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"Wow," she said

Peter placed the tray on her lap "I’ at the food as if she were a prisoner released from years in jail "I don’t even knohere to start The potatoes? The bread?" She slass and set to work on the rest, jabbing the food with her fork like a field hand

Peter dragged a chair to the bedside "Maybe you should slon"

She glanced up, speaking around ato eat?"

He was fa later"

Peter went to the kitchen to refill her glass; by the time he returned, her plate was empty He handed her the buttermilk and watched her polish it off A healthy color had flowed back into her cheeks

"Come sit by me," she said

Peter cleared her tray and perched on the edge of the bed Amy slipped her hand into his "I’vehere, talking to her "I’ot you beat there"

He alhed There was so much he wanted to say, to tell her She looked just as she did in his dreams; the short hair was the only difference Her eyes, the warmth of her smile, the sound of her voice--all were the same

"What was it like, in the ship?"

She dropped her face; her thue But Lucius took care of ain "I’m sorry, Peter You couldn’t know"

"Why?"

"Because I wanted you to live your life To be…happy I heard Caleb call you ‘Dad’ I’lad, for both of you"

"He’s married, you know His wife is Pim"

"Pim," Amy repeated, and sently squeezed his hand "So there’s a life, right there What else ht You one I’ve lived a whole life with you, Aht in Iowa," he began "That was real, wasn’t it?"

"I’m not sure I even knohat real is anymore"

"I mean, it happened It wasn’t a dream"