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“Keith is a ith two little girls One is seven and the other is five Can you iet to dress them and do their hair and have tea parties with their dolls I h I can’t have a child, I’ to be a ive you, Gabriel But I won’t have this conversation again I reed”

She gave hiainst the top of her head

“Good-bye, Paulina Be happy”

He released her hand and walked away

Chapter Forty

August 2011

Calanced up fro clothes and shoes He earing a cri loosely from his hips

“That’s right” He crossed the roo to talk soon?”

Gabriel turned away and began disentangling the earphones that connected with his iPhone “About what?”

“About what’s bothering you?”

“Not right now, no” He relasses from their case and quickly cleaned theue, for her patience was almost at an end

“Have you o,” hehis pal into them, head bent and eyes closed

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She crossed her arms over her chest

He didn’t move

“No, I haven’t called the doctor”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t need to see him”

She uncrossed her arms “But what about the vasectomy reversal? You’ll need to speak with hihtened, nonchalantly picking up his sunglasses and placing the my vasectomy reversed I’d like us to pursue adoption I knoe can’t adopt Maria, but I’d like us to look into adopting a child when you graduate”

“You’ve decided,” she breathed

Ayou”

“But what about all our conversations? What about e talked about in the orchard?”

“I rong”

“You rong?” She scra on?”

“Can we please not do this right now?” He began walking toward the door

“Gabriel, I—”

“When I get back,” he interrupted “Give ry response

“Just tell lasses

“What’s that?”

“Do you still love rew pained “I’ve never loved you more”

And with that, he opened the door and fled into the warreeted a hot and sweaty Gabriel as he entered the kitchen