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His face contorted into ato leave h I don’t deserve you"

"I’round to wrapto be here for you every step of the way Just lean ondown on us as Jake wept uncontrollably When he finally started coel"

I eased out of his eies, okay?"

He nodded before rising to his feet Offeringhis arm around my shoulder, he drew ot inside, I was once again overwhel the roo inside, so I quickly changedmy hair when Jake appeared behind me in the bathroom "Come with me to see Mama" I quickly shut off the hairdryer and followed him across the hall A hospital bed now sat in the room where Susan’s massive four-poster bed had once been Her frail form seemed dwarfed in the bed Her sister, Sally, and some of her nieces sat on the couch in the corner while her father perched in a chair They acknowledged my presence with sad smiles

Jake motioned for me to have a seat in one of the chairs pulled close to the bed I eased down as I watched him sit down across from me Jake took Susan’s hand in his and kissed it "Ma we sat like that--still as statues and waiting for soasped when Susan’s eyelids finally fluttered open, and she gazed around the roo for Once Jake reached forward and grabbed her hand, a bea smile stretched across her face "Jacob"’

"Yes, Mama?"

"Do you remember the story I used to tell you about why you became a musician?"

Jacob’s brows furrowed as if he was confused by her question "Um, yeah, I do, but what--"

She shook her head and then turned to me "I’ve always teased Jacob that he owes all his success as a singer and guitarist to me"

I s dance lessons, he was surrounded by reats like Mozart, Beethoven, and Brah a class It was like he was letting me know he felt the music already"

"That’s such a sweet story"