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"Your mom sounds like a trip," I muse, and for the first time ever…I kind of want tothe whole cancer thing?"

Olivia laughs lightly "She was a wreck when I told her, then she had about a hundred different holistic suggestions for ht away, but I put her off"

"Why is that?"

"Because while I lovein this world, she can be a bit flaky And I really can’t handle flaky right now She’ll co and knohat I was really facing before she comes to visit"

"That’s understandable," I say, and I knoithout a doubt I can’t wait tothe fact that I’ to meet her mother So weird So very new and just weird But I like it

I put on ht-hand turn into a driveway before the little beach cottage that sits right on the ocean dunes It’s got light blue siding hite tris out front that says THE PENALTY BOX

Olivia’s eyes round with surprise "Do you own this?"

"Actually, ether and we each get thirteen weeks a year here This wasn’tme here?" she asks softly as she turns to look atweekend at the beach"

Gratitude and tenderness fill Olivia’s eyes, and she leans across the seat toward uiding my lips to hers She kisses me sweetly, and it’s the first time our mouths have touched since her treatments started I’ve kissed her plenty of tiuts up the past two days, but I realize no much I missed that soft mouth on mine

"Thank you," Olivia whispers

I touch my forehead to hers and close my eyes I hold on to thisfor you," I murmur back

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