knehat to say"

They were both silent for ato his family," Mitch said "That couldn’t have been easy"

"It was a kind and generous thing to do," Bethany agreed Scott’s adth; so had his decision to seek his faiveness, especially in a roomful of people Part of his speech, Bethany realized, had been directed at Chrissie