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"I’ot a few dozen women lined up who’d love the same invitation"

I smirk and nod, but the truth is, I don’t have as many women on the line as they’d all like to think

And I’ me to my knees for the first time in ten years

"I’m so sorry to hear about Adelaide Suly "She was a good woman"

"She was" I nod as the pain pierces ht with breast cancer just a week ago, and I’ood to uys, but I’rin down at her and kiss Livie’s cheek again "It’s fine Luke, you don’t have to go either It’s no big deal"

"Yeah, it is," he says and frowns at me He can read me too well "I want to come I liked Addie"

I nod, secretly relieved that I won’t be going alone and set Olivia on her feet as Luke leads me to the front door Halfway there he quickly turns back and pulls his wife in for a long, deep kiss

Dear Jesus, you’d think they were still dating

"You’re going to see her in a couple hours, Rorin "You’re just jealous"

"I’m nauseated," I reply and lead him to my Jeep

"How are you really?" Luke asks quietly as I pull out of the driveway of his new home toward Bellevue, where the funeral will be held

"I don’t know, man I knew she was sick, so it’s not exactly out of the blue"

"Imy shoulder and rub et used to the idea of seeing her again, and now I’m nervous as hell

"She’s probably married," I reply

"We both know that isn’t true," he says cal to payMer is part of that" I s hard and Luke catches it

"But?" he asks

"But it feels like I’ood too Like it’s closure on the whole fucking thing"

Luke sighs and slips his sunglasses on "I’ one shoulder and concentrate on the freeway "It is what it is"

The funeral home isn’t far from our childhood ho lot and so in and out of the wide red doors of the funeral ho," I whisper Jesus, I haven’t been this nervous in years Luke and I both slam our doors and walk toward the entrance Luke looks like the ner suit I’m also in a dark suit with a purple tie Purple was Addie’s favorite color

We walk through the front door and nod hello to a few people we know Mo with another couple they know and wave at us when they see us then turn back to their conversation

As we’re walking into the chapel area, I hear her voice

Her voice

I stop inup near the closed casket that’s covered in all of Addie’s favorite flowers, talking with the pastor She’s dabbing at her eyes with a tissue and nodding She hasn’t seen ht of her