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"But you said a baby would be a ht now," she reminded hilared at Ja it," Ja to have a baby ht he’s happy," Walter tossed in, "or there’d be hell to pay I should’ve been a grandfather two or three times over by now As far as I’m concerned, James owes me"

"I’ll try and rin

Sury She’d been with James a week and had settled so contentedly into her new life it was almost as if she’d always been there

"Would you like another piece of apple pie?" Ja and take it home with us?"

"Can we do that?" Summer was sure her appetite must be a source of embarrassment to him They were at a sidewalk restaurant on the Seattle waterfront Summer couldn’t decide between the French onion soup and the Cobb salad, so she’d ordered both Then she’d topped off the rave; la mode

"I’ll ask the waitress," Jah it was perfectly normal to order a whole pie for later

"Have I e her voice low

James’s mouth quivered "No, but I will admit I’ve rarely seen anyone enjoy her food ood it is to be able to eat and keep everything down I felt a thousand times better this past week than I did the whole previous two ht," he said

"About what?"

"The psychological effects of the pregnancy were taking their toll along with the physical In other words, you orried andyourselfYou have to forgive me, sweetheart, I’iven"

"Just pro Don’t keep any ot yourself a deal"

"Ja couple approached their table

"Rich and Jaenuinely pleased, Jaed handshakes with the ood friends ofThis isa poor job of hiding his surprise "When did this happen?"

"Shortly after New Year’s," James explained "Would you care to join us?"

"Unfortunately we can’t," Rich said "The babysitter’s waiting But this is great news I hope there’s a good reason I didn’t get a wedding invitation"

"A very good one" Ja to let everyone know But Summer just moved here from California"

"Well, the word’s out now," Ja at her "Once Rich’s mother hears about it, she’ll want to throw a party in your honor" Jamie and her husband shared a private, happy look

"I’d better call your parents before I alienate the you soon," Rich said and patted James’s shoulder as he passed by "Bye, Summer"

James was silent for a lad or not that his friends had stopped to talk She didn’t think he intended to keep theirher around, either

"Is there a probleive you soth before you aze followed the couple as they made their way toward the front of the restaurant

"They’re happy, aren’t they?"

"Rich and Jamie?"

Summer nodded

"Yes" He relaxed in his chair "They came to see me a few years back with perhaps the uessed he must’ve been amused at the time, as well

"What did they want?"

"They asked e of convenience"

"Really" That seeh she’d just met the couple, it was clear to her that they were in love

"They’d coether--by artificial insemination Rich would be the sperm donor"

"Did they have a baby?"

"Yes, but Bethany was conceived the old-fashioned ithout a single visit to a fertility clinic"

Summer shook her head "This doesn’t o to such lengths to have a child? Especially when they’re perfectly capable of doing things…the usual way?"

"It does sound silly, doesn’t it?"

"Frankly, yes"

James leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table "Jah school days, if I recall correctly Jaht kind of man and, after a couple of disastrous relationships, she decided she was giving up dating altogether"

"I love the tricks life plays on people," Su melted ice cream off her spoon She looked across the table at the re to eat that?" she asked