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Her expression morphs to worry I know she’s concerned she’s possibly offended ly “I’ll take care of hiive him whatever he needs, even if it’s space”

“You’re a good woman,” she concludes

“He’s a great man,” I assert

“Together, you two ,” she hypothesizes

“I sure hope so”CHAPTER 21MalikThe waitress returns with new beers for the Fournier siblings, then distributes thea to return to their hotel Max and Lucas chose not to fly back to North Carolina on the tea to spend some time with ht of hanging out and chilling with a few beers, too

Although a e and not blood, Van picks his bottle up and demands a toast

“Here’s to the best fah to a part of,” he says A quick glance around the table shows me that his words have touched everyone

We all tap bottle necks before tilting theood, but I knoould have tasted better if Anna were here tonight I really wanted Max and Lucas to meet her, but it will have to be another tiaht

“Fill an uncle in,” I say toto look like in a feeeks?”

Both of ht three children to the ht, and nine respectively They’re actually Jules’ sister Melody’s kids, but she died and Jules had been raising them when she met Max

The next fifteento Max talk about Barbie dolls and bicycles, but in much ardless, I’e a quick trip down to North Carolina Between my time in the Marines and then captivity, they don’t know Uncle Malik very well If , it’s that I want to strengthen my family ties even more than they already are The Fourniers have always been really tight, but that has to be expanded to the new ones being brought in by e

“Iine it’s a little easier for you,” I say to Lucas with a nod He and his wife Stephanie had a little girl, Marianna, roughly fifteen o

Lucas laughs “She’s a little too young to be writing Santa just yet But it doesn’tit under the tree from Santa all the same”

“Would expect no different” I laugh