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"You should," Teri said without censure

"So, would you give this to Rachel for me? Please?"

Reluctantly Teri accepted the cash She was about to suggest he buy so way toward convincing his wife that he was serious Again, she h every word she spoke No offers of help No advice No information

"When you talk to her," Bruce said, "would youto the counselor and that Jolene has agreed tonews "I’ll tell her"

"Thanks, Teri" That was all he said, but the gratitude in his eyes, the hope and longing, almost made her cry

After Bruce left, Teri stood by theand watched hiht, she rushed to the phone and called Rachel’s cell, which went straight to voice mail

"Rach, it’s Teri Call me ASAP Bruce just stopped by the house"

Five minutes later, the return call came Her friend didn’t even say hello "Did you let him in?"

"Of course I did," Teri said "It would’ve been rude to slam the door in his face"

"What did he want? You didn’t tell hiret that she hadn’t i I swear he doesn’t know a thing"

"Thank you," she said in relief

"Can you come by this afternoon? Bobby’s away and I could use the coavefor you"

"He did?" Rachel’s curiosity was piqued

"Yup, but I’ what it is You’ll have to coed her and practically dragged her into the foyer "Gabrielle’s out and we only have about thirty minutes before the boys wake up" The triplets had started to teethe and Teri’s life wasn’t her own anyan preparing a cheese and cracker plate with apple slices and grapes She could use a snack herself, and this was a good excuse to feed her friend She’d forced herself not to tell Bruce that she orried Rachel wasn’t getting enough fruit and vegetables or high-quality protein From the tidbits Rachel had dropped, Teri surhts a week, which probablyfor Rachel or the pregnancy

"You said Bruce left soan

She sat on the bar stool and propped her elbows on the counter Teri had washed the grapes and sliced two apples; now she was cubing the cheese and arranging it on the platter Only about half the cheddar found its way to the plate The other half seemed to auto the plate to Rachel, who reached for a piece of apple and speared so a bite

"Oh, yeah, Bruce" Teri dug in the hip pocket of her jeans and brought out the wad of cash

"Money?"

"He wants to contribute to your care and the baby’s He loves you He’s feeling guilty andher lips "I swear I didn’t say a word I told you I wouldn’t and I didn’t" She paused "You should take the ed She set it on the counter, then crossed her arms "He looked pretty broken, Rach"

Rachel didn’t say anything at first "Did he talk about what happened last Saturday?" she finally asked

"A little But he also said he’s been seeing the counselor--and Jolene agreed to go"

Rachel’s head jerked up "She did?"

"Well…for one tied "I wonder what Bruce had to pro" He hadn’t really said, but Teri got the iiven a choice

"Trust me, Bruce must have bribed her"

"Don’t be so sure"

A baby’s cry came from down the hall, soon followed by a second and a third Teri sighed

"Where’s Christie?" Rachel asked

Now that James and Christie were e with her husband

"She’s with James You remember how it is when you’re first ether"

"I do remember," Rachel whispered "Unfortunately, the honeyh"

Rachel counted the money Five crisp one-hundred-dollar bills She put them back on the counter "Please return it to him for me Okay?"

"You don’t need it?"

She shook her head and Teri knew instinctively that she was lying

"Rachel, don’t be unnecessarily stubborn Bruce wants you to have this"

"No," she insisted "Tell him to spend it on the counselor for him and Jolene"

Twenty-Two