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“I wish you’d hadthat, Audrey and I would have had less tiave Gabriel a sad smile “But I would have shared hihed “Audrey sided with er”

“I didn’t want the money” Gabriel’s tone was harsh “I only accepted it because I found myself and my adoptive family in dire circumstances”

Kelly reached out to hirudge you a penny” She patted his hand before withdrawing “Dad made a series of choices that had consequences for all of us But he’s dead Our ive andto hurt us You could have sued the estate forof the will and embarrassed my mother You could have called a press conference or spoken to a tabloid But you didn’t Your actions show that you are a man of character, and that was another reason why I wanted to azed at her brother cautiously

He blinked a little “My wife tends to think like that She sees Providence in everything”

“I would agree with her” Kelly finished her wine “Do you mind if I ask what prompted you to write to Michael?”

“I don’t think it was Providence Although perhaps it was” Gabriel toyed with his water glass “I’ else Eventually my wife and I would like to have a family I wanted to know more about my parents’ medical history”

“That’s a problem easily solved Dad died of a heart attack He didn’t exercise, he was a workaholic, and he ate whatever he wanted I’h cholesterol, although it’s possible Certainly, Audrey and I don’t have that problee of natural causes Did you know about them?”

“Not at all Not even their names”

Kelly’s expression saddened

“I’randparents Grandfather was a professor, like you He taught Roel”

Gabriel sat bolt upright “Benjael?”

“Yes You know of hi Araduate school” Gabriel rubbed at his chin “He was randfather?”

“Yes”

“But he was” A look of realization ca him closely “Jewish, yes”

Gabriel looked confused “I had no idea our father was Jewish It was never mentioned”

“I can’t speak for yourstory behind Dad’s silence He had a youthful falling out with his father and changed his last nae behind By the time he met and nostic So Judaism wasn’t part of our household”

Gabriel sat very still, his el,” he ood man He was a rabbi, you know, before he left Germany in the twenties He was also anamed for hirandanization in his na with several of our cousins I’m sure they’d welcome your involveanization do?”