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@@ -5,9 +5,36 @@
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\pard\plain \tx0\tx360\tx720\tx1080\tx1440\tx1800\tx2160\tx2880\tx3600\tx4320\fi360\ltrch\loch {\f1\fs24\b0\i1 Maybe,}{\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Jake thought as he looked at his front window, }{\f1\fs24\b0\i1 I need more male friends.}{\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He reflected on this for a moment, and then amended it to, }{\f1\fs24\b0\i1 Or at least fewer female friends.}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 A moment later Nancy Miller blew through his front door. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Hi, hi,\u8221\'94 she said, leaning up to give him a quick kiss. \u8220\'93Mom said you were okay with the pickleball thing. Now we have to decide what court configuration you want.\u8221\'94 She held up four sketches, fanned out like a giant poker hand. \u8220\'93Given the size of our tennis court, we could do one, two, three, or four pickleball courts.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Umm\u8230\'85\u8221\'94 he said.}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Nancy grinned. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93You don\u8217\'92t care, do you?\u8221\'94 He shook his head, and she went on, \u8220\'93Then we\u8217\'92ll do two. One would be dumb because, part of the reason pickleball was invented was to get more use out of court space. Four would mean a whole lot of people could play at much, which would annoy you. Three is\u8230\'85 well, just kinda dumb. So two it is. I\u8217\'92ll email you this.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She took her phone out of her jeans pocket and her thumbs flew. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93You\u8217\'92ll tell them? Some people at church are organizing things for this summer and I\u8217\'92d like to include this.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Nancy grinned. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93You don\u8217\'92t care, do you?\u8221\'94 He shook his head, and she went on, \u8220\'93Then we\u8217\'92ll do two. One would be dumb because, part of the reason pickleball was invented was to get more use out of court space. Four would mean a whole lot of people could play at once, which would annoy you. Three is\u8230\'85 well, just kinda dumb. So two it is. I\u8217\'92ll email you this.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She took her phone out of her jeans pocket and her thumbs flew. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93You\u8217\'92ll tell them? Some people at church are organizing things for this summer and I\u8217\'92d like to include pickleball.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Yeah,\u8221\'94 he said. \u8220\'93I\u8217\'92ll forward it later today.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She rolled her eyes. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I\u8217\'92ll text you later to remind you. Please do it?\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Of course, Nancy.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She laughed and hugged him. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Thanks. Also\u8230\'85\u8221\'94}}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She laughed and gave him a one-armed hug. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Thanks. Also\u8230\'85\u8221\'94 Her face corkscrewed. \u8220\'93Please don\u8217\'92t be insulted, because I don\u8217\'92t mean it that way. You\u8217\'92ve been totally faithful and good to me, and you\u8217\'92re smart as all get out. The best steward ever\u8230\'85\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Her voice trailed off, and Jake said, \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93But?\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Nodding, she said, \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93You don\u8217\'92t have a succession plan.\u8221\'94 She held up a hand. \u8220\'93I understand \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 of course I do! Better than anybody. And I\u8217\'92m sure it will work out\u8230\'85\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Again Jake prompted, \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93But?\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I\u8217\'92ve been talking with Keith Shaw \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 I mean, that\u8217\'92s not important, I know you don\u8217\'92t totally trust Keith\u8230\'85\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Our problem was in fourth grade, Nanc. I\u8217\'92ve kinda moved on.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She nodded. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I just mean it\u8217\'92s not just Keith\u8230\'85\u8221\'94 She closed her eyes and said, \u8220\'93I\u8217\'92m thinking I should diversify my investments. Move some money outside.\u8221\'94 She opened her eyes and searched his face. \u8220\'93Please don\u8217\'92t be insulted. It\u8217\'92s just\u8230\'85 if you got hit by a bus tomorrow \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Not all that likely in Punxsy.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Well, no, but\u8230\'85 I mean, I hope you live until you\u8217\'92re a hundred and fifty, I really do, but statistically\u8230\'85\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93You\u8217\'92re likely to outlive me. You\u8217\'92re younger, and women live longer,\u8221\'94 he said.}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Yes. And, well\u8230\'85 What if I don\u8217\'92t have access to my money when you\u8217\'92re gone?\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Right. You\u8217\'92re being sensible. I\u8217\'92m not insulted. I should have thought of it, suggested it. They\u8217\'92re really good at managing money, of course, and you won\u8217\'92t do as well outside, but you\u8217\'92re right. You should diversify.\u8221\'94 He stood, looking thoughtful, and then nodded again. \u8220\'93What are you thinking?\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Well Keith\u8230\'85\u8221\'94 She gulped. \u8220\'93I mean, I was thinking\u8230\'85 maybe move a couple hundred thousand?\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He walked to a roll-top desk and extracted a manila folder. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Your investments currently total just over nineteen million \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93What?\u8221\'94 It was a gasp. \u8220\'93I thought I had, like, four hundred K.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I told you you\u8217\'92d never have to worry about money, Nancy,\u8221\'94 he said.}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She nodded. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Yes, and I\u8217\'92ve always believed you. I just didn\u8217\'92t know I was going to be rich.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Well, there you go.\u8221\'94 He looked uncomfortable. \u8220\'93You might want to, um, be a little careful who you tell. You know all the stories about lottery winners being miserable when their relatives descend upon them.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I know,\u8221\'94 she said. \u8220\'93I\u8217\'92m not really sure who I\u8217\'92d tell anyway. Just you, I suppose.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He grinned. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I guess you don\u8217\'92t scrutinize the reports they give you every month.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She put a hand up to rub his bicep. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93No. I always just trusted my steward.\u8221\'94 She drew a deep breath, leaning her head against his shoulder. \u8220\'93Zowie. Maybe I was happier not knowing. What do you think I should do?\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f1\fs24\b0\i1 Don\loch\af1\hich\af1\dbch\af1\uc1\u8217\'92t tell Keith}{\f0\fs24\b0\i0 , he thought. He said, \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93It might be good to \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 initially, I mean \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 stick to your original thought, move, say, a quarter million.\u8221\'94 He looked down at the report in the folder. \u8220\'93I\u8217\'92ll ask them for suggestions, but that shouldn\u8217\'92t disrupt their investment strategy. So move that for now, see how it goes, how you feel.\u8221\'94 He smiled. \u8220\'93I\u8217\'92m feeling pretty healthy, and other than school buses the only bus in town is that old one the CMA church uses, and Fred\u8217\'92s a good driver. I think you have time.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Still gripping his arm, she kissed his cheek. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Thanks, Jake. Are you sure you don\u8217\'92t want to marry me? Turns out I\u8217\'92m rich.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Nanc \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Kidding, kidding, relax.\u8221\'94 She stepped toward the door. \u8220\'93Can you have them put that into my savings account at Farmers and Miners and let me know? And I\u8217\'92ll talk\u8230\'85 I mean, I\u8217\'92ll work out exactly what I want to do with it.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Sure thing. Probably take a day or two.\u8221\'94}
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\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She smiled, and then was gone.}
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\par\plain {\f1\fs24\b0\i1 Frickin\loch\af1\hich\af1\dbch\af1\uc1\u8217\'92 Keith Shaw}{\f0\fs24\b0\i0 , he thought.}}
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