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“I think I have a girlfriend,” I said I wanted to smack myself, but Lily just stared at

“Oooh! Daddy has a girlfriend!” Lily sang “I learned a song at school What’s her name?”

“Hope,” I said

“Pretty na in a tree K-i-s-s-i-n-g First coe Then coe!”

Lily burst out laughing

“I like it all except for the baby carriage part,” I said with a laugh “Want to meet her?”

Lily’s head bobbed wildly “I’ll show her ames Does she like cartoons?”

“I think so,” I said “Who doesn’t?”

“Is she pretty?” Lily asked

I narrowed my eyes “Does it matter?”

“No, I was just wondering”

“Well, if you must know, she is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” I said

“Okay,” Lily said, looking a bit sad

“So, you till have a lot in coirl I’ve ever seen,” I said

Lily brightened She finished her breakfast and went back into the living room She turned on the TV and beca out of theat Hope’s house, feeling a bit like a zombie myself

A gliet it… at least not until I stopped over after lunch

10

Hope

I was so nervous, walking across the yard toward Max’s house It was just so soon to be hter But really, if that hat it took to be with Max, I’d do it

I’d never wanted to impress someone so much in

I sucked in a breath and straightened my shoulders before I knocked The door opened almost instantly

The young girl looked up atrepeatedly

“Hello,” I said, giving her a big, kind smile

She didn’t answer

“Um, is your dad home?”

“Hey!” Max said, stepping up behind her “Come in, come in Lily, this is Hope”

“Hi,” Lily said in a small voice

Max looked really good all cleaned up and in jeans in a tight t-shirt, but I tried not to notice He placed his hand on my back and practically pulled me inside

“So glad you ca the door behind me

“Yeah, of course” I beamed at him

“Make yourself at home,” Max said He patted Lily on the head “Why don’t you show Hope the picture you drew for her”

I widened my eyes “I’d love to see it”

“It’s in et it?”