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say.”
    “You're not sorry, you meddling bitch,” Ruth Spalding hissed through her teeth. “You did it on purpose. You ruined everything. Everything , damn you!” She swung a huge hand in a wide arc.
    Phila did not even try to duck the blow. Ruth Spalding's palm cracked against the side of her face with enough force to make Phila stagger backward a step.
    “Jesus. That's enough.” Nick spoke very softly. If a man had acted this way toward Phila he knew he would have thrown a punch by now. He moved in front of the Spalding woman, looming directly in her path. She did not appear even to see him. She was staring rigidly over his shoulder, her entire attention focused on Phila.
    “It's all right, Nick. Please. I'll handle this.”
    Phila stepped around Nick, reaching out to the other woman. Nick watched in amazement as Phila put a hand on Spalding's plump shoulder. Spalding flinched as if she had been struck.
    “ Don't you dare touch me, you bitch .”
    “I'm sorry, Ruth. I know you're hurting.”
    Huge tears formed in Ruth Spalding's tiny eyes and coursed down her cheeks. “Bitch,” Spalding whispered again, her large body shaking with barely stifled sobs. “He was doing okay. We were gonna make it. He was doing good until you came along and messed it all up.”
    “I know. I know.” Phila moved closer, putting both arms around the big woman. “I'm sorry, Ruth. So sorry.”
    For a few seconds Ruth Spalding simply stood there, her head against Phila's shoulder as she sobbed heavily. Then she jerked herself back a step, as if ashamed to find herself taking comfort from the enemy. She pushed Phila away and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes.
    “You'll pay for what you did,” Spalding said as she backed slowly away down the aisle. “I swear to God you'll pay for ruining everything.” Then she turned and lumbered awkwardly out of the diner.
    Nick took one look at Phila, who was standing very still as she watched Ruth Spalding leave the diner, and he pulled out his wallet and threw enough cash on the table to cover the tab.
    “Let's go.” He took Phila's arm and steered her firmly toward the door.
    She did not resist. Every eye in the restaurant was on them, but she appeared oblivious as Nick urged her out into the warm night. He helped her gently into the Porsche and leaned down to study her face in the harsh neon light of the diner sign. She looked exhausted. All traces of the battle flags that had been flying earlier were gone. Without a word he closed the car door and went around to the driver's side.
    Phila said nothing until he parked the Porsche in front of the little white house. Then she seemed to come slowly back from some distant place as she realized she was home.
    Nick turned off the engine and shifted slightly in his seat. “You want to tell me what that was all about?”
    “Not particularly. It's none of your business.”
    “Somehow I had a hunch you'd say that. You okay?”
    “Just tired.” She massaged her temples. “I've been feeling very tired lately.”
    “Who was that woman?” Nick persisted gently.
    She hesitated, her eyes drifting to the front steps of her house which were illuminated by a pale light. “Ruth Spalding. She and her husband used to run a foster home on their farm outside of town. I…didn't like the way things were going for the kids. I was responsible for taking the children away and putting them in other homes. She hasn't forgiven me, as you can see.”
    “What I saw was you trying to comfort a woman who obviously hates your guts. You do that kind of thing a lot? If so, I can see why you got burned out. Sort of a thankless job, isn't it?”
    “It gets to you.” Phila shook herself like a small terrier throwing off water after falling into a cold stream. She blinked twice and opened the door. “Guess I really do need a vacation.” She climbed out of the car.
    Nick immediately slid out from behind the wheel and followed Phila up the path to her door.