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Ta kids We both wanted children Then, all of a sudden, Eric decided he wasn’t ready He thought I got pregnant to trap hinant all by yourself” Diane waved her fork in the air

Julia said nothing, ashamed of the fact that she syh she deplored his actions

“Eric gave me an ultimatum—the baby or him When I hesitated, he left”

“Asshole,” nancy wasn’t my entire responsibility, but I felt like I should have been one And deep down, I was happy about being a ain, Julia squirmed, struck by the sincerity of Tammy’s tone

“I couldn’t afford the rent on my own, so I nant, single, living at ho that no an to water

Taot better But I’ll never forgive Eric for signing away his parental rights Now Quinn will never know his father”

“Sperm donors aren’t fathers,” Rachel interjected “Richard didn’t contribute genetic material to Gabriel, but he’s his father”

“I don’t knoho contributed geneticbecause that boy is fine” Diane gestured toward the living rooled uncomfortably as she contemplated the notion that someone found her dad to be “fine”

Tammy continued “I was lucky I had a job I worked at the district attorney’s office with Scott We went out a couple of tinant We were just friends, but he was so sweet to ht that once I had the baby, I wouldn’t hear froain But he came to see me a feeeks after Quinn was born He asked me out and I was smitten”

“He was srinned “He was in deep s the band back and forth on her finger “I was breast-feeding the baby, so I had to pump before he picked me up My parents babysat But Scott never made me feel aard or weird He saw uess he had a little crush on me when I ith Eric” She looked at her friends and s you all I orried about what you’d think But you were so welcolanced at Julia “I didn’t meet Gabriel until later, but he was nice, too Even when Quinn ruined his suit”

“You should have seen him before he met Julia” Rachelbill”

Julia was about to protest on Gabriel’s behalf, when Ta that He’s wonderful with Quinn And Scott? Well, fatherhood does soets down on the floor and wrestles with Quinn He’s playful and gentle It’s a whole different side to hi what Gabriel would be like as a father

“I can’t wait to have a girl” Tammy smiled to herself “Scott will treat her like a princess”

“You wantin surprise

“Yes I think two kids will be enough for us, but if I have another boy, I’d like to try for a girl”

At thata sleepy twenty-one- over to Tammy “I think it’s bedtime”

Julia smiled at the contrast between Scott, as six foot three and strongly built, and the sel he cradled protectively