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"Yes, you did," he said quietly "You just didn’t know It was delivered to the house afterwell, after she was taken fro the piano She wanted to be fair"

Soleain "Do you still have it?"

Dr DeMarco shook his head "I gave it away"

"Damn," Dohter escaped from Dr DeMarco’s lips "I know you would, son"

They went on to talk about trips they had taken, things she had taught them, and books she had read, every memory acco to witness, the love for Maura still just as strong even though she had been gone for more than a decade

After dinner, Haven offered to help Celia with the dishes The two of them worked silently, Celia’s attention elsewhere as she went about it in a daze They were finishing when Celia let out a resigned sigh, taking a plate froo enjoy the rest of your Christ her hands before quietly heading for the family room She made it halfway there when she heard Douard

"You’rea mistake, Carmine," he said "There’s no way youclearly"

"Leave him alone," Dr DeMarco said "You can’t understand the situation unless you’ve been in it"

"You’re wrong," Doret it! It’s not too late to change your e youryou, bro"

"It is too late," Carree, but you don’t have to I’m the one who has to live with it"

"Can you?" Dominic asked incredulously "Can you seriously live with this?"

"I have to"

"No, you don’t," Do "I can’t believe anyone would actually think this is a good idea!"

Haven finished the last few steps in their direction, pausing at the entrance to the family room Dominic paced the floor, frenzied, as Carravation Vincent and Corrado merely watched the boys, the at on her skin

"He’s my son," Dr DeMarco said "I’ll support him any way I can"

"This is bullshit!" Dominic spat

The force of his words startled Haven She flinched Heads instantly turned her way, four sets of eyes now boring into her

"Is everything okay?" she asked hesitantly

"It’s fine," Dr DeMarco said "We are just having a disagreement, but this isn’t the tilanced around, dread running through her as she took in their expressions Despite what he had said, so her eyebrows, expecting him to offer some sort of real explanation, but he shook his head "Don’t worry about it"

Don’t worry about it

"I think I’ a step back

"I’ll colare as he stalked past He took her hand and she ood-bye to everyone as he pulled her toward the steps, not saying a word

"Are they o?" she pressed when they reached the bedroo like that," he ht now I’d rather justbe Just for a little while"

"Okay," she said, trying to push back the sick feeling in her stomach He plopped down on the bed and she followed his lead, lying down beside hi her into his arms She tilted her head to the side as he leaned in and kissed her neck, hu today would be perfect"

"We were together," she whispered "That makes it perfect to me"

6

Haven hadn’t intended to fall asleep, but her exhaustion was deeper than she anticipated Emotionally drained, she drifted into unconsciousness within aover in the ht, her arm dropped on the other side of thewhen she realized she was alone