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Show 102 Zipping up the bag fast before she changed her mind, it occurred to Dyna that maybe the tears meant something else. Maybe they meant she'd won this time. Knowing you can trust yourself . . . that was worth crying about. Dyna pressed her lips firmly together and lifted the olive drab bag to her shoulder, thinking grimly that it wouldn't hurt to lose a little more weight. She'd have to hustle if she wanted to catch a ride this time of night. Returning from the airport, Parker and his parents had the best kind of reunion. The two of them chattering away about Hawaii, then all of them laughing uproariously over Parker's first bachelor experience, they couldn't seem to get enough of one another. Look at us, Parker wanted to shout, we're a family and we're paying some real attention to one another for a change! Was it because they'd been separated awhile? He didn't think he was any different, but his parents were. They even looked different-tanned, relaxed. Younger. "What we are is island blown," his mother joked when he commented on their terrific appearance. "And broke!" added his dad from the back seat. That, Parker knew, was a figure of speech. What we are is more loving, he concluded privately, feeling very mature to have hit on it himself. For the time being, at least, we're more loving. • • Glancing at his watch as they swung onto the boulevard again, Parker realized that he might still get in on some of the slide show. The question now was did he want to leave his folks? Experiencing all these warm, family feelings . . . well . . . it was better than a secondhand climb any day, wasn't it? In the middle of such benevolent thoughts, the lights of the Continental illuminated a figure on the other side of the boulevard. Parker frowned, thinking it was too cold to be out thumbing. Suddenly his heart leaped. It was a girl, walking backwards to face oncoming traffic, carrying a bag. They swept past her. So did two cars going her direction, which Parker took care to observe in the rearview mirror. Was it Dyna? He |