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“Not for a while We agreed to wait until I graduate”

“That’s a long tirew quiet

“It would be too difficult to work on a PhD and have a baby”

Rachel nodded She fidgeted with the hem of her T-shirt

“We’d like to have a baby”

Julia moved so that she could see her friend better “What, now?”

“Maybe”

“How did you know you were ready?”

Rachel smiled “I don’t, really I’ve alanted kids, and Aaron feels the sah school I love Aaron I would be happy to live with him, just the two of us But when I envision the future, I see kids I want us to have so fro my mother, it’s that life is uncertain I don’t want to wait to start a fa, but she blinked theht?”

“Yes, and I’ve had genetic testing I don’t have the breast cancer gene, but I don’t think Mom had it, either Even if she did, by the time they would have realized it, it was too late”

“I’hed and looked out the“I don’t like talking about it, but it weighs on et cancer? It’s always in the back ofkids is one way to rid Gabriel of his condescending attitude”

“Why’s that?”

“He won’t be condescending when the baby eging for help”

Julia laughed But all too soon, she grew sober

“I just want him to think that my ideas are important They’re just as important as his”

“Of course they are Tell hi to him”

Rachel ran her hand over the ar way To see hi a faht Gabriel home, he used to hide food in his roo at every ry He didn’t trust that Mo up a reserve for when they stopped He didn’t unpack his bags, either Not until after they adopted hi them to send him away”

“I didn’t know that” Julia’s heart felt heavy

Rachel offered her a sympathetic look “He’sHis issue with your paper is probably that you didn’t write it the way he would have”

“I’s his way I have my own ideas”

“My advice is to talk to him Of course, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to let him sweat a little Make him sleep on the couch”

“Unfortunately, I’ll probably be the one on the couch” Julia pointed to the sofa that stood against the opposite wall