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Heather shook her head to rid herself of the negative energy invading her Zen as she carefully selected froether a fully forement that she ad, and she was going to be with a family So what if it wasn’t hers? It sure as hell beat tofurkey for one

A dorky smile on her face, Heather crept up ­behind Josh and bonked him on the head with the bouquet she’d asse on with the jailbait

“Coo”

• • •

“Oh, Heather, honey They’re beautiful!” Sue gushed, holding out her arers for the flowers An hour and change later Heather and Josh were standing in his faned bouquet into Sue’s arms

“How do you know I’rumbled as he handed them over

“Yellow carnations, dear You remember,” Sue said as she turned her cheek up so Josh could kiss it

“It’s a wonder you still call me your son,” he said Then he wrapped both ariving”

Heather’s heart ood to his mother Was there any better kind?

“Hi, dear,” Sue said as she patted Josh’s cheek and gave him a smile

Heather could have sworn Josh’sjust a little, and she looked away, suddenly very aware that she was a stranger intruding on a family holiday

But then Sue shifted her attention back to Heather, reaching out her free hand as she shifted the flowers to her other side “Heather, honey, it’s so good to see you again Josh was so excited you could join us, and trust me when I say we share his enthusiasm”

“Yup I wrote all about it in my diary,” Josh said sarcastically

Sue rolled her eyes “Josh, go help your father”