A Crying Shame (184 page)

Most of it. I don't really understand all the tax terminology, but it has something to do with marshlands, or wetlands, or natural habitats . . . something like that. Gives me . . . the estate, quite a tax break.”

Thousands of acres of it,” Tammy said.

Yes, and I have never had the slightest urge whatsoever to explore it.”

Up until now, you mean.”

Linda turned, meeting Tammy's eyes.
Oh?”

You'd like to be in there with your man.”

Jon is not
my man.' He is nobody's man. He is his own man.”

Lady, that's the only kind of real man.”

Linda smiled.
Yes, I agree.”

Tammy walked closer to the window, looking out into the afternoon heat and the shimmering lines that seemed to be pulled from the still waters, quickly vanishing into the air.

You . . . like Karl?” Linda asked.

Yeah, he's a character. Told me last night I was the first woman he'd ever met for whom he really had any feeling. I asked him what in the hell he meant by that. He told me to
Suche dein Herz.'
Whatever in the hell that means.”