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"H-Have I done something to offend you?" The confusion returned to Minerva's eyes. "Why, no, of course not. It's just that ..." She shrugged. "Well, to be honest, you've always asked me to leave before." "Wow." "Excuse me?"
Tess hurried to the door and put a hand on Minerva's shoulder. "Please forgive my rude behavior in the past. I'd like to start fresh, if that's all right. I've had sort of a change of ... heart since this baby."
Minerva stared into Tess's eyes for a moment. Then, slowly, she smiled. "I'd like that." * * *
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Jack couldn't believe his ears. There was laughter coming from the kitchen. It floated through the open window and danced on the light spring breeze.
Jim yanked the last bag of oats off the wagon and slung it over his shoulder. "Sounds like the girls are having fun," he said, flopping the heavy burlap sack beside the oak
tree.
Jack swiped his damp brow with his shirt-sleeve and stared at the window. The quiet murmuring of voices, peppered now and then by bursts of laughter, aroused his curiosity. He tried to ignore it, tried to pretend he couldn't
care less.
But he couldn't quite manage it. She'd never given two whits about the neighbors. As far as she was concerned, anyone not born to money in the South was poor white trash. She'd made a point of not being nice to the islanders, as if she was afraid she might actually be happy here.
"That coffee sure smells good," Jim said.
Jack glanced up, surprised that Jim had spoken. Jim immediately looked away and reached for another bag of
grain.
He thinks I'm a loose cannon, Jack thought. And why not? After last Fourth of July, the whole damn island thought Jack was crazy as a bedbug. He couldn't figure out why in the hell the Hannahs didn't steer clear of him,
like everyone else.
"Sure does," Jack answered. "What do you say we go
have a cup?"
They crossed the yard and bounded up the sagging wooden steps two at a time. Jack had only a moment's hesitation as he turned the knob and opened the door.
Sitting at the table, Lissa glanced up in surprise. The eggshell-thin rim of her teacup kissed her full lower lip. Steam wafted up from the cup and tugged at the wispy golden strands along her brow.
195
"Hi, Jack." Her voice was as warm and rich as the aroma of coffee hovering in the room.
Jack felt as if he'd been flung back in time. He had to be dreaming the softness in her eyes. He had to be.
He was moving toward her; he could feel the movements of his body, and yet he had no control over them. Before he knew it, he was beside her. She smiled up at him. Her hand landed on his forearm with butterfly softness and lingered there.
God, you're beautiful. He stopped the words just in time and lurched backward.
"Jack?" All three voices said his name at once, and Jack immediately felt like an idiot. "Sorry," he said "I stumbled."
"And no wonder, with as hard as you two have been working," Minerva said easily.
"Sit down," Lissa said. "I just finished making a pot of coffee, and if I do say so myself, it's pretty good."
Jim shot her a questioning look as he sat down. "You sound surprised. Why wouldn't?"
"Don't ask, Jim," Jack said, sitting beside the man. "And?just a bit of friendly advice?don't drink the coffee."
