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\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4470577 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 \tab \'93Did you hear me, dear?\'94 Margaret Starr\rquote s exasperation filled the line like static.
\par \tab \'93Yes, Mom.\'94 {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} tucked the cordless phone between her ear and shoulder then closed the lid on the suitcase. The 
teeth of the zipper remained four inches apart. Maybe she should have used a bigger suitcase. A splash of red caught her eye. The American Tourister was larger. It also had a broken clasp. She smacked open the suitcase lid. Wads of sweaters and pants rose
 above the soft-sided confines. Maybe she should have packed less stuff.
\par \tab \'93I don\rquote t think you know how hard this is on your sister.\'94
\par \tab \'93Weddings are hard on everyone.\'94 {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} buffered her mother\rquote s irritation with a well-rehearsed line. Thirteen weddings had ta
ught her something. A patient, well-modulated tone calmed fretful brides, harried mothers and a bevy of bridesmaids. Too bad it couldn\rquote t shrink the contents of her suitcase. She had packed only the essentials, hadn\rquote 
t she? Air stirred the papers on her coffee table as she swatted the lid closed and took a seat on top. Fabric oozed out the sides.
\par \tab \'93Yes, well this kind of thing just does not happen to me.\'94 Irritation chased the anxiety from her mother\rquote s voice. \'93{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname City}}Paris{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}
 has had her wedding planned since the fourth grade. The dress design was in pink crayon with purple butterflies and blue hearts floating around it. Oh why did Minnie Houser have to move to {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}
{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname City}}Phoenix{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} six weeks before the wedding?\'94
\par \tab {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}\rquote s gaze traveled around the small studio apartment. Had she forgo
tten anything? Undoubtedly. She combed her hands through her short hair then shook the strand from her fingers. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 
Perhaps she should get into the habit of making lists. Heaven knew her mother and sister were constantly giving her pads of paper with cutesy logos and patterns}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 
. She picked up a note with hearts stamped across the top. Her sister\rquote s handwriting accused her: Leave on December 22}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \super\insrsid4470577 nd}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 
 at seven A.M. Arrive Dragoon Springs Country Club at 1:30 P.M. for bridal shower. It was 8:17 A.M. on the twenty-third. \'93Guess {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname City}}Paris{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} can\rquote 
t plan everything.\'94
\par \tab \'93{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}!\'94 Disapproval whipped down the line. \'93
That is not a very nice thing to say. You know your sister is under a lot of strain. Weddings are stressful on everyone.\'94
\par \tab She blinked as a recap of her own words echoed back to her. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 Merciless Monkeys}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 . She had turned into her mother. {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}
{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} shook the unpleasant thought from her head. \'93I only meant that the quadruple bi-pass kind of snuck up on Max and Minnie Houser.\'94 {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}
{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} crossed her fingers behind her back. What her mother didn\rquote t know wouldn\rquote t cause high long distance charges to invade her parent\rquote s phone bill.
\par \tab \'93Yes, well\'85\'94 Suspicion dragged the words.
\par \tab {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}\rquote s stomach flipped in her belly. She had better change the subject quickly. Her gaze flicked to the white confection dr
aped over the back of the Bentwood rocker. \'93{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname City}}Paris{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}\rquote 
s dress turned out beautifully. Mrs. Houser even sewed iridescent seed beads on the bodice. Lavender butterflies, just like {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname City}}Paris{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} drew when she was ten.
\'94
\par \tab Air hissed through the miles of phone line. \'93{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname City}}Paris{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 had wanted}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\insrsid4470577 , dear. Our budget\endash \'94
\par \tab \'93She sewed them on for free.\'94 The words gushed past {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}\rquote 
s lips. Her mother hated being interrupted almost as much as she hated glitches in her plans. \'93She said she owed you something for driving to {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname City}}Phoenix{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}
 for the fittings. Sewing gave her something to do and stopped her from worrying so much while she sat in the hospital waiting room.\'94
\par \tab \'93Well\'85\'94 The scales tipped in her favor. \'93That was very nice of Minnie. I\rquote ll make certain {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname City}}Paris{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}
 sends her an extra special thank you note, maybe even a few pictures.\'94
\par \tab \'93I\rquote m certain she\rquote d appreciate that. She misses Dragoon Springs.\'94 {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}
 made one last sweep of the room. She seemed to have everything. \'93According to Minnie, she hasn\rquote t had a nice chat or a decent cup of coffee since she came to the big city.\'94 {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}
{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} paused. Her words surfed the gasp of breath in the receiver. \'93Except my visits, of course.\'94
\par \tab \'93That sounds like Minnie. With all that worry, I should have known there would be a mix up in the dresses.\'94 Plastic swished and satin rustled. \'93I suppose no real harm has occurred. You have {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}
{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname City}}Paris{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}\rquote s dress and I have yours. It turned out very lovely, by the way. The color will flatter your skin tone and the style is timeless.\'94
\par \tab {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname place}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} stuffed the blobs of fabric insi
de her suitcase. Plastic teeth scraped her flesh. Cold metal bit into the pads of her thumb and index finger. The zipper grumbled along its track then stopped halfway around the corner. The metal tab buttoned the suitcase at a single point, the remaining 
teeth curled back in a ferocious snarl. A growl rumbled up her throat. She jerked the zipper backwards. Pink silk bubbled around the tab. \'93Unbelievable.\'94 Egypt rocketed from her seat and glared at the tapestry luggage. \'93
Stupid, idiotic overgrown handbag.\'94
\par \tab \'93I beg your pardon.\'94
\par \tab \'93Not you mom.\'94 Egypt unclenched one fist and strangled the phone. She stormed across the room, bones rattling with every step. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 Why did this happen every time she was late? Why couldn\rquote 
t everything go right just once? Would the universe come to a crashing halt? Would the cure for cancer be postponed? How important could thwarting her every plan be to world peace?}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 
 Metal jingled as she yanked open her junk drawer. She scooped up the pliers and stomped back to the mocking baggage. \'93It\rquote s this stupid luggage. The zipper broke.\'94
\par \tab \'93Is that the Marshall\rquote s American Tourister or the Anderson\rquote s Fancy French one?\'94
\par \tab \'93The Anderson\rquote s.\'94 Egypt shoved the carry-on into a better position and clamped the phone between her ear and shoulder. Maybe if she backe
d the zipper up, it would catch and hold. The pliers clamped onto the pull-tab. Such a method had worked before. Her knee dug into the soft-top, fabric extruded out the side. She released the zipper and prodded her clothes back inside the suitcase.
\par \tab \'93Well that did get a bit of wear on their honeymoon. Everyone knows those airport people toss bags around like footballs.\'94 Her mother\rquote 
s monologue gathered steam. Was her mouth pleased to be released from its prison of wedding talk? Or was it simply a reminder that wedding related misery included more people than just the Starr family? \'93
And then they were stopped not once but three times while they toured Europe for all those weeks. You would think since it was made over }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 there}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 
, it would have been able to survive the rough handling }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 they}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577  put it through. Of course, if Sheila hadn\rquote 
t been so determined to visit so many countries on their six week honeymoon\'85\'94
\par \tab Honeymoon. Blood slogged through Egypt\rquote s heart. It was only natural to be a little depressed. All of her friends
 were pairing up like animals before the Flood. Her plight was no different than any other 30-year-old spinster. No matter the circumstance of the bride and groom\rquote 
s meeting. Sheesh, after thirteen weddings, she should have constructed a better pep talk than that. Silence buzzed in her ear. Had she missed an opportunity to grunt in support?
\par \tab \'93Are you alright, dear?\'94
\par \tab Egypt\rquote s sigh fluttered her bangs. No missed cue, just the end of her mother\rquote s soliloquy. \'93Yeah, I mean, yes, Mom. I\rquote m fine.\'94 She clamped the pliers onto the metal tab and tugged. \'93I was just thinking if I\rquote 
d need a jacket.\'94
\par \tab \'93Are you sure, that\rquote s what\rquote s bothering you? I mean, you can talk to me about anything. You know that don\rquote t you, dear?\'94
\par \tab \'93I know Mom.\'94 The zipper refused to budge. Egypt yanked. Fabric ripped. The zipper closed as the tab retreated.
\par \tab \'93Mrs. Houser did remind me that this was the sixteenth time.\'94
\par \tab Irritation flayed Egypt\rquote s skin. For a seamstress, Mrs. Houser needed help with her math. \'93Fourteenth time. Mom. This will be the fourteenth time I\rquote ve been a bridesmaid.\'94
 The rainbow of satin dresses was the consolation prize. Along with her sofa, the rocker, the broken luggage even her cat and hamster were the relics of her friends\rquote  abandoned single life, willed to their }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\insrsid4470577 good friend Egypt}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 .
\par \tab \'93Well, you\rquote re bound to be the bride next time.\'94 False cheer rang hollowly in her mother\rquote s voice. \'93I mean you don\rquote t have anymore single friends left. Do you, Egypt?\'94
\par \tab }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 Did she}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 ? There always seemed to be a few hovering close-by, vultures waiting for a fresh kill. There was bound to be some disappointed ladies at Paris
\rquote s wedding when Egypt appeared solo. However that was in Dragoon Springs, not Phoenix. In Phoenix, she knew only one single woman. \'93Well, we did hire a new girl for the holiday season.\'94
\par \tab \'93Surely that\rquote s not long enough to become good friends.\'94 Margaret Starr squeaked. \'93All the girls who\'85who\rquote s wedding you were in, they\rquote d been friends since childhood.\'94
\par \tab \'93I know, Mom. Besides, she has a boyfriend.\'94 Nutz jumped onto the suitcase. The marmalade cat rolled onto his back and swatted at a patch of pink fluttering on the back of the sofa\rquote 
s blue slipcover. Egypt tugged a piece of gum out of her pocket. Cinnamon exploded across her tongue. Light sparked off the silver foil as it sailed onto the coffee table. She should probably remove the damaged camisole. Should but wouldn\rquote 
t. Gum popped in her mouth. She already had one side zipped. She only had two to go.
\par \tab \'93Well, that\rquote s a relief. Not that I believe you\rquote re cursed or anything, dear.\'94
\par \tab \'93No one believes I\rquote m cursed.\'94 Egypt yanked the zipper around the corner, tucking clothes inside as she went. \'93Everyone just comes to me for their husbands.\'94
 Nutz jumped onto the sofa back as she slid the baggage off the cushion. She jerked the plastic extension handle up as the carry-on wheels thudded onto the carpet.
\par \tab Dead air filled the phone connection. \'93The dress really is lovely. Your sister picked out the turquoise especially to flatter your complexion.\'94
\par \tab }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 Phase one of bridal pity\endash  a modification of wedding colors to flatter the poor slob whose ex-boyfriend you just happen to be marrying. Phase two\endash 
 the pairing of said poor slob with an eligible parti, specifically imported for the occasion. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 Egypt shuddered as the memories resurrected her dread. She snapped the bungee cord aro
und her suitcase. If it had been anyone else but her sister, she would have bowed out of the wedding. As it was, she must endure the warm-up torture and the }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 coup de grace.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\insrsid4470577  Phase three.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577  Her favorite. Should phases one or two fail, subject poor slob to endle
ss introductions to single males, including passing waiters and, if necessary, the valet. How long could someone wear a phony smile before the expression became permanent? Hopefully, longer than her sister\rquote s wedding and reception.
\par \tab }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 \'93Egypt?\'94
\par \tab \'93It\rquote s a pretty color.\'94
\par \tab \'93And you\rquote ll be able to use the dress again.\'94 Strain sharpened her Mother\rquote s voice. \'93Maybe for that New Year\rquote s Party you told me about. Not that we wouldn\rquote 
t want you to spend the holiday with us. I understand all about young single girls, living in the big city and all. We do get }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 Sex and the Sinning}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 
 up here you know.\'94
\par \tab \'93Mom.\'94
\par \tab \'93I do hope you are protecting yourself.\'94 Hinges creaked. A door closed. \'93Sexually, I mean.\'94 Her mother\rquote s voice dropped to a whisper.
\par \tab \'93Mom!\'94 Egypt raised her shoulder, pressing the phone closer to her ear. Was her mother\rquote s voice muffled?
\par \tab \'93Minnie says they have entire stores devoted to experimentation of a }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 certain}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577  sort.\'94
 Definitely muffled. Her mother had retreated to the closet. That sanctuary where only the most sacred of subjects were discussed on the phone\endash  divorce, unexpected pregnancies and hurried marriages. \'93Not that there\rquote 
s anything wrong with it. You\rquote re young and you always were the curious one. There is absolutely no cause for embarrassment. In my day, well, really we\endash .\'94
\par \tab \'93Mother!\'94 Emphasis on both syllables. The tone perfected by teenagers everywhere. Egypt cringed. Why did she always revert to a child whenever she talked with her mother?
\par \tab \'93Yes, dear?\'94
\par \tab Egypt\rquote s chest puffed as she filled her lungs with air. She had flirted with the line in the sand long enough. It was time to commit herself to battle. Utterly. Completely. \'93I\rquote m spending New Year\rquote s in Dragoon Springs.\'94

\par \tab \'93Really!\'94 Disappointment trimmed the happiness in her mother\rquote s voice.
\par \tab \'93Really.\'94 Cowardice beat against her skull. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 It wasn\rquote t too late. She could still back out.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 
 Egypt shored up her courage. No surrender, no prisoners. She would spend a week at home, visiting with friends, catching up with family, being the object of pity and speculation and answering impertinent questions}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\insrsid4470577 .}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577  Small town America. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 Is it any wonder she left?
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 \tab \'93You\rquote re not still in love with Darrell, are you? He really isn\rquote t right for you.\'94
\par \tab Egypt nodded, rubbed at the ache spreading across her chest. None of them had been. But knowing the truth didn\rquote t lessen the sting. \'93I know, Mom. There were signs. Darrell is obnoxious and controlling, hates pets of any kind, can\rquote 
t dance, despises big band music and would rather buy one front row ticket to the hockey game than two in the nosebleed seats.\'94
\par \tab \'93He\rquote s also marrying your sister, dear.\'94
\par \tab \'93Yes,\'94 Stitches jumped as she lifted his cage. The Teddybear hamster blinked up at her then scurried up the pink plastic tube to the room above. Metal rattled as she secured it to the carry-on with another bungee cord. \'93He\rquote 
s perfect for Paris.\'94
\par \tab \'93And you are definitely over him?\'94 }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 Will you make trouble at the wedding?
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 \tab The unspoken question hovered like an eavesdropper on the line. \'93Yes, Mom. I feel the same about Darrell as I feel for Diego.\'94 Exasperated, irritated and not a little perturbed by his existence. 
\'93Brotherly feelings, nothing more.\'94 }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 Except for the disappointment, not that she\rquote d mention that to her mother.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 \tab \'93Good. Did I tell you that we\rquote ve rounded up four eligible men for the wedding?\'94
\par \tab Egypt sighed. Phase two and she hadn\rquote t even left her apartment. New Years Day seemed very far away.
\par \tab \'93Of course, three are divorced but well, I suppose that\rquote s to be expected. After all, they are in their thirties. Except for Doug, he\rquote s forty-one.\'94
\par \tab Egypt\rquote s knees buckled. She bounced twice on the sofa before collapsing into a boneless mass. How had her life come to this? What atrocity had she committed in another life?
\par \tab \'93Don\rquote t worry, dear. We capped the age at fifty. That would be much too close to your father\rquote s age. Minnie says we should take their previously married state as a blessing. I mean, they took the plunge once, they\rquote 
re not liable to be as gun shy as men in the Big City.\'94
\par \tab }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 Big City}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 . Egypt struggled against the waves of despondency. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 
She could do this. She had done this before. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 She liked her single life, preferred living with her hamster and her cat. Men were smelly. They hogged the remote. Her New Year\rquote 
s resolution involved remaining as far away from them as possible. Her reasoning was sound. Her mother\rquote s logic was another story. \'93Darrell is from a big city Mom. So was Adam and Brad and Zachary and\endash \'94
\par \tab \'93I know that, dear.\'94
\par \tab One by one the men in her past faced her. Wanted Posters hovering above tasteful wedding invitation. Other women\rquote s husbands. She had never been wanted by any of them. Bitterness welled up inside her. \'93Only Todd wasn\rquote 
t. I think the Mayor should give me a medal or something. Egypt Starr, the woman personally responsible for introducing new blood to Dragoon Springs, population 2413. No, make that population 2427.\'94 She choked on a ragged breath. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 This should be easy. Why wasn\rquote t this easier?}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577  She hugged herself close: Half afraid she\rquote d shatter, half afraid hers would be the only arms to hold her in the future.

\par \tab \'93That\rquote s not funny, Egypt.\'94 Her mother cleared her throat. \'93You\rquote ll find the right man. He\rquote ll come riding to your rescue and knock you right off your feet.\'94
\par \tab \'93I don\rquote t believe in fairy tales anymore, Mom.\'94 Nutz padded across the sofa, rasped his rough tongue over her white knuckles. Despair\rquote s grip eased. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 She would be alright.}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577  Her hand slicked down the cat\rquote s body. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\insrsid4470577 Everything would be alright.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 \tab \'93That\rquote s precisely why Fate will send Prince Charming to your rescue.\'94
\par \tab \'93I definitely do not need rescuing.\'94
\par \tab \'93We\rquote ll see.\'94
\par \tab The omniscient tone grated on Egypt\rquote s nerves. She shoved to her feet. At least, the anger could be channeled. She grabbed her sweater and shoved her arm into the sleeve. \'93Mother.\'94
\par \tab \'93I\rquote m glad your staying for New Year\rquote s, dear. That will give your father time to look at your car.\'94
\par \tab \'93My car?\'94 Gum lodged in her throat. She coughed it up and pulverized the tasteless mass. That rat fink Darrell had snitched. He was the one who\rquote d told her to wrap the hoses in duct tape. He\rquote s the one who hadn\rquote 
t wanted to waste time while she had made the appropriate repairs.
\par \tab \'93Darrell mentioned you were having engine troubles and you know your father.\'94
\par \tab \'93My car is fine.\'94 Plastic crinkled as she tossed the roll of duct tape and a handful of garbage ties into the grocery bag. It clunked against 
the cans of cat food and crunched into the hamster seed. Of course, she had continued down the path of madness by wrapping the next hose in the tape, then the next. She had meant to repair them properly. There just never seemed to be any time.
\par \tab \'93I\rquote m sure it is, dear. No daughter of mine would make the long drive home without having a properly serviced and maintained car.\'94
\par \tab \'93Of course not.\'94 Egypt crossed her fingers. If their conversation took anymore turns, her fingers might become permanently twisted around each other.
\par \tab \'93It was never in question,\'94 her mother agreed. \'93But Darrell mentioned something the other day. And your father just won\rquote t let it go until he\rquote s satisfied himself. And really dear, where\rquote 
s the harm in allowing your father a little peek under the hood?\'94
\par \tab Out flanked and out maneuvered. Surrender loomed. Egypt had one more tactic and that was more whine than winning. \'93But if we all agree\'85\'94
\par \tab \'93We know you\rquote re an adult but you\rquote re still our child. We like to feel useful. Growing old isn\rquote t very pleasant dear.\'94 Her mother\rquote s sigh undoubtedly bowed telephone lines all across Arizona. \'93
Now a days, we old folks just get stuck in a retirement village somewhere while you young ones get on with your busy lives. Forgotten. Ignored.\'94
\par \tab Guilt. The weapon specifically designed to find the chinks in a child\rquote s armor. Egypt mentally surrendered. One day, she might actually find her backbone. \'93
You are not old mother. And no one is talking about sticking you or Dad in a retirement home. You\rquote re not even retired.\'94 She spit her gum into the trash and knotted the grocery sack.
\par \tab \'93Will you let your father do this for you? You know Doc Matheson has forbidden him from undertaking any construction projects until his wrist heals.\'94
\par \tab Her Dad and construction projects. It was a standing joke in the community that the walls of the Starr house moved more quickly than an ancient Egyptian booby trap. \'93Dad can look at my car, Mom.\'94
\par \tab \'93Oh my goodness. Is that the time? You should have left 15 minutes ago. Do try to hurry, dear. {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Paris{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} won\rquote t lis
ten to a word of reason until she has that dress in her hands.\'94
\par \tab Fifteen minutes. The revised schedule that had been faxed twenty-two minutes after she called to let them know she would have to work an extra day. {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt
{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose} shuffled toward the phone recharger. \'93Bye, Mom. I\rquote ll see you at lunch.\'94
\par \tab \'93At Granetti\rquote s. You do remember where it is, don\rquote t you dear?\'94
\par \tab \'93Yes, Mom. And even if I\rquote d forgotten in the six years I\rquote ve been living in {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Phoenix{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}, I\rquote 
d be able to find it from one of the seven maps you faxed me.\'94
\par \tab \'93Leave the attitude in {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Phoenix{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}, dear. It\rquote s not really becoming in a woman your age.\'94
\par \tab \'93Bye, Mom.\'94 {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}
 hung up the phone as the first giggles tickled her tongue. After three decades on this Earth, she had yet to reach the age where her attitude was becoming. Maybe she was only six hours away from reaching that point.
\par \tab Then again, maybe not.
\par \tab \'93Well, this should be an interesting trip.\'94 The cat sauntered beside her as she dragged the squeaking suitcase into the parking lot. She opened the Volkswagen door and the cat leapt inside. \'93Make yourself at home. It\rquote 
s going to be a long drive.\'94 Nutz blinked his yellow eyes, batted at the silver bell adorning one of her gifts for the happy couple then curled up on the back seat. His tail twitched as she wedged the hamster cage between the passenger\rquote 
s seat and the dashboard.
\par \tab {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname country-region}}Egypt{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}
 merged onto the freeway just as her brain registered the missing wedding dress. She smacked on the blinker and veered towards the closest exit. Back tracking to her apartment would cost her fifteen minutes tops, forgetting her sister\rquote 
s wedding dress could prove fatal. \'93Please, God, let this is the last thing that goes wrong.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid4470577 
\par }}