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"Its just a house, Birdie Four godda and s that leak " He moved toward her "Does this houseIve dreamed about this "

"What do I dream about, Jack?"

"Huh?"

"Good answer Im supposed to put your dreams first always When is it my turn?"

"How in the hell is anybody supposed to know that you even want a turn, Birdie? You spend your whole life on the sidelines You want a turn? Then take a chance like the rest of us, step up to the plate, but dont rain all over o after what I want "

The color faded froone too far With Birdie, you could rant and rave and screaet too close to the truth

She took a step back "Ill be back I have to think "

"No, damn it, stay here and talk to h She alalked out in the ht and came back later, calmed down She couldnt stand the intensity of her own emotions

He touched her chin and forced her to look up at him "Think about this, Birdie Ive spent two years in the middle of nowhere Ive commuted three hours a day so you could have your drea here I did that for you " Then he added softly, "I thought youd be happy for me "

She sighed heavily "Oh, Jack Of course you did "

He didnt knohat to say to that In silence, he watched her walk out of their bedroo her; he knew there was no point Instead, he went to theand waited

Sure enough, a few e from the porch She walked across the darkened yard, toward the prow of their property, where an old, weathered fence ran along the cliffs ragged edge She stood at the top of the stairs and stared out to sea

He had no idea what she was thinking Yet another sign of how far apart theyd drifted

Finally, she came back into the house By then, hed na into the oven The house s cheese

She hung her down coat on the hall tree in the entry and ca roo at him, her face streaked by dried tears Very softly, she said, "I suppose we could live in New York again--for a while "