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Chapter Seventy-five

Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

You’re what?”

A pile of silverware slid fro onto the kitchen island She stared openmouthed at her best friend

Gabriel had his arm around Julia as they stood in the kitchen of the Clark family home Scott, Tammy, and Quinn sat on stools nearby, while Richard and Aaron were deep in conversation near the stove

“I’ Rachel’s face

The roo I thought you were going to wait,” Rachel sputtered

“The neas unexpected but not unwelcoreat news, Julia When are you due?” Tammy interjected

“Septe abdoht”

“I think this calls for cigars I’m very proud of you both” Richard shook Gabriel’s hand and clapped hi Julia’s cheek “It will be nice to have another baby around Quinn and Tomging Julia, and so did Scott

Julia looked over at her best friend apprehensively “Rach?”

“I—” Rachel suddenly closed her mouth She looked as if she were about to burst into tears

Aaron wrapped an ar in her ear

“I’ed After a ether “I aan to water

“I think we should give the girls a a room, where the wide-screen television was located

Ta the best friends alone

“This is a surprise” Rachel sat on one of the bar stools “Was it an accident?”

Julia chewed at the inside of herthe word accident He doesn’t want the baby growing up thinking he wasn’t wanted”

“Of course not!” Rachel appeared horrified “I didn’t think of it that way I’m sorry”

“But, uh, clearly this was unexpected, because ere planning on waiting”