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Trouble was, he didn’t know if he could go back to his old, silent, anony else The reality was, he had this cabin and about a couple thousand dollars that would have to last all winter There was no hidden bank account, no benefit checks, no retirement He could put the property up for sale, but there probably wouldn’t be a buyer, s to sell or barter

He could beg her to stay, but he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to even build her an indoor bathroo the deprivation on some screwed-up level Then Marcie showed up and suddenly he felt like a rich man

Just when he felt ready to open hislike, No, Marcie--it was you who made it perfect, he heard a soft snore come from her side of the room It made him shake his head and chuckle silently She slept well on that lumpy sofa; she was at peace here when she should be annoyed by all the inconveniences

They were alike in that way, he realized She was as able to make do as he was, yet in Marcie’s life there was so

Quietly he traded his jeans for sweats and got down on his pallet in front of the fire But sleep was far away All he could think about was how real his life had suddenly becoo an unending sameness had stretched out in front of hiht about what ht come next for him, and sometimes it seemed there never would be a next

Old habits die hard--he thought this nore her, reject her, hope that he’d get beyond this e to do that No He would allow this to happen to hioodness before she left; he’d tackle what to do with all those feelings later Ian decided he could think of her as a Christli while before he slept Not long after he nodded off, he felt so and opened his eyes She was beside hi, red hair all crazy fro," she said

"I’ll feed the fire," Ian replied, sitting up and slipping a couple of logs into the stove Then he lay back down, giving her roo her close, said, "Coet you warm"

"Hmm That’s what I need"

"And what I need," he said, giving her a kiss against her tehed "Marcie, aren’t you tired of talking yet?"

She co," she said "You knoith Shelly?"

"I’ her closer against him

"I know, but I just wanted to say--I’ve been in four weddings, including my own Brides--all of them, at one point or another--have that moment, thatIt’s easy to forget it’s about theBut reality sets in real quick" She yawned "Some brides are worse than others, but Shelly probably didn’t mean what she said"

He was quiet for a e of Shelly He asked, "Four?"

"Hodain in March--ave a snort of laughter "You have a friend nae for nancy We all call her Maybe She’s married to William, e call Will They’re Maybe Will to everyone"

"You’re connected to a lot of people That led closer "And now I’ain "But here’s what I wanted to tell you, Ian That thing with Shelly? I think hed softly, pulled her closer still Oh yeah, he thought He wasn’t meant to end up with Shelly

"I’ll be quiet now," she said

"Good"

When Ian had allowed himself to think about Marcie, his vision had been one of loneliness and despair That’s because he didn’t know her as Abigail Adaable, positive woman she was; because he’d never let himself know

He couldn’t see as far froht he could

Thirteen

M arcie felt so on her hair and woke to look into Ian’s rich brown eyes Daas barely lighting the cabin and he was running his big hand over her curls "Morning," she said sleepily

He didn’t say anything He just lowered his lips to hers and touched theently, sweetly She felt the brush of his beard, the soft flesh of his lips and let her eyes drop closed He moved over her mouth for ahim there

He pulled back just a little and whispered, "We’re snowed in, honey"

"Good"

"I was jealous of Bobby, you know," Ian said, petting her hair back along her te it over her ear

"Be careful, Ian--you’re talking about ‘it’"

"I’ you want to know We were all a little jealous of Bobby He had so real special with you You sent him panties"