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As she picked up her chopsticks and soup spoon, Michael watched her ide, apologetic eyes She ether, twirled the noodles around her chopsticks, and placed them in her spoon with broth like she’d seen Sophie do Then she put it in her ood Salty, a little sweet, a little tangy She grinned as she had another spoonful "I like it"

"It’s good, right?" Sophie asked "High five, you"

Stella high-fived Michael’s sister, feeling silly but also like she’dto eat the BPA-laced food His , and Janie and Maddie wereto the to the two youngest

"It smells like death," Janie said

Maddie nodded emphatically "Dead bodies"

Mẹ blasted theirls cowered

Under the table, Michael squeezed her leg He leaned toward her to whisper in her ear "Do you really like it? You don’t have to eat it I can get you so else"

"I really do" She’d still eat it even if she hated it, though His mom looked proud and vindicated And it wasn’t poisoned Not that she knew of

He brushed his lips over hers once before pulling aith a cough and a laugh "I can smell it on you"

She stuffed another spoonful in herat him as she swiped the hair away froet your hair" He unlooped her rubber band froathered her hair away from her face in a ponytail

"Thank you"

He smiled and pinched her chin By the look in his eyes, she kneould have kissed her if his fa--and she didn’t smell like Fine Shri her with your eyes," Sophie said

"Seriously," Maddie chimed in

"And since when do you keep rubber bands handy for her hair? Whippedinto her soup bowl

Michael rinned Then he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple

Dinner passed in a blur as his sisters alternated between bickering and teasing Hisglances, but Stella had a feeling the woman was content Once everyone had finished their soup and filled therapefruit, Mẹ ordered Janie and Maddie to clear the table and wash the dishes

Michael took her hand, preparing to take her home, but his mom waved the to show you"

Michael groaned "Mẹ, no, not today"

"What is it?" Stella was helplessly curious

"How about next time?" Michael asked

"He was really cute," Mẹ said

"Baby pictures?" Stella all but danced in place "Michael, I want to see thely followed as she towed him after his mom into the family room Mẹ handed Stella a fat picture album, and mother and son sat on either side of her on the couch

She sers over the velvet cover of the album The one her mom kept for her was ales and the thin plastic cover sheet that peeled off The first page was a grainy ultrasound printout and a picture of a wrinkle-faced infant who looked like he was a thousand years old As the pages progressed, however, he cuted up quickly