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I hoped that we could sit down and talk calh this in a way that left us both able to face the future

I one inside but Peter, catching sight of ift in hand "Hey! How’s the happy groom-to-be?"

Peter clapped his hand on my shoulder "Nervous as hell"

"Ah What’s there to be nervous about? You’ve found yourself an arinned and nodded "It’s not her I’ her that makes me think twice It’s a tall order"

I hesitated, sratulated him, a sudden inexplicable knot of emotion in my throat Why had that simple statelanced over his shoulder at the party that was already partially seated at the table at the private room they had rented to us When we arrived, everyone stood up My eyes were sifting through the group of people--Britt, Rik and their kids, Heath, Liaraspedup at ed her back "Congratulations to the lovely bride"

"Thank you And…there’s soht like to see?"

I s back froavesht back"

I let out a tight breath and turned around to watch the entryway She was standing there, frozen in her spot, staring ather in

She wore dark colors, black jeans and a dark grey shirt But nothing on her head because it was covered with a thick layer of her own hair It was short, but it looked almost as if she’d cut it that way And her natural eyebrows, although thinner, were back And her skin…it gloith healthy color

She took a hesitant step toward me, a shy smile on her mouth

I stepped toward her at the same time she stepped toward me and we met in the middle distance between us "Hey," she said, and she leaned forward as if to hugher, she swayed back, a question in her eyes