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“How do you know?”

“I asked”

The compassion he liked so much sparked in Eleanor’s eyes She was exactly the kind of woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with A woed in his soul

“Your mom wants you to marry?”

“You know she does”

Eleanor sured she hinted that way to all your dates”

“Actually, no”

“You mean I’m special?” she asked facetiously

“Yes She has hinted at h, but never to one of the women I dated Until you”

“She wants grandchildren A lot”

“Yes What about you?”

“I’randmother”

That was one of the things he really enjoyed about his little Eleanor She teased him She made him smile and she was always ready to do so herself

“I meant do you want children?” He did not doubt her answer, she was too perfectly suited to motherhood not to want to be one, but he wanted to hear her say it

“Yes Very much”

“I thought as much”

It was her turn to gri”

“Apparently I do not I thought you would accept my proposal without a lot of fuss”

“Fuss?” she asked delicately and suddenly he kneas treading on very shaky ground

“I did not think it would be a difficult decision for you to make,” he amended

“It would have been easier if you had said you loved me”

He could only respect her courage and her honesty “Do you want me to say it?”

“A lie of expediency designed to get you the outcome you want? What of your insistence on truth from me? I told you I won’t accept any less”

Yet, he had a sneaking suspicion that they defined honesty differently He disive all the loyalty and dedication to your happiness a s would do There would be no lie inthe words if you need thee”