Page 14 (2/2)

"I caed "Plus, I had a special delivery to make You can thank me later"

"Thanks, Santa Claus" I rolledyou’reyou"

"Uh, thanks, I guess" She laughed and made a face "I know you nite, but I’m really not like fireworks You don’t have to be that careful around ht now" I sh"

"So would anyone like tea and cookies?" Betty picked up her teapot "I just boiled soet the kids some Cokes Not everyone wants tea" Sidney responded to her, and she glared at him

"I’ll have some tea, thanks Betty"

"Of course you would, Noah" Sidney sot old bones, you know"

"You’ve got old everything, Sidney Johnson" Betty handed me a plate of cookies "Let the children relax for a rinned at her "I’ on" I followed Sidney to the couch and sat down He leaned over to ave me a stern look "You told your brother the truth yet?"

"No" I shook ot them papers" He sat back "You let me knohen you want theirl?" Sidney continued and nodded towards Robin, as standing next to Lucky and laughing at so "She’s real pretty"

"She’s just a friend"

"Seems like"I mean, I’ve only been married for a few hundred years I don’t know s"

"Sidney" I admonished him "I don’t love her" I hissed quietly to make sure no one else could hear us "I barely know her We barely went on one quasi-date"

"She gets to you though" He looked at ile" I sighed

"Yes I’lad you see it She has a hard exterior But it’s a shell that’s easily broken She’s got a story, that one Be careful not to break her heart"

"I would never do that," I retorted, angry that he thought I was capable of such a thing

"You need to finish your business off in Pal anyone new" He stared into my eyes seriously "That’s soot to be careful"

"I ahed "Did you speak to your son?"

"Yes" He nodded "He’s a fah He said he’s not that familiar with the family court system in Florida"

"But did he have any advice?" I looked at him bleakly I had called Sidney earlier in the week and filled him in on the situation with Skylar because I had needed to talk to so Zane, but I just wasn’t ready to tell hi into what had happened with Mooing to get her She’s never going to be yours" Sidney looked at me bleakly "He said that it’s ade the facts"

"So he thinks I should just give up?" I was angry "She was counting on me"

"You aren’t God, Noah You can’t make miracles happen"

"I can try"

"And that’s why I love you, son" He nodded approvingly "You don’t give up, no matter how difficult the odds The world needsyet"

"You have a pure heart" He pattedto tell Zane" I blurted out, changing the subject "I think I’ht to know"

"That’s what I’ve been telling you"

"He’s going to be devastated" I closed ot a wonderful fa faranddad we never had"

"Do you want me to be there when you tell him?"

"No" I shook my head "I need to do this alone"

"Take hi "The file you gave ht"

"I don’t know if I should show hi to tell hi, Noah Don’t keep it in anymore"

"Okay" I jumped up and hurried over to Zane "Hey, bro Do you think we can talk for a lanced at Lucky, who nodded at o in his study"

"Okay, then" He put down his cup and saucer and followed me to the study I closed the door behind him and we both took a seat "What’s this about, then? You’re not upset because I brought Robin, are you? I told Lucky I didn’t think it was a good idea"

"No, I’ht her She’s a nice girl, and "

"I didn’t know that you needed to start over" He gaveoverly dramatic?"