07/02/2026 20:55

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She would tell Tomthat night, tell him what she had discovered and what shehad decided, and he would be bound to do what she said. 'I don't know either,' he said. The coffee was very strong; it made her feel better. 'Don't fuss.

LuckyOctavia; she had someone else to ease her through thisawful thing, she wasn't quite alone -- as he was. 'I know, Boot, I'm sorry. 'You could be running a company easily,' he had said toher more than once, and she had laughed and said she h Ritz Franklynhad said as much, when she had rung her in tears atlunchtime, the day before, asking if there was any newsabout the contract.