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"Fine," Ithe X-rays for an appointiven this reprieve of six years and I felt cheated not to have more I wanted so th, but this tiaret would be furious when she heard this I couldn’t help believing that my sister would find some way to blame me for the return of rowth I alined her reaction

"Bad news?" Brad asked when I replaced the receiver

I hadn’t noticed he was no longer in the back roo because he held ain his hand

"No," I lied "But unfortunately I won’t be able to ht, isn’t it?"

"Of course" How Iup at hi award

Brad left soon afterward and if he suspected anything rong, he didn’t let on I’d give it an hour or two, then phone him on his cell and make sure he understood that our relationship was over I kneas taking the coward’s way out, but I didn’t want to argue about it or discuss the details with him I didn’t want to hold out false hope or have it held out to me Experience is the best teacher I would make it easy on Brad and save hiun to feel that I had a real chance at life, it was being snatched away fro lived it The tests come back with questionable results A consultation is followed by even ht stay in the hospital

Then the prognosis is delivered by a grim-faced Dr Wilson, ould squeeze my hand before he left the hospital rooesture was supposed toive this battleme how sorry he was He’s only human, and there’s only so much he can do

As soon as I could, I’d break all ties with Brad Soht not thank me now, I kneould later

CHAPTER 35

CAROL GIRARD

I t’d been a week since Carol’sslept soundly beside her, but she ide awake Staring at the digital display on the clock radio, she saw that it was 3:27 a it would be impossible to fall back asleep, she stole quietly out of bed Walking blindly in the dark, sheroo’s abandoned plans for the future, fell upon her like a collapsing building There would be no baby She wouldn’t cuddle an infant in her ar her own baby at her breast

An entire seven days had passed since the ht, Carol hadn’t stepped foot inside the baby’s nursery She couldn’t; it was just too painful The door had reone in there, either

Over dinner last evening, he’d suggested they call the departe to have the baby furniture returned They had no reason to keep it, and while she knew her husband was only being practical, it felt as if he’d plunged a knife straight through her heart

This couldn’t be happening Not to theood people Everyone who knew theut-wrenching agony would lessen with time It’d only been a week, but the ache, the eun to dissipate If anything, it’d groorse The only solace she’d found had been with her online support friends They understood and had ith her

Leaning her head back and closing her eyes, Carol clarief and pain and loss

It wasn’t right It just wasn’t right Rick, her irresponsible, reckless, immature brother, was able to father children he didn’t ith a woman he didn’t love Where was the fairness in that? Where was the justice? That poor baby…Neither parent see sensation ran up and down her arms Rick! Carol bolted off the sofa and hurried back into the bedroo her husband, she leaped onto the bed

"Doug, wake up!" she cried, kneeling over hi!" she shouted, giddy with relief and joy Hope could be a powerful drug and at the , I have to talk to you" She shook hi at the clock with one eye, "it’s the ht!"

"I know…I know" On her knees, she bent over hiroaned

"Because I have so everyrolled onto his back and rubbed his face He blinked and stared up at her, then frowned "Is there a reason you’re sed her husband

"What happened?" Doug asked

"I was sitting in the living rooestures ith energy "I was feeling so awful and thinking how unfair life is I was so sure we’d have a baby and we didn’t and…and then I realized soled into a sitting position so they were eye to eye

"There’s going to be another baby for us," she whispered

"Hold on" Doug shook his head "You lostabout adoption?"

This was a familiar subject and with so few infants available, they knew their chances weren’t good "Not just any baby I’ Rick’s baby"

"Your brother?"

She laughed "Do you know any other Rick?"