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He groans ‘How did I know you would be that acadeht A’s in high school too’

‘No, I didn’t’ When he crooks an eyebrow, I ad new things doesn’t co doesn’t work, either I did earn ot several B’s and two C’s’

‘Oh, no!’ he ht have to break up In what subjects did you y Freshman year’ After Colin duoing to school and seeing him every day When I sank into a depression so deep that only Deb was able to reachsehter

It’s pre-dawn dark when Dad co coffee ‘Wake up, sleepyhead,’ he says, setting a ru only had four hours of sleep after Reid dropped me off He wanted to walk me to the door, but I asked him not to because it too closely recalled our final farewell – or so we thought – before my volunteer mission to Ecuador Before Deb’s accident Before I lost ed under by the iin to resurface until Reid found oodbye in his car for half an hour before I couldinside the darkened house, and as soon as I shut the door, silent tears began skating downcarefully up the staircase – the last thing I needed was for Moet a look atridiculous I would see hiain in a week or two Three at most

Dad settles on the edge of my bed now and sips his coffee while I sit up and reach forday on the road, followed by a million trips froh Dad, sometimes your propensity to tell the absolute truth is less welcome than other tiet on the 5 Hours and hours of the opposite of a scenic thoroughfare Although you’re in luck – you’ll be treated to my witty company the whole way! If you’re truly fortunate, I’ll bouncebetween either the trials of Job or Hannah’s unceasing plea to God for a son’

I crack an eye open ‘Gosh, Dad Glooood in the end’

‘Sure, after lifeti for favours that were unobtainable without afor his response, I shift the subject to the one we’re avoiding ‘So … Mo in the truck with you? She’s still that angry at ry, Dori She’s concerned’

‘When I’ to the, and I see that he agrees withup onrotten choices, isn’t an option I won’t push hiree, and I don’t want to be the cause of an argument between thee her e it, it’s my father

REID

Me: Call me when you’re ready to tell e

Brooke: Give me 10 minutes

Brooke wastes no time on pleasantries when I answer – not that we’ve actually been pleasant with each other even once in the past five years ‘I saw the attorney yesterday’

Ridiculously, I thought I’d braced

‘You’ve retained an attorney already? Jesus, Brooke, what are you doing?’

‘I’ to adopt him’

I nearly rear-end the tiny classic convertible in front ofat the last possible second and whipping er I grip the wheel with both hands to keep fro it back

Whatever cracked idea I expected Brooke to disclose thisin Austin, whatever absurd course of action I dreaded she ht try to take – this is miles beyond it

‘Oh, my God, Brooke – why? You can’t be a mother to this kid –’

‘Why the hell not?’ she retorts ‘I’m financially sound I can provide whatever he needs And by the way I a that probably won’t do any good

Logic? Worth a shot ‘Kids need ical connection and money – they need attention Two parents, preferably A family They need someone to be there full time’

‘Oh, please – attention? A faot? I have more parents than I can shake a stick at, and most of them sucked And your parents were so clueless they let you nearly kill yourself on h I prefer throwingMo nearly every afternoon for about an hour and a half, and I haven’t seen her drink a drop in als Dori suggested, but I haven’t asked and don’t plan to

‘You’re right – they pretty much across-the-board sucked ass as parents And yet you think you’ll do a better job than any of thee? By yourself? And with your proclivity for partying and screwing around?’

‘God-fucking-daht to preach at uage – and before you try to turn that around, re I want to raise a kid And I don’t give a shit who you sleep with, otherwise –’

‘I party to keep fro bored – or haven’t you ever done that?’ She knows da celebrities Partying is expected It’s practically an unspoken part ofit – I’m more than happy to ditch it My public relations ears And by the way – my sex life, not that it’s any of your business, is heavily fabricated I’m more particular than thetoo ht this all the way out – which is even‘Okay, fine, whatever – but you have to ad a kid to raise will interfere with your socializing, whatever for schedule’

‘Will it? Hosflash – lots of actors have children’