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“But I’o slow”

“Oh,” she said, “we’ll go slow”

“Jesse!” He turned to see Ben running across the hardwood floor to latch onto his legs Jesse pulled him up, held him in his arood circle that way Strong

He still saw Mitch when he looked at Ben, but he saw the best of him All the possibility Mitch had

“He’s a good boy,” Jesse whispered

“The best,” Julia cooed, kissing Ben and then kissing Jesse

“There’s going to be a story about the accident toeles Times”

Julia looked stunned “Caleb doesn’t waste any time, does he?”

“Apparently not”

Ben patted Jesse’s lips “Kiss,” he said And Jesse gave him a loud wet raspberry on his forehead until Ben squealed with laughter and pushed him away

“I want to go talk to Agnes and Ron tomorrow”

“Okay” Julia nodded

“Kiss!” Ben shouted and Jesse leaned down again and raspberried the boy until he screamed

“I want you to go with me”

Julia took a deep breath “Of course We’ll do it together”

“Together” Jesse sighed, and he’d never heard a better word

“Kiss!” Ben yelled and Julia and Jesse leaned through the small space that separated them and kissed each other on the mouth, the first of a million kisses just like it

EPILOGUE

JESSE HOPPED OUT of the Jeep and checked his watch