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Jack allowed hi room, where Faith sat, a plate of cake balanced on her baby bu paper and tiny outfits strewn around her

A dozen or so wo like a slew ofdown a brick staircase "Jack, how are you? Jack, you were a! Jack, thank God you were there! Jack, Jack, Jack!"

"Ladies," he said The bobcat started raain, over and over and over "Hey, sis" He bent down and dropped an obligatory kiss on his sister’s head

"Jack!" Faith said, reaching up to pat his ar, buddy"

"Sure Which sister are you again?"

"The pregnant one The queen"

He smiled See? Perfectly normal Faith was funny, and he reacted appropriately Honor flashed hi okay

"Well, I hope your labor will be better than randly "Three days No painkillers back then, either It was the ether, or you toughed it out Sometimes you died John! Where are you, son?" Dad appeared in the kitchen doorway, already looking guilty "Three days of labor with you"

"I’m sorry, Moiving birth," Prudence said "Ned slid out like a little otter, and with Abby, I didn’t even have tiet to the car She was born on the kitchen floor Ass-first, no less"

"Thanks, Moot to hear that"

"It explains a lot," her brother yelled froet an episiotomy, Faith," said another woman "Otherwise, you tear, and you wouldn’t believe how much Anyone else have stitches in their butts?"

Sadly, Jack had heard it all before Three sisters who took no prisoners when it cauessed, though his own stint in the navy hadn’t resulted in any; he’d been in research down in DC

It was a little weird being in the New House--so called because it was newer than the original house built on the property, which had burned down last year Honor had overhauled the New House this past su old place Jack had grown up in, it took so used to More power to her, but still a little disconcerting

Orwas these days The same, but off

Levi came over and sat down next to him "You hear soreith three sisters They can’t be in the sa about blood and ovaries And then there was the crying and snarling when they were teenagers Terrifying"

"Makes h puberty," Levi said "Probably a lot safer there" He was quiet for aall right?"

"Pretty much," he lied Levi shouldn’t have to worry about his can betraumatic"

"Yep Sure"

"If you ever want to talk, just say the word"

"Thanks, pal I appreciate it" The bobcat was back Thud Thud Thudthud Thud He wondered if Levi could see the pulse in his neck

Jack stood up as another peal of laughter caen dose of the day" He paused "Have you heard anything about the Deiner kid?"

Levi looked up "No change"

"Okay Thanks" He tried to take a deep breath, but the air wouldn’t fit in Nodded at Levi, waved to the wouys were now playing poker

"Pull up a chair, Jack," said his grandfather "We can deal you in"

"I have so Pops’s shoulder "Dad, we should check the pinot tomorrow, okay?"

"Whatever you say, son" His father smiled at him, and Jack made sure he smiled back

He went out to his truck The sky was nearly dark Another day past, so that was good Not that the nights were easier Just the opposite, in fact

The door closed behind hi on, s?"

"Thanks, Touy In fact, all his sisters’ husbands were good guys They were even his friends, though he hadn’t known To as he’d known Carl and Levi

"If you need anything, say the word, yeah? You’re alelco you’ll co medical shoith her" Tom smiled, his eyes kind

"I definitely will," Jack said He probably wouldn’t "Thanks, Toot into his truck and headed down the driveway

The road crew still hadn’t repaired the guardrail, and a ht Now the floere dead, rotting in their plastic florist wraps A sodden teddy bear holding a heart had tipped over in the snow

Don’t look

The truth was, he thought as he drove up the road, turning onto the long driveway that wound through the woods to Rose Ridge, he didn’t want all the concern and attention and questions and hugs He wanted not to think He wanted Josh to get better He wanted to have a do-over

He put his key in the door and stopped dead in his tracks