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‘I was hoping you would join us for lunch tomorrow’

‘With Rachel?’ Carly said, surprised

‘Yes It ht actually help keep the table balanced’

What he ht need thethe full impact of Dare’s calculated put-downs Carly wasn’t surprised Not that she couldn’t handle men like Dare James She’d learnt her lesson well at Daniel’s cradle

‘I’d be happy to join you,’ she said, and she was Perhaps Benson would take the opportunity to tell them about his illness—and her real role in his life—and she would hate to randson’s horrible face

‘Thank you, Carly You’re a true angel’

Carly gave hiain and I’ll have Mrs Carlisle serve you tofu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner’

He chuckled ‘Pearl had your spirit’

He heaved a sigh and didn’t say any more He didn’t have to He was a worried man anted to make amends It quite broke Carly’s heart to see it

Sooff her lack of sleep the previous night, she decided that no matter what happened at lunch she would remain completely civil to Dare

She ht not like the one at the end of the day and, as she only had teeks left at Rothain were slim to none

Thinking about that reency and had yet to respond to The truth was she was a little tired of te, but ould she do instead?

It was one year, three months and four days since they had lost Liv and she knew her parents wanted her home

But was she ready for that? Ready to run into Daniel? Ready to face theface as she had held Carly’s hand through every oncologist ?