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"What’s up? Is there anything I can do for you?" Colette asked, but what she really wanted to knohere Alix had been and why Her friend looked as if she hadn’t slept in a week The ses under her eyes spoke of misery and exhaustion

"I ca flowers," Alix said abruptly

This was a shock, but Colette tried not to show it "Are you changing the order?" she asked "Or canceling it altogether?"

Alix’s eyes were shadowed "Canceling"

Susannah would be disappointed The Turner wedding was a huge order and had coh she’d hold a certain amount back, it would still be a loss

"So you and Jordan have decided to call off the wedding?" Colette asked, finding this hard to believe Colette kne much Alix loved him In fact, Colette envied her friend the close relationship she had with her fiancé

"As of last Tuesday, the wedding’s officially off," Alix said blandly Colette stared at her Despite Alix’s no-big-deal attitude, thisher heart out It also explained why no one had seen her all week Colette noticed that Alix’s hands were shaking, although she tried to hide it by shoving them in her pockets

"The paperwork’s in the office," Colette said in a noncomht be looking in the shop s As soon as they were alone, she breathed, "What happened?"

Alix tried unsuccessfully to pretend it was a sreed it was for the best, that’s all"

"Oh, Alix, I’ Colette’s sy at the two of us could see it was a mistake"

Colette didn’t buy that for ain a fool’s paradise," Alix went on She climbed up on a stool while Colette prepared a pot of coffee After a few h the sht wonized that before it was too late"

Colette was stunned "But…"

"I didn’t

"Where were you?"

Alix stared down at the hardwood floor "I took a few vacation days and went to see a…fa for someplace to move I applied for a few other jobs, as well"

"But why?"

When Alix glanced up again, Colette winced at the pain in her eyes "I can’t stay around this neighborhood with Jordan here It would hurt too much to see him nearly every day and I would, you know"

That was true enough Colette had run into Jordan at the French Café a number of times Even if he and Alix made an effort to avoid each other, it would be alet away fro Alix was her friend, one of the best she’d ever had, and couldn’t stand the thought of losing her Trying to remain calainst the side of the desk, hands behind her, ankles crossed "You and Christian’s aunt are the only people I’ve told about the baby," she said "And do you knohy that is?"

Alix ed "You and I work out together--or we used to"

"No," Colette said flatly "I knew you wouldn’t judge ht I could talk to you when I couldn’t talk to anyone else You listened to uilty or stupid"

Alix bowed her head "Thank you," she whispered and her voice cracked with pain "That reed a few days ago to cancel everything The only reason I’m here now is to take care of business before I find a new job and someplace else to move"

"Does Jacqueline know about this?"

"I haven’t talked to the Donovans yet"

"Have you decided where you’re going?"

"No," she said, "but that’s not a proble van"

Colette dredged up the energy to s to run away Well, she’d been on the run, too And what she’d learned in the lastfrom was herself Not Christian, not her circumstances, but herself

Alix was quiet for several ood wife and she should know" Alix tried to make it sound like a joke, but Colette wasn’t amused "You have to admit she’s more of an expert on this than either Jordan or ree" Colette rested her hands on her hips, struggling not to reveal her irritation "Don’t you understand how comfortable you rabbed twoone to Alix "You’re the perfect wife for Jordan and if he hasn’t figured that out, he isn’t half the listened in Alix’s eyes as she cradled the steaood friend"

"I’ll be shocked if Jordan lets you leave the neighborhood He’s sh to knohat he has"

Alix put her coffee down on a nearby worktable and sniffed "I wish that was true"

"Alix, are you here?"