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‘I think it’s beautiful’ Her voice was almost shy

‘It’s life,’ he told her ‘I wanted rowth and hope, not death’

‘My mother told ed the subject abruptly ‘That’s why I’ve never been’

‘You’ve never fallen in love?’

‘I’ve been in “like”,’ she said ‘I’ve been in companionable comfort I’ve desired’ Did her eyes flicker towards Gabe at the last word?

His chest tightened at the thought, the blood pulsing hot and thick around his body

‘But, no I haven’t been in love’ She bit her lip ‘That is rather shameful for a woman of thirty-one, isn’t it?’

‘Non’ The as strong, vehement ‘Real love is rare, precious Many of us will never experience it’ He’d thought he’d found it once Had watched it slip away

‘My ht Our father died a couple of years later but he was in a home all that time’ Her voice faltered ‘We found him, Raff and I He’d had a stroke He needed full-time care and ere a mess My mother just couldn’t cope People always took care of her, you see She was one of those fragile wo at you as if you were all that mattered She went away for a rest and just never returned, found someone else to take care of her’

‘I’m sorry’ The words were inadequate

‘Oh, it was a long tio, and I think I always knew Knew she couldn’t be relied on It was harder on Raff He absolutely adored her But for soot her words She said she’d been to Paris before, with friends, boyfriends, but when she ith Daddy the city turned into a ical wonderland and she knew’

‘Knehat?’

‘That she was in love,’ she said sio to Paris until I was sure I was ready to fall in love It’s funny, I have spenton anyone else, always doing my duty But I kept my promise’

Her mouth curved into a reminiscent smile ‘She also told me to alear lipstick, make sure my hair was brushed and to wear the best shoes I can afford I never forgot that advice either’