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"How’s el licked ht, so at my door," Susan replied as she took a plate of bacon and sausage to the table

"Oh no! I’er things on your hed "Besides, I enjoyed having her with lad to hear that"

Jake arrived then, and we sat down to eat I would be lying if I saidhadn’t made me starved I ate until I felt like my stomach would explode When ere finished, Susan stared intently atto Jake "Jacob, why don’t you do the breakfast dishes and give Abigail and ht as well do soood-naturedly

I followed Susan down the hall to her bedroom When she closed the door behind us, she smiled at what must’ve been ail The reason I brought you in here is that I wanted to give you so"

I followed her over to the dresser She raised the lid on a glass jewelry box that had a ballerina etched into the top The theers delved inside, and she took out a strand of expensive looking pearls "My parents gavewith this jewelry box I’ve worn theh so many major events in my life" She held them out to me "I want you to have them"

My eyes widened as I shook my head furiously back and forth "No, I couldn’t You should leave them to Sally or your nieces"

She patted my cheek "But I don’t want to leave thes I want you to have as well, but these, along with the jewelry box, are thehow serious she was, I finally relented "Susan, you can’t iine how touched I a them, tears burned and blurred my eyes "They’re beautiful, and I’ll treasure theranddaughter"

At hed "Don’t think that I can’t see you for exactly who and what you are I’irl he canmore," I answered honestly

"Then let me say this as well I know Jake is hardheaded and stubborn, and I know he’s going to make some mistakes in the future like he has before But proive hih it was hard, I bobbed my head "I will"

"Good Because when it comes down to the end like it has forthe man you loved with all your heart and soul"

I furrowed iven Jake’s father?"

A flush entered Susan’s pale cheeks "This is a secret just between you and me, but Mark wasn’t the love of ift of my life, Jacob, I could never feel for Mark what I did for Yuri He was a dancer in one of the traveling companies I was in We dated for years, and when I refused to , he went out and slept with another dancer to hurt ized for weeks and ive hiretted it all this time A couple of years after Yuri is when Mark caave me a wry sive Mark for leaving me, but the truth was I just didn’t love him like I should, so it didn’t hurt as much"

Speechless, I could only murmur, "Wow"

She smiled "So in the future when there are tile Jacob or he’s tested your love, just reret"

"I will You have ht embrace Both her words and her emaciated frame caused tears to prick my eyes She rubbed wide circles over my back "Sweet Abby, you’re an answer to a prayer My Jacob is very, very lucky to have you Don’t doubt for one second that I won’t constantly re as I have left"