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She pressed her fingers against his lips. “Shhh. Don’t. I’m not expecting miracles. Just knowing you’re out there trying… well, I can’t explain it. But somehow-it gives me the strength to keep going.”
Co
“I heard. But they won’t anymore.”
“How can you-”
“I just released a formal statement. That’s where I’ve been the last hour or so.” She reached into her purse and produced a sheet of paper. “Among other things, I told them that I begged you to continue playing the tournament in John’s memory, and that you reluctantly agreed. So you’re off the hook.”
Co
She smiled, then took his hand and squeezed it. “Least I can do.” She pulled him into the nearest lounge, then closed the outer door. “Have you learned anything?”
Co
“I’m not surprised.”
“I have heard someone say they thought John seemed depressed. Did you notice anything like that?”
“Depression? John? No. If he were depressed, I would’ve known.”
“That’s what I figured.”
“I’ve never known a less depressed person than John in my entire life. Now-angry-that’s a different matter.”
“John seemed angry?”
“That last night. He definitely had a bug up his nose about something.”
“Did you ask him what it was?”
“Never got the chance. Figured I’d ask him when he returned. But of course… he never did.”
“Another thing… Why is Barry Be
Jodie turned her eyes away. “Why would you ask me?”
“Because Barry told me to.”
“It was all so long ago. But you might know-Barry is exactly the kind of person who would never forget.”
“Forget what?”
Jodie drew up her shoulders and sighed. It was obvious she didn’t want to proceed, but Co
“I never heard anything about this.”
“It was before you joined the tour.”
“Barry? And you?”
“It seems incredible now. What can I say? I was young and, frankly, stupid. Didn’t know diddly about men.”
“Evidently not.”
“Let’s give Barry some credit. He’s made a success of himself, despite extremely humble begi
“I’m begi
Jodie nodded. “It was never serious-except in Barry’s mind. John was the one I loved-I just had to be with someone else for a while to realize that. But every time I suggested to Barry that we ought to see less of each other, he’d fly off the handle. He scared me, Co
“You did the right thing.”
“But I still feel guilty about it. At any rate, about four months later, John and I were married. Barry apparently transferred all his anger from me to John. Blaming him for coming between us. It was never like that at all, but try telling Barry that.”
“Try telling Barry anything,” Co
Jodie nodded. “Especially something he doesn’t want to hear.”
A stray thought returned to Co
“No, I haven’t. I’m sorry.” She shrugged apologetically. “I’m not much help, am I?”
Co
She gave him a broken, lopsided smile. “Not bad for an Oklahoma girl, anyway?”
Co
14
Co
He saw Fanboy Ed sitting at a table by himself, wearing the same clothes he had worn the night before. Probably the only clothes he had smuggled in.
“Still here, kid?”
Ed barely grunted in reply.
“Where did you stay last night?”
“Found a dark place in the back of the greenskeeper’s storage shed.”
“And food?”
He shrugged. “Leftovers. And the breakfast buffet. When no one’s looking.”
Ed did not look happy. Had the full impact of his disappointment finally settled in? Or was it something more?
Co
“I know,” Ed said. His eyes were moist. “But at least you had a chance to know John. I never even met him. All my life, as far back as I can remember, I’ve had only one ambition. To be John McCree’s caddie at the Masters tournament. And now-now-“ He couldn’t finish the sentence.
“I didn’t know you caddied,” Co
“Well, I never have. I didn’t want to be anyone else’s caddie. I wanted to be John McCree’s caddie.”
“Ed, being a caddie for a pro requires experience and knowledge and-”
“That’s why I came early. So I could seek John out and offer my services. I wouldn’t have charged him or anything. I wanted to show him what I could do, to be close to him for a little while. And now-”
Once again, Ed’s voice dissolved. Co
A group of pros were huddled at the bar, preparing to make a toast. Co
One of them chuckled. “Since when did you need an excuse to have a drink, Cross?”
Co
One of the men pushed Harley Tuttle forward. “Harley’s the man of the hour!” someone shouted.
“Really!” Co
Harley looked keenly uncomfortable about all the attention. “Oh, it’s really no big deal.”
“Don’t be so modest,” Co
Harley hesitated. “I’m in fourth place going into Friday.”
“That’s spectacular. Congratulations.”
Harley shrugged shyly. “Like my daddy used to say, Every dog has his day.”
“Your daddy was quite the philosopher.”
Harley smiled. “Poet laureate of Muellenburg County.”
Co
Co
“I don’t know why you should be disappointed,” Fitz snapped. “You should be relieved.”
“Relieved?”
“After a performance like the one you gave on the course today, you should’ve placed in the three-digit numbers.”
“There are only sixty players in the tournament.”
“Like I said.” Fitz leaned into Co
Harsh words but, alas, true ones. Co