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“Morning, Nana,” he said and Agnes turned to kiss his hand Ben’s hair stood up in an airy blond cloud and his grand his head and face as she did it

Finally she turned to Julia “Just fill out the application You still have plenty of time to make the decision It would ree”

Julia nodded, words deserting her

What would it hurt? she thought and tried to s the sickly sweet taste of gratitude and obligation froive Ben a faave Ben, so Julia would fill out a million applications

She uncapped the pen that had been left beside the papers and sat to fill out the paperwork for another dream that wasn’t hers

AFTER A BREAKFAST of yogurt and fruit, Julia loaded her son into the old stroller He had to practically kiss his knees to sit in it he was so big, but she didn’t have the money for a new one, yet She prayed the screorn out wheels and cheap fabric would hold out just a little bit more

“You gonna do so the newspaper from in front of his face The envelope with her completed application stuck out of his shirt pocket He’d insisted on delivering it hie the inevitable outco But she’d cross that bridge when she got to it

“I’ to look for a job”

“What?” Agnes asked, her voice and eyes sharp “Why?”

Julia was taken aback by Agnes’s sudden tone

“You’ve been so generous, but Ben and I have to make some effort to be independent” She tried to h “I’d feel better if I orking at least part-tiet our own place”

“Why?” Agnes asked “Why do you want to leave?” Clearly the wo Julia had not expected at all She’d expected some halfhearted protestations and reassurances that they elco as they liked, but the deeply wounded look on Agnes’s weathered face surprised the heck out of her

“It’s not that I want to leave—”