Come on, you're getting giddy.

Getting?

Oh, Cora, Cora. If you knew what you've done to me.

The phone rang.

Good. If it was Cora, she'd beg off.

If it was Aaron...

Well, she wouldn't beg off. But she'd express her doubts. Not that he wasn't fully aware of her doubts. But still.

She hoped it was Aaron.

"Hello?"

"Sherry?"

Dennis's voice went through her like a knife.

Not now!

"You have to stop calling."

"I can't."

"Yes you can. If you call again, I'm telling Brenda."

"Yeah. Like she doesn't know."

"Are you drunk?"

"No. Just determined."

"Really? When did you leave Brenda?"

There was a silence on the line.

"When did you leave Brenda?" Sherry repeated.

"What's the difference?"

"You haven't left Brenda, have you? You're still living with her. Still working for her father. You're lucky she hasn't thrown you out."

"Get serious."

"I know. It's not her nature. Even if I told her about this phone call. Even if she believed me. She'd still find a way to forgive."

"I didn't call to talk about Brenda."

"What a surprise."

"I heard a rumor."

"You heard a rumor? What rumor?"

"You're getting married."

Sherry's heart stopped. "Who told you that?"

"Is it true?"

"It's none of your business."

"My wife getting married? It certainly is my business. I at least have a right to know."

"Ex-wife. And if I get married, I'll tell you."

"I'd like to know before you do it."

"Your wishes don't control me anymore."

Sherry bit her lip as she said that. It implied that once they did.

"Damn it, did you accept a marriage proposal tonight? Yes or no?"

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Yes or no?"

Sherry hung up the phone.

That was freaky. Aaron proposes over dinner. Two hours later Dennis knows.

Was he spying on them? Peeking through the window? Was he there at the Country Kitchen?

How the hell did he know?

Sherry had the creepy feeling she was being watched. Which was ridiculous. No one was watching her now. She was in her office, at the computer. There was no one at the window. The blind was open, but there was a full moon lighting up the empty lawn. Nonetheless, Sherry got up and closed the blind. Felt like a fool.

Sherry needed to call Aaron, ask him to come over, even though he had to work. That would be a fine start to the relationship, all clingy the moment he proposed. There was no need. She'd be fine. Put Dennis out of her head. Go on with her life.

Now, what was she doing?

Her eyes lit on the computer screen.

Oh, hell. Cora's puzzle. There was no way she could deal with it now.

On the bottom shelf of the bookcase was a stack of oversized books too tall to stand. Sherry bent down, pawed through. Sure enough, in a cardboard cover and spiral binding was the collection 100 CROSSWORD PUZZLES FOR ALL OCCASIONS. Sherry remembered it, particularly since the book offered one crossword puzzle for each occasion, as opposed to the hundred the title implied. Sherry dug it out, leafed through.

"My Bad," by Benny Southstreet, sounded promising.

So, 20 Across: Start of message; 31 Across: Part 2 of message, etc.

Excellent. And that message was... ?

Well, 1 Across: "Huh?" would be WHAT; 5 Across: Faultfinder's find; she'd need to get one of the down clues first. But 10 Across: Hay place would be LOFT.

Sherry shuddered. Bad clue. Obvious and boring. She made a pencil note: Room at the top?

And, good lord, 7 Down: Annina in "Der Rosenkavalier" as a clue for ALTO? Talk about obscure! Specialized knowledge required! Sherry scribbled: Tone of voice?

There. Much better. And- What the hell was she doing? The answers were on page 118.

Sherry flipped to the back of the book, checked out the solution grid.

So. The theme entry was: My apology I'll

Not prolong

I am so sorry

You were wrong

Sherry groaned. A wisecrack, not an apology. Just her luck.

On the other hand...

Perhaps, with a few minor changes...

Sherry's fingers flew over the keyboard, typing the puzzle into Crossword Compiler.

My Bad

by Benny Southstreet

ACROSS.

* 52 Part 4 of message * 56 Had on * 57 Oohed and ___ * 58 Persia today * 62 Et ___ (and others) * 63 Bump and ___ * 64 Only * 65 Jerk * 66 Roll-on alternative * 67 Had a big mouth DOWN.

* 1 A question of motive * 2 Break ground?

* 3 Docs' bloc * 4 Long essay * 5 Baguette or challah * 6 Lutzes and Salchows * 7 Annina in "Der Rosenkavalier"

* 8 Manhandle * 9 Industrial show * 10 Tripoli's locale * 11 Broadcast booth sign * 12 Something extra * 13 Set for the BBC * 21 "What's ___ problem?"

* 22 Ring stone * 23 "Doonesbury" square * 24 Eat away * 25 Bandleader Shaw * 28 Spacious * 29 Small bills * 30 Farming prefix * 32 Off-Broadway award * 33 Baguette or challah * 34 Animal behavior expert * 35 Mistake * 36 U. of Maryland athletes * 37 Thus far * 43 In stitches * 44 Unknown John or Jane * 46 How "I did it"

* 47 Mrs. Oop * 48 City on the Po * 49 Fine-tune * 50 Battleground * 51 Hot alcoholic drink * 53 Poverty metaphor * 54 Lawman Wyatt * 55 Sound from a fan * 59 "Winnie-the-Pooh" baby * 60 Part of "snafu"

* 61 End-of-proof letters

Chapter 9.

HARVEY BEERBAUM WAS so excited he nearly spilled his double skim mocha latte. "We have a bid! Can you believe it! You already have a bid!"

Though pleased, Cora was somewhat less astounded. After all, that's why they'd auctioned the damn thing. "Who is it?"

Harvey's eyes widened. "Why, I have no idea. But he's bid a hundred dollars."

"He?"

"Or she. Whoever it is has bid twenty-five dollars a chair."

"You don't know who it is?"