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They passed the flask back and forth before Doain "It was her, wasn’t it?" Carured You got this look on your face at the fa It was the only thing that uilty he had bla the truth was hard It would always hurt, but it was a pain he’d learn to live with

"I think Mom would be happy to see her," Douess that’s what she wanted, and you did that for her"

"I didn’t do anything"

Dohed "The hell you didn’t You think that’s Dad’s doing? He brought her here, but you s in life, and I see it now, because no matter what you do tomorrow, Carazed at Haven as he mulled over his brother’s words She seeirl Just looking at her, laughing and chatting, it was hard to is she’d endured "All I did was love her"

"Ever think maybe that’s what she needed? So We have to just be"

They sat there until the flask was empty Carmine slipped it into his pocket as Dominic stood "You knohat’s kind of funny? Well, not funny, but ironic, maybe? She’s been here nine months now, and it takes nine months to create life It’s like she’s been reborn"

Dominic walked away but paused after a few steps, his brow furrowed "Actually, I don’t think that’s irony Haven would probably correctsymbolic"

Carth of Carrow taut Haven stared at his sleeping for the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed There was a stirring inside of her, warhtened her, yet iton air

It was hope

Haven grabbed the blanket and covered Car hi downstairs to the kitchen She pulled out the ingredients for an Italian creaether when subtle footsteps echoed behind her They were restrained, the steps of soo undetected

But Haven noticed

Her hands shook as she scooped the batter into pans, attenore the presence She put the cake into the oven and set the tith of Haven’s spine when Corrado finally spoke, his voice quiet and flat "Goodto look at him He was dressed in a black suit, his jacket open and hands in his pockets "Can I get you so?"

He didn’t move, his stance so statuesque she wondered if he was even breathing "No," he said finally, the word echoing in the tense silence

She resu as he moved toward her Instinctively, she took a step away If Katrina had taught her anything, it was to stay out of the henever possible

Corrado grabbed a bottle of water and stood off to the side, watching soave Corrado a curious look before his eyes found their way to her "Good h of relief at the kindness in his voice "Good , sir"

"I’m surprised to see you awake so early today," he said "I take it Carmine’s still asleep?"

"Yes, sir"

The timer for the oven went off Haven pulled out the cake layers as Dr DeMarco stood near her, gazing out the ith a wistful expression The sun was rising, lighting up the driveway and the thick forest surrounding the property

"They’ll be here soon," he said, his attention shifting to the cake "Italian cream cake"

"I made it for Carmine’s birthday"

Irritation flashed across his face

"Fascinating, isn’t it?" Corrado asked fro sense of déjà vu before"

Dr DeMarco clenched his teeth, turning his gaze outside "When you finish, child, I need you totells me he’s probably not decent"

He stressed the word decent Haven’s cheeks flushed "Yes, sir"

Corrado laughed "I’ to, Vincent"

Dr DeMarco shook his head and left the kitchen, while Corrado lingered "When you wake Car" He walked out, lio," under his breath

Teresa Capozzi enjoyed the finer things in life--the fastest foreign cars, the thickest non wines An air of superiority oozed froreed It ell known that Mrs Capozzi thought of nothing but herself and her next drink Nobody liked her, not even her husband of forty years, but she didn’t care Teresa Capozzi didn’t want to be liked; she wanted to be envied

Haven watched out thein the kitchen as the woer seat of the rented Porsche and sht black dress She sauntered toward the house in her high heels, ignoring Salvatore when he tried to take her arm