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"I’m not," Alix said without sodifferent fro her scorn

Truth be known, I was just as glad not to be stuck refereeing those two, although it didmoment now and then I don’t think I’ve ever seen tomen who disliked each other more intensely I’d believed that their animosity had lessened in the past feeeks, but apparently I’d read the situation coain, my lack of experience when it ca

Jacqueline was difficult to know--and to like I did give her credit, though; she’d enuine effort to learn to knit and had nearly corandchild

"I felt I should attend the last class and tell everyone what I’d decided"

"Like we’d care," Alixbehind Alix, I placedher to keep her coh the last six weeks, I’d discovered that for all her crusty exterior the girl was actually quite sensitive Even a hint of criticish tonow if I wanted to," Carol said She orking on a sweater for her brother The cashht it in a crea across the table at Jacqueline as if to suggest the older woht no matter what it takes"

I had to admire Alix’s deter of the yarn and needles, but she refused to give up I suspect she undid as many rows as she knit in the first feeeks Thankfully, she’d learned what she was doing wrong and was progressing nicely Her biggest hindrance was lack of ti I’ Alix

"If the fancy shoe fits, then walk in it It’s no biggie, right? You certainly won’t bewore on my nerves But before I could react, Carol leaped in

"I have news," she said in a blatant effort to change the subject I was grateful to her

"Oh, good" I didn’t bother to hide the relief inh she presented a cheerful facade, I sensed--and I’m sure the others did, too--a deep-seated fear I hoped everything would work this tioing in for regular appointiven us details She’d talked briefly to the group about her fertility problems and a bit more to me privately, but not much My heart ached for her

To my surprise, it was Jacqueline who spoke first "Oh, my dear, I certainly wish you success Reese and I only had the one child and we longed for a second"

"At this point Doug and I would be ecstatic with just one" Her shter"

"Didn’t you irl?" I seemed to remember that from an earlier conversation with Jacqueline

"Yes"

Jacqueline had been suspiciously quiet about her son and Ta had happened that she preferred not to discuss With her it was hard to tell While Carol and Alix had grown comfortable with each other, Jacqueline remained emotionally distant I had the impression that the only women she allowed into her life were her country club friends

Alix kept her head lowered and concentrated on her knitting "I think only people who really want kids should have the si feelings about it I could only assume that was because of her own experience

"I do, too," Carol agreed "What I don’t understand is why so etting pregnant When I think back on all the years I put off having a faht I had lots of time, but hoas I to know?" A pained look ca in h why the subject of children should bother me, I don’t know In response I shook my head

"What?" Alix demanded "You don’t want kids?"

"I’m not married"

"That didn’t worry nant withmy father It was the worst mistake of her life, she clai me"

"A child can’t be blamed for the circumstances of his or her birth," Carol said

"Yeah, well, that’s not the way I heard it" Alix jerked viciously on the ball of yarn "It’s no big deal I survived"

"Surely a lovely young wo the couard once in a while Onlyfor Carol, and her co lovely--well, that was an unexpected compliment

"Thank you, but…" I let the rest fade I’d rather not reveal the details of my life if I can help it

"But what?" Carol pressed

"But--well, I don’t think I’d ain "You’d sure as hell be a better wife thanuncomfortable "Husbands have…expectations"

Alix looked up with a puzzled frown "What’s that supposed to mean?"

I could see the other tere equally curious "I’ve already gone through two bouts of cancer It’s possible that our family has a predisposition to it"