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Just before we left the Hamptons, after the last dinner we had with the the car around, I pulled hisus,” I said quietly “And anted to tell you so before we left”

She raised one arched eyebrow “Yes?”

I snant Due in March”

The shock registered on her face for a h Caleb’s mother never showed her true e there A true hint of a s deeper in her eyes “That’s lovely”

“Thank you,” I said “And we’d like you to be a part of your grandchild’s life If that’s so that you want I don’t think that Caleb will ever be truly co present, but ould alelcome you if you wanted to visit us in Tennessee”

She opened her mouth and then closed it “I’ll think about it,” she said with another shallow smile

“That’s all I can ask”

I cried that night in Caleb’s arms, overcome with sadness for his ht never know her because of his father He held me and kissed me until there were no tears “I swear to you, Ally That will never be us It will never beto know love and support and devotion their entire life, no matter what happens”

And I believed him I still do I alill

“I can’t have hbors to see” Caleb is standing in the front door, looking over at me with a behing and crying at the same time

“I don’t knohat’s gotten into h the tears

He reaches his hand down toface to face with hi day and you should have a rest before dinner” The finger that trails down my cheek and then over my collarbone tells me he has more on his mind than just a nap