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This decision should’ve been far less difficult She could give her husband the dream he’d alanted or ruin his life

Five ed out of his suit and tie and wore slacks and a shirt and sweater "Are you ready?" he asked

"For what?"

"Dinner tonight with the Mannings Re a sotten that? Jaer to show off his science project Only in this case, she was the project She still wore her gray suit, so after quickly brushing her hair and refreshing her makeup, she considered herself ready--in appearance if not in attitude

He escorted her out the front door and into his car, which he’d parked in front of the house "You haven’t hadto do lately," she commented

"I know"

"What does Ralph have to say?" she asked, wanting to see howto tell her

"Not ht, okay?"

"Why not?"

"I don’t want to have to think about it These people are my friends They’re like a second set of parents to nant?"

"No, but I won’t need to tell theently patted her abdo, I want to aze briefly left the road and he nodded

The emptiness inside her could only be filled with his love

"Are you feeling all right?"

She ainst his shoulder "Of course"

"There’s so different about you"

"Is there?" Just that her heart felt as if it had been chopped in half Just that she’d never felt so cold or alone in her life Southworth had asked her to turn her back on the man she loved He’d asked that she leave and do it in such a way that he wouldn’t follow He’d asked that she bear her child alone

When they got to the Manning home, James parked his car on the street and turned to Summer He studied her for an intense moment "I love you"

"I love you," she whispered in return She felt close to tears

James helped her out of the car They walked to the front porch, and he rang the doorbell When she wasn’t looking, he stole a kiss

A distinguished older gentleain"

"Eric, this isher hand, Eric Manning hugged her

They stepped inside, and all at once, fro space, people leapt out

They were greeted with an unanimous chorus of "Surprise!"

Eleven

Sue nue people surrounded her People with happy faces, people who see her

"Elizabeth," Jaed woed first James and then Surinning broadly "What better excuse than to meet your wife? I’esturing around the roo about "You must be Summer"

"I am You must be Elizabeth"

"Indeed I am"

Before she could protest, Suer to talk to Jaly at her husband He ed and followed his friends into the family room

Soon Summer found herself in the kitchen, which bustled with activity "I’m Jamie We met the other day in the restaurant," Rich’s wife re aside as a youngster raced past her at breakneck speed

"These tomen with the curious looks on their faces areher arnant, "is Charlotte She’s married to Jason He’s the slob of the fa," Charlotte told her

"When’s your baby due?"

"July," Charlotte said "This is our second Doug’s asleep I also have a daughter fro and couldn’t be here I’et a chance to meet her later"

"Our baby’s due in Septeed glances "You’re just three nant?"

Miserable, Su The first couple of months I was really sick I’m much better now that I’ Hardly any of my clothes fit anymore"

"It happens like that sometimes," Elizabeth said with the voice of experience "I wonder…" Then she shook her head "I showed far est Don’t ask me why nature plays these silly tricks on us You’d think we have enough to put up with, dealing with reement broke out

Elizabeth took the hors d’oeuvre platter out of the refrigerator "The good news is I was blessed with three sons The bad news is I was blessed with three sons" She laughed "My daughters are an entirely different story"