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Chapter 8.1
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2022-09-08 03:17:32
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LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 8.2
โDixie? Dixie!โ He reached across the coffee table separating them and squeezed her knee, giving it a little shake. โDixie?โDixie shook herself out of the ridiculous trance or whatever sheโd been in. โIโm sorry,โ she said, her mind clear now, clear and vehemently denying the silly idea that kept leaping at her. An idea that was preposterous.โDixie?โShe pushed herself to her feet. โThatโs an incredible story,โ she said. โIโm sorry you had to go through such a traumatic experience. I assume that everything went well. You look perfectly healthy to me.โโI am healthy, especially if I keep up with my meds and exercise.โ โOh, well, thatโs wonderful.โ She started toward the front door, hermovements sharp and jerky. โIโm really glad for you.โ โDixie, come sit down.โโYouโve said what you came to say. Oh.โ She stopped and turned around. โI forgot your check. Wait here.โโDixie, sit down.โHer eyes were overbright. Her hands fluttered in the air. โIโm glad you came by to tell me this, but I
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-08LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 8.3
โDixie?โโYes?โโI might have his heart, and I might have come here because of his sons, but Iโm not him. Do you understand what Iโm saying?โโI never thought you were him,โ she claimed.โJust so you donโt start looking for any more of his traits in me. I came here for the boys. Just to make sure they were all right since losing their father. I stayed because, yes, they were all right, because their mother made sure of it. Iโve stayed because of you, Dixie.โDixieโs vision blurred. โWhat are you saying?โโIโm saying that the only thing I have now of Jimmy Donโs is a physical organ. The feelings I have for you, for the boys, are mine, not his. They have nothing to do with cellular memory or transplanted organs.โShe swallowed again. โHow do you know? How can you be sure?โโItโs easy,โ he said with a shrug. โI just ask myself, if Iโd met you before I got sick, would I feel the same way. The answer isโฆabsolutely.โDixie let out a breath she hadnโt been aware of holding. โMaybe youโd bett
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-08LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 9
When Dixie called the boys home, she asked Pops to come with them. When she got her sons into the tub, she took Pops to the kitchen, where the boys, who were not silent bathers by any means, would not overhear. There, once Pops was seated at the kitchen table with a dish of peach cobbler to work on, she told him first about Wadeโs true background and identity.Unlike her, Pops didnโt feel the least deceived. He laughed. โHa! I knew there was more to that boy than he was lettinโ on. Rich, you say?โโFilthy rich.โโAnd him washing our dishes.โ He laughed again and shook his head. โDid he say why he was here?โโYes, he did.โ She told him the rest, about Wadeโs heart transplant, and where his new heart came from.Pops cried. His tears were a mixture of renewed grief at the loss of his only grandson, and pride that a part of Jimmy Don lived on in another person. More than one person, most likely.โThatโs something, isnโt it?โ He wiped the moisture from his cheeks and eyes. โIโm so proud of
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-08LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 9.1
Wade paused on the other side of the counter and blatantly eavesdropped.โSell the paper?โ Ima said, shocked. โIs this true, William?โโDonโt you think itโs past time for a new voice in this town? Itโs time I retired, if I can find the right buyer,โ Gray said. โI promised my wife when we married that one day weโd live in paradise. As much as I love this town, paradise itโs not. Sheโs got her heart set on Hawaii.โWade had to assume that Bill Gray had a good financial planner for him to be able to retire in Hawaii. There wasnโt a great deal of profit, if any, in small-town weekly newspapers these days.โWhat a fine man you are, William,โ Ima said, โto keep such a promise to your wife. Just do this town a favor and try not to sell the paper to some big conglomerate whoโll manage it from New York, or someplace like that. We need a paper thatโs purely local.โโIโve been worried about that very thing,โ Gray said.โOrder up!โ Dixie called as she slapped the bell signaling an order was ready
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-08LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 9.2
Now if he didnโt find the right words for what he had to say, he could hurt Ben and Tate, and that was absolutely the last thing on earth he wanted to do. So, please God, let the right words be there for him.He started up Dixieโs street, and there they were, those two bright, happy, fun boys of hers, running toward him as if he was their best friend in the world and they hadnโt seen him in years.It had been two hours. โWade! Wade!โโMom says youโre coming for supper.โ โFlowers? Whatโre those for?โ Ben asked.Tate jabbed his older brother in the ribs with his elbow. โThatโs what guys do, they bring flowers to the lady when they have supper.โโWhat do you know.โ Ben shoved Tate away. โDo you know what etiquette is?โ Wade asked.Dancing around and beside him as he walked up the street, the boys snorted and giggled.โThatโs like, Donโt talk with your mouth full,โ Ben said. โYeah, and saying please and thank you,โ Tate added.โThatโs right,โ Wade said. โIt also means that when a lady inv
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-08LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 9.3
โWhy not?โ Wade said.โWhat about the tongue? Would they want Tippyโs tongue?โWade smiled at Tateโs sudden enthusiasm. โI donโt know. It would depend on whether or not another dog needed a new one, I guess. Would all that be all right with you guys?โโSure,โ Tate said.โItโs the same as organ donation in people, right?โโYou know about that?โ Wade asked. โAbout people donating their organs when they die?โโSure,โ Ben said.Dixie ran her fingers through Benโs hair. โWhere did you learn about organ transplants, honey?โโI dunno.โ Ben shrugged and flopped his hands out. โSchool. We talked about it a lot last year when the teacherโs daddy had a kidney transplant up in Dallas.โโHow about you?โ Dixie asked Tate. โDid you talk about this at school, too?โโSure,โ he said with a shrug. โBut that was about people. We didnโt talk about dogs.โโOkay, wise guy,โ Dixie said to Wade with a smile. โNow you have to turn it around.โโIโve got it,โ he told her. โWould it surprise you boys to know that
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-08LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 10
โMom?โDixie stopped in the bedroom doorway in the act of turning off the light. Sheโd just put her boys to bed and kissed them good-night, twice. โWhat is it, Ben?โโDo you mind that they cut Dad up and took out his heart to save Wade?โโNo,โ she said softly. โI donโt mind at all, honey, because I know itโs what your dad wanted. He wanted his organs to go to people who needed them after he was through with them.โโI guess that olโ taxicab saw to it that he was through with them, huh?โ piped up Tate.The resilience of children never ceased to amaze her. She was still shaky on the inside, and they were so matter-of-fact about it all. โIt sure did, Tater. Now, you two need to get to sleep.โโGโnight, Mom.โโโNight, Mom.โโโNight-โnight, sweethearts. I love you.โDixie turned off the light, stepped out of the room and pulled the door closed. She leaned her back against it and closed her eyes, saying a quick but heartfelt prayer of gratitude that the boys seemed to have understood about t
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-08LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 10.1
โI went to the track and ran.โโOh, well, it was none of my business, anyway. I shouldnโt have just dropped in on you this way. Shouldnโt have presumedโโโDixie.โ His voice was softer than the air around her. His fingers touching her cheek sent a shiver of heat racing down her spine. โYou can presume anything you want about me. Or you can just ask. Or drop by and sit on my stoop whenever you want.โShe couldnโt think, couldnโt breathe. She stepped back far enough that his hand dropped away from her face. All she could think to say was, โOkay.โโCome on in.โ He pushed the door open and motioned her inside. โItโs not much, but itโs home.โShe knew she should turn around and go home, but she found herself stepping through the door and into his apartment. โNot muchโ was an understatement. From what she could see, there were only two rooms, and they were small. There was a water stain on the ceiling. The furniture must have come with the place; she couldnโt imagine Wade purchasing the worn
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-08
์ต์ ์ฑํฐ
LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 36.1
โHowโฆ? Whenโฆ?โโBrenda had the photo with her. She knew she wanted to do something, but all she could think of was to blow it up. I ran across a guy on the Internet who does oil paintings from photos. I thought she would like that.โโWhat is it, Daddy?โ Jasmine asked. He couldnโt move.โItโs us,โ Pammy cried. โMama and us girls in the backyard.โIt had always been one of Rileyโs favorite pictures of Brenda and the girls. In fact he had a copy of it right now in his wallet. Brenda, sitting in the grass, with Pammy and Jasmine on either side and Cindy in her lap. He had taken the picture himself just before Brenda shipped out, nearly two years ago.The artist had enlarged it and copied it in oil. It was perhaps the most beautiful portrait heโd ever seen. His vision blurred.โLemme see, Daddy, lemme see,โ Cindy cried.When he finally looked up at Amy, he didnโt know what to say.She leaned toward him and kissed each of his eyelids, then his mouth. โMerry Christmas, Riley.โAmy was gratif
LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 36
The rest of the week until Christmas passed in a blur. Amy spent much of it with Riley and his girls.There were errands to run. There was more shopping to do, both in town and beyond. There were videos to rent and watch and a movie to see in Waco. There were friends and neighbors to meet.Amy wondered what those friends and neighbors thought of Rileyshowing up with her, but they were all friendly. They were especially nice when Riley told them that she had served with Brenda. That served as a good, acceptable reason for them to be together without too much overt speculation.They were seldom alone, she and Riley. There was little time for it with the girls always around. But Amy didnโt mind. There was always time for a few heated kisses when they werenโt looking, or after their bedtime if Amy drove herself home.She had her own last-minute Christmas things to take care of, too.Things she could not do around Riley or his girls. But with a few phone calls, a quick trip here and there
LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 35.1
โOkay, bring them to the den. Weโll let him sit in his recliner while we doctor him,โ Amy suggested. She craned her neck to peer down the hall.Seeing no sign of Riley, she led the girls a few feet away into the kitchen and gave them a conspiratorial wink.โHereโs the deal, girls. Your daddyโs barely hurt at all. No more than one of you falling off your bicycle and getting a few scrapes.โPammy poked out her lower lip. โAre you sure?โโIโm sure. I was there in the hospital when the doctor checked him over.He does have stitches on the side of his head, but not much else. But the thing is, guys are different than girls. Guys are bigger and stronger than we are. At the same time, when they get the least little scrape, or catch a cold, they turn into helpless babies. They need help with every little thing.โThat got a round of smiles out of the girls.โIโm telling you this so you wonโt worry about your daddy just because he moans and groans now and then over his aches and pains. Itโs jus
LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 35
All the way to the hospital on the hill at the south edge of town Amy kept her mind blank. She couldnโt allow herself to think. She scarcely allowed herself to breathe. An accident. Riley. Deer. Truck. Ditch. The words hurled themselves at her one after the other, like heat-seeking missiles.At the last stop sign before the hill, she hit her brakes too hard and her tires slid across the intersection. She was lucky no other cars were coming. She held her breath until the car straightened out, then eased up the hill and skated into the parking lot of the hospital.With a prayer on her lips, she rushed into the hospital and demanded to see Riley.They told her she should sit down. They told her it shouldnโt be long.They told her she had to wait.She told them, โPoint me toward Riley Sinclair right this minute and you might live to see the end of your shift.โโSecurity!โโOh, for heavenโs sake,โ Amy said as she started down the hall. โIf youโve got a security guard here in the middle of
LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 34.2
โGood morning.โShe barely bit back the shriek that threatened at the scare his voice gave her when she hadnโt realized heโd come in. โGood morning,โ she managed. She stared at her computer screen and typed in her password to log on.His footsteps crossed from the door to her desk. He stopped there. โI called you last night,โ he said quietly.Amyโs stomach clenched. โDid you?โ โSeveral times.โShe could see his hand resting on the edge of her desk. โI must have been out.โ Heaven help her, sheโd turned into a liar, she thought with dismay.โAmy, will you look at me?โShe had to. She knew she had to. She even wanted to. Maybe. Sort of. She swallowed, wishing she knew what to do, what she wanted, what was best for them. If there was a them.Slowly she raised her gaze. โRiley, IโฆโโDonโt, Amy. If itโs this hard for you even to look at me, I guess we have a bigger problem than moving too fast.โโIโm sorry. I donโt know what to say. I donโt know what to do. Iโm driving myself crazy here.โH
LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 34.1
โIโm going to be tied up most of the day,โ Riley said. โSo I donโt know if Iโll be able to call you until late.โShe smiled sadly. โYou donโt need to call me. Weโll see each other at the office Monday. Iโm not that insecure that I have to hear your voice and know where you are every day.โ Ha. Liar.โAre you telling me you donโt want me to call?โWith a groan and a laugh, Amy shook her head. โI guess I deserved that, but no, thatโs not what Iโm saying. If you want to call me and have time, Iโd love to hear from you. If you donโt have the time, or merely donโt want to call, I promise not to take your lack of calling as a personal rejection. Howโs that?โHe chuckled. โI think youโre right. I think we donโt know each other as well as we thought we did. Iโm going to leave now, before I make an even bigger ass of myself.โAmy sighed and watched him through her window until he drove out of her parking lot. Then she slid to the floor, exhausted. She had gone from letting Marvaโs beauty consul
LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 34
Amy regained her wits as she did her breathโslowly. The warm weight of Riley Sinclair anchored her where she lay. Was he the anchor sheโd beenseeking all her life? The person with whom she could put down roots?Her heart, so recently slowed to normal, gave a leap. She wouldnโt make the mistake sheโd seen so many of her friends make, that of thinking one night of good sexโokay, mind-numbing sexโmeant happily ever after.She tightened her arms around Rileyโs shoulders, still not sure of her own emotions, let alone his.โYouโre thinking too hard.โ She gave a start. โWhat?โHe pushed himself up onto his forearms and cradled her face in his hands. โI guess I know you better than I thought. Right now youโre trying to decide if this means we know what weโre doing.โโHome builder, child rearer and now mind reader?โ She ran her hands up and down his arms. โOr are you thinking the same thing?โโI wonโt be capable of rational thought for a while yet.โShe smiled and stared at his chin to avoid
LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 33.2
She chuckled at his thick Gypsy accent. โGood point. However, they never predict a woman will meet a man whoโs short, pale and ugly, either. Heโs always tall, dark and handsome.โBy tacit agreement, the talk did not return to the subject of we. They finished their dessert, then drove to a nearby multiplex movie theater. They couldnโt decide which movie to see. In the end, they nixed the love story, the romantic comedy, the family Christmas movie, the war epic, and went for the movie with no elements that spoke to their personal situationโa safe, sensible science-fiction action thriller.It was just their luck that there was a hot, erotic love scene near the end of the movie. The kind of scene that sent hot blood pulsing in intimate places. Riley and Amy both stared studiously at the screen, each making certain not to catch the otherโs eye. But they would probably have bruises from the tightness of their grip on each otherโs hand.They were silent on the way home. Not even the radio br
LOVE IN TEXAS ย ย ย Chapter 33.1
โIโm learning that,โ she said. โErnie the mailman says Jack over at the hardware store drank too much and wrecked his daddyโs car last week.โโYup. And he had Ernieโs cousinโs daughter with him. Which explains why Ernieโs telling everyone in town. Jackโs lucky that Ernie doesnโt have a shotgun.โโConsidering what Marva thought of me this time last week, Iโm pretty glad she doesnโt, either.โโSo,โ he asked a moment later. โThis isnโt what Marva helped you pick out, is it?โโYes, it is. I know nothing about style or fashion. She and Darnelle basically had their way with me,โ she added with a slight shudder.Riley laughed at her. โMaybe Marvaโs getting smarter with the years. I would have thought sheโd go for ruffles and bows and lace.โโShe might have, but I reminded her Iโm a crack shot with an M-16, and I know where she lives.โRiley laughed, then shook his head. โI wish Cindy had something like that she could hold over Marvaโs head, and that sheโd use it.โโCindy? Why?โโIโm afraid s
