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Josie nods her head knowingly, which makes me believe she knows all about how Marek hauled Lilly and htly that this wo Lilly secret from her father

Releasing ainst the counter She throws her thumb over her shoulder "Reed needed to talk to Marek, so I thought I'd pop in and say hello Welco"

Her voice is a little hard when sheto talk to Marek, but I don't ask for details It's not any of my business While this isn't my house, my manners compel me to ask her, "Would you like some coffee?"

"That would be awesoht smile, then immediately turns away frorossed with Paw Patrol Marshall has his firetruck ladder extended up a tree and is rescuing a cat

Josie leans down and touches Lilly lightly on the shoulder She jolts a little and turns to look at Josie, her expression guarded given the fact there's a stranger right in her face

"Hi, Lilly," Josie says with a smile "I'm Josie I'm a new friend of your mommy's"

Interesting She didn't say a friend of Marek's, although I know she must be Reed and Marek are obviously close, which means Josie would definitely be a friend of Marek's as well I'htly impressed and believe that Josie isn't quite sure how ue and light where Marek's concerned

Josie then launches into an adhter about Paw Patrol While they talk, I et so set out, Josie's reaching for a cup

"Do you have kids?" I ask her, assu that's how she knows so much about the TV show

She shakes her head with a laugh "Not yet, but one day I'ood base knowledge of what's popular out there really helps to put er patients at ease"

And just like that, I feel a hundred ti that we share erly tell her, "I'm a nurse"

"I know," Josie says with a grin "Reed told ht?"

"That's right" I bea my cup up

Josie stares atShe looks toward the for Reed and Marek to co in any moment, and then back to me

Stepping in closer, she lowers her voice and says so they'll be talking Given that Reed's ripping Marek a new one right now, I expect it won't be long But I want you to know you've got a friend here I can't i yanked away fro is a hostile environment"

A flush of elu the wedding and--"

"Practically kidnapping you and Lilly, dragging you here, and then du to the beach? Yeah, I know it all" Her voice is icy with clear disapproval over Marek'shim to remove his head from his ass"

I give a slight shake ofme My eyes drop to the floor "Marek has every reason to--"

"No," Josie says adamantly, her voice still low and so on between the two of you for past hurts, that gives hie by the tih with him"

I'ratitude, perhaps vindication, butthat, Josie We both have a lot of anger and hurt going on But when Marek caht, he seemed to indicate he wants to have a relationship with Lilly, and we're going to talk to her today"

Josie cuts a quick look at Lilly then back to me "What does she know?"

The sigh I let out is unintended and long-suffering, but totally indicative of how troubling all of this is "Not ot jerked away froe house with a strange man she has no clue what he , that I couldn't let this continue on, as it was too confusing to her That seemed to reach him At least I think it did"

Josie nods in sympathy She takes a sip of coffee and then asks, "I bet it ful, Marek showing up like that Giving you no choice in what to do Reed told me how it all went down and he wasn't happy with it"

I stare down atto look at her as I sha to take Lilly away, giving ine the e off with Owen Not being able to really explain things to his parents and my parents A whole churchful of people I had to confront"

My words trail off as I reed, and he store my mind I had to walk down that aisle by myself and stand up in front of five hundred people to tell the had been called off