A kid at heart. She believed he'd spoken no more than the absolute truth, and that relieved her. Because that meant the odd undercurrent of attraction would soon wither. Dependability, solidity, maturity—those were the attributes she valued. Someone who would work through the difficulties in life as she did, someone who anticipated them and prepared for them. Certainly not someone who admitted to being—bragged about being—a kid at heart. So why are you disappointed? asked a voice inside her. To quiet it, she asked, "How did you get to know Mama Artemis and Ardith?" "I did a job for them back when I was starting out. In fact, before I'd set up the business." "What kind of job?" Paul gestured widely to the room around them. "Appraising." For the first time Bette noticed one wall was decorated with assorted wooden game boards, the colors mellowed and softened by age. On a shelf along the opposite wall resided arrangements of old-fashioned toys, a teddy bear appearing to pull a wagon bearing two dolls, a wooden sled next to ancient-looking skates, a hoop and stick.
