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Page 149
dare you make me cry one minute and laugh the next."
Peter groaned. "Don't tell me you're one of those women who goes to the movies and says 'I enjoyed myself so muchI cried and cried.' If you prefer crying to laughing, I'm going to take it all back."
"If you can take it back, I don't want it!" Linda snapped, simultaneously outraged and laughing.
Peter's face sobered with terrible suddenness. "I wish I could take it back. God, I love you, Linda. I'd like to get a special license and marry you this minuteand I don't know when I can ask you to marry me. And I wish I didn't love you."
This time Linda felt no urge to weep or rage. The shock that had brought tears was over and the depth of emotion with which Peter spoke was too great to waken anger.
"Why?" she asked softly.
"Because of Aunt Em. Linda, she's a very sick woman, and she's my only living relative. I can't and won't do anything to upset her."
Although her eyes had adjusted and the corner was no longer so dark, Linda suddenly felt chilled. "I'm sorry," she said. "I don't see the connection between Mrs. Bates and us. And she doesn't look or act like a sick woman."
"No. She doesn't even know. I thought of telling you sooner. I guess I did tell you a little when you were first hired. The doctor felt that anxiety would be worse for her than ignorance.

 
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