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“NO, I WILL NOT CALM down,” Katrina insisted, insulted that her husband would even make the suggestion. “Do you have any idea how humiliating it is to have to listen to someone else talk about your love life?”
Greg hadn’t stopped grinning since Katrina came into the bedroom. “Do you have any idea how humiliating it is to come out of the bedroom in your boxers and find that your wife is sitting out there gabbing with the longest-standing elder’s wife?”
Katrina shook her head. All she wanted to do was bury herself under the covers and pretend like the past fifteen minutes had never happened, but it seemed like Greg was willing to go to just about any limit to keep her from forgetting.
“What business is it of hers what we do in our own time anyway? And after coming over to apologize for being insensitive about the miscarriage, how in the world could she think there is anything justified in what she said?”
“Mrs. Porter was born a busybody and will die a busybody. You can’t let her get to you. That’s my secret for dealing with half the congregation here, Mouse.”
Greg pointed to the envelope Katrina had tossed on the bed. “What’s that?”
“Some gift card. Do you know of a Safe Anchorage Gift Shop somewhere around town?”
He nodded. “Yeah, that’s where Grandma Lucy lives. Her niece runs the place now. Big goat farm. We took field trips there when I was a kid. So Mrs. Porter gave you a gift certificate to the shop there?” He opened up the envelope and showed Katrina the amount. “Wow, that’s generous. Did you know it was this much?”
She shook her head. If Mrs. Porter was trying to pay Katrina off for all the inappropriate comments she’d made, the total would come to a whole lot more than that.
“I’m guessing that what happened has basically destroyed our shot at romance for now,” Greg said. “Am I right?”
Katrina pretended not to hear, hoping that her silence would serve as a sufficient answer.
Greg reached out and tossed over her lilac sweater. “Here, put this on.”
“Why?”
“Mostly because I like to watch you get dressed. But also because we’re going out. You just got an early Christmas present. Time to choose something extra nice for you. Maybe it will be enough to get your mind off of silly old ladies who have nothing better to do with their time than make my pretty wife blush.” He smiled and stroked her cheek. “Just like you’re doing now.”
He reached down for his shoes, patting her backside as he straightened up.
“Come on, Mouse. Let’s get out for a while. You look like you could use some fresh air.”