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He stopped in front of her, holding a large cotton swab and a plastic container His knees cracked loudly as he crouched down in front of her, the harsh soundher wince

She watched hi off about his expression There was a hint of worry, ravation, but it was mostly sadness, which surprised her She stared at hi what made him that way, but she couldn’t ask It wasn’t her place

"Open your ed, and he ran the cotton swab along the inside of her cheek He stood when he finished, placing the swab into the container as he leaned against his desk "You don’t look--"

His words cut off abruptly when his phone rang Dr DeMarco closed his eyes "You’re excused, child"

Haven went straight for the fa at the flimsy tree The boys arrived hoh the house Her eyes fell upon Carmine, and he winked as he sat in a chair across the roorinned and plopped down beside her, so close he practically landed in her lap He flung his arm over her shoulder "What’s up, Twinkle Toes? Did you uess"

Car to whisper "I think my brother’s a wee bit jealous"

Haven heard footsteps co downstairs and went to pull away, but Dominic held on to her Dr DeMarco walked into the roo when he looked at them "Don’t let Tess see you You’ll start a war, and I’d hate to have to step in"

Dohed "Whose side would you take?"

"I didn’t say anything about taking a side I have a policy of staying neutral"

"Okay, but let’s say you were betting on it," Dohed "Are you asking who I think would win in a fight?"

"Yeah, I guess I aood at cheap shots, but the child has a knack for survival She’s not helpless either, as Squint can attest to Tess is used to having help, while the girl’s used to trudging through it alone One on one, I have to say she’d take Tess easily" Haven’s eyes widened, stunned he would say that "But don’t tell Tess She "

"I wouldn’t tell Tess that if my life depended on it," Dominic said "She’d kick my ass"

"She could probably take you, too," Dr DeMarco said "I know the child could"

Haven’s cheeks reddened as they looked at her "Uh, I don’t know about that, sir"

"Don’t underestimate yourself I certainly don’t" Haven stared at him, unsure of what he"I have stuff to do, so I probably won’t be hoht"

He walked out, an aard silence lingering in his wake

"That was fucking weird," Caret your dairl before I break it"

Doain "Told you he was jealous"

"Whatever," Carht? What kinda question is that?"

"It was a good one," Doirl, not ht when Caruard: "What do you want for Christht about it "I don’t expect anything"

"Well, you’re getting soave hed as he lay down beside her "I still wish I could buy you so," he said, "but there will be plenty more holidays in the future for you to spoil h her Christmases Presents A future It was all toocelebrations?"

"We used to when I was young, but now it’s just us My aunt Celia always comes for a few days Other than her and her husband, we don’t have any farand I don’t really know"

"What about your mama’s fa question, but he finally spoke in a soft voice "I don’t know of any She i the for my mom, never wondered what happened to her, so why should I care about them? Hell, I didn’t know she was born in Ireland until I saw a stack of governo"

"Does it ed "I don’t really think about it I figure I have enough"

"I used to drea family," Haven said "I used to pretend like I had one Mainary people I used to even talk to an angel"

"Like ings and a halo and shit?"

"That kind of angel, yes, but she didn’t have any of that," she said "Maels watched over ined theel told rew up and have anything I wanted I guess she didn’t want to crush me with the truth"