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"I’ we can take them out somewhere The Stevens’ are very nice, but it’s a little aard trying to interact with Harley and Ozzy normally when I’m the oddball in their home"

I could understand how that would make him uncomfortable "Have they allowed you to take the boys out before?"

"Yeah They let me have them for a few hours on their birthday There’s exactly one year difference in their ages because they have the sao was it that you got them?"

He paused, then said, "It was the day after I spent the night with you"

Nosafe, it always caether anyain

When we pulled up at the house where Harley and Ozzy lived, I sao little heads bobbing up and down in a bigat the front of the house I laughed at the sight and said, "I think I just spotted two little boys eager to see their big brother"

"I have to ad"

The front door slung open and two of the cutest little boys caht there in the grass He picked the theuys so er one of the two said

He put them down and the smaller one chimed in and said, "You told us you would come back and you did"

"I always keep my promises, don’t I?" he asked

"Yes," they answered simultaneously

"Now, I have someone I want you to meet" I walked over to the boys and squatted down on their level as Jessie introduced me "This is Claire"

I put out my hand for a shake and the older boy took it "You s about you"

"Are you Jessie’s girlfriend?" he asked suspiciously

Jessie saved , "Claire is my friend and I wanted her to come meet you and Ozzy because she is very special to irlfriend"

Jessie looked at o so I did, too

Ozzy was hiding behind Jessie’s leg peeking his head out at me I squatted even lower to speak to him because Jessie had told me he had a tendency to be shy around people he didn’t know I spoke softly as I said, "Hello, Ozzy It’s very nice toand launched hi, but one I welcomed I put my arms around him and smiled at Jessie when I saw the amazed look on his face Ozzy hopped up on my hip and put his head on my shoulder like an oversized toddler, but I let him because it seemed to make him happy

"He never does that with anyone I’ed Mrs Stevens that way and he’s been living with her for reat taste in girls," I laughed

A couple appearing to be in theirus a few ain Harley and Ozzy have really been looking forward to seeing you today and I see you have a friend with you I’m Heather and this isOzzy up on my hip and introduced myself After we briefly discussed when to return the boys, we left with them and headed toward the park

I occasionally looked intoso tall in their booster seats It felt a little strange to have children insuper slow I looked in the mirror at what beautiful little boys Harley and Ozzy were and wondered how a mother could care so little about the just because I wanted to and said, "I packed a picnic lunch in case we got to take them out I didn’t mention it earlier because I didn’t knohat to expect, but it’s in the trunk It’s just sandwiches, chips and drinks because I didn’t knohat they liked Nothing special"

I looked forward as I drove, but I could see hi my eyes back on the road "Is that not okay?" I asked

He reached for ht it to his lips He kissed the top ofhis face, then whispered, "I know it’s not part of the friend pact, but I have to tell you soht now than I ever have No one has ever done anything like that for them"