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fun he'd had in weeks.
Buck hadn't realized how chilly the night was until he had sat next to that
cold pillar for a few minutes. His jacket squeaked when he moved, and he
raised the fur-lined collar around his neck. The smell reminded him of the
many places in the world he had dragged this old bomber jacket. More than once
he had thought he'd die in the thing.
Buck stretched his legs in front of him and crossed them at the ankles,
suddenly realizing how tired he was. If he had to sleep on this porch, he
would.
Then, in the stillness, he heard the faint creaking of the steps inside. Chloe
was creeping down to see if he was still there. If it had been Rayford, the
steps would have been louder and more sure. Rayford would probably have told
him to give it up and go home, that they would try to deal with the problem
later. Buck heard the floor near the door creak. Just for effect, he tilted
his head toward the pillar and rearranged his posture as if settling in for a
snooze.
The footsteps back up the stairs were not so muffled. What now?
Rayford had heard Chloe open her door and make her way down the stairs in the
darkness. Now she was on her way back up. She whipped her door open and
slapped at the light switch. Rayford leaned so he could see her emerge, which
she did a moment later just before she turned out the light. Her hair was
pinned atop her head, and she wore her floorlength terry cloth robe. She
turned on the light at the top of the stairs and descended with a purpose. If
Rayford had to guess, he didn't think she was running the man off.
Buck saw his shadow on the lawn and knew a light was on behind him, but he
didn't want to appear either overconfident or too eager. He stayed right where
he was, as if already asleep. The door was unlocked and opened, but he heard
nothing else. He sneaked a peek. That, apparently, was her invitation to come
in.
I've come this far, Buck thought.
That's not good enough.
He resumed his position, his back to the door.
Half a minute later he heard Chloe stomping to the door again. She swung open
the storm door and said, What do you want, an engraved invitation?
Wha ? Buck said, pretending to be startled and turning around. Is it
morning already?
Very funny. Get in here. You've got ten minutes.
He stood to go in, but Chloe let the storm door slap shut as she went to sit
on one end of the couch in the living room. Buck let himself in. That's all
right, he said, I'll keep my coat.
This visit was your idea, not mine, she said. Forgive me if I don't treat
you as if you were invited.
Chloe sat with her feet tucked under her, arms crossed, as if granting him an
extremely reluctant audience. Buck draped his jacket across an easy chair and
slid the footstool in front of Chloe. He sat there, staring at her, as if
trying to think of where to begin.
I'm hardly dressed for visitors, she said.
You look great no matter what you're wearing.
Spare me, she said. What do you want?
Actually, I wanted to bring you flowers, he said. Seeing as how yours are
in the trash.
Did you think I was kidding? she said, pointing past him. He turned and
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looked.
Sure enough, a huge bouquet of flowers was jammed in a wastebasket.
I didn't think you were kidding, Buck said. I just thought you were being
figurative, and I hadn't heard the expression.
What are you talking about?
When you told me the flowers were in the trash, I thought it was some sort of
phrase I'd never heard. It had the flavor of the cat is out of the bag or
the water is under the bridge.
I said the flowers were in the trash, and that's what I meant. I mean what I
say, Buck.
Buck was at a loss. They seemed to be on different pages, and he wasn't even
sure it was the same script. Um, could you tell me why the flowers are in the
trash?
Maybe that would help clarify things for me.
Because I didn't want them.
Oh, silly me. Makes sense. And you didn't want them because ... He stopped
and shook his head, as if she should fill in the blank.
They insult me because of where they came from.
And where did they come from?
OK, then because of who they came from.
And they came from whom?
Oh, Buck, really! I don't have time for this and I'm not in the mood.
Chloe moved to stand and suddenly Buck was angry. Chloe, wait just a minute.
She sat back down and folded up again, looking perturbed. You owe me an
explanation.
No, you owe me an explanation.
Buck sighed. I'll explain anything you want, Chloe, but no more games. It was
clear we were attracted to each other, and I know I gave off some less-than-
interested signals Friday night, but today I realized
This morning, she interrupted, obviously fighting tears, I discovered why
you seemed to have lost interest all of a sudden. You were feeling guilty
about not telling me everything, and if you think those flowers fixed
anything
Chloe! Let's talk about real problems! I had nothing to do with those
flowers.
For once, Chloe was silent.
CHAPTER NINE
Chloe sat looking skeptically at Buck. You didn't? she managed finally.
He shook his head. Apparently you have another admirer.
Yeah, right, she said. Another? As if that makes two?
Buck spread his hands before him. Chloe, there's obviously been a lack of
communication here.
Obviously.
Call me presumptuous, but I was under the impression that we sort of hit it
off from the moment we met. He paused and waited for a response.
She nodded. Nothing serious, she said. But yes, I thought we liked each
other.
And I was with you on the plane when you prayed with your dad, he said.
She nodded slightly.
That was a special time, he continued.
OK, she agreed.
Then I went through my ordeal and couldn't wait to get back here to tell all
of you about it.
Chloe's lip quivered. That was the most incredible story I had ever heard,
Buck, and I didn't doubt you for a second. I knew you were going through a
lot, but I
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thought we had connected.
I didn't know what to call it, Buck said, but as I told you in my note that
Sunday, I was attracted to you.
Not only to me, apparently.
Buck was speechless. Not only to you? he repeated.
Just go on with your speech.
Speech? She thinks this is a speech? And she thinks there's someone else?
There hasn't been anyone else in years!
Buck was deflated and thought of giving up, but he decided she was worth it.
Misguided, jumping to strange conclusions for some reason, but worth it.
Between Sunday and Friday night I did a lot of thinking about us.
Here it comes, she said, tearing up again. What did she think? That he was
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