Page 39 (1/2)

"It’s insane I can’t take this"

"Your bracelet is pretty, Mommy," Gabe said

It was tooIt had to

Matt leaned toward her "A ift is traditional"

"There’s a stretch," she ant"

"Your gift with interest Please, Jesse I want you to have this"

"It doesn’t prove anything," she whispered "It’s not going to make me like you more"

The words sounded ize, he nodded

"I know you well enough to believe that Take the bracelet Because it’s nearly as beautiful as you are Please"

His dark gaze seemed to see inside of her, to the place that still wanted to believe in him

"Matt, I--" She nodded "Thank you"

"You’re welcome"

He looked pleased Not victorious, but happy Which shouldn’t have made her feel better, but it did

SATURDAY MORNING, BILL took Paula out to run soet ready for the party Matt arrived right at ten-thirty, his ares

"I still have the cake in the car," he said as he put everything on the kitchen table Then he grabbed Gabe and swung hihed "We bought ice cream"

"I had to hide it in the back of the freezer," Jesse told hiood it was to see hiet this unpacked?"

"Sure"

He ruffled Gabe’s hair then went back out to his car Jesse unpacked the various bags He’d bought everything she’d asked hi paper napkins and cake plates There were two sprays of flowers froe that was hisfull of cheesy birthday banners and party favors

She set out the latter and had Gabe separate thes Matt returned with the cake

They worked together, setting the table, then slicing the sandwich Matt blew up balloons and hung the banner Gabe ether they loaded the dozen or so goodie bags for all the guests Matt held them open while Gabe dropped in the silly prizes Jesse watched the the similarities in their eyes, the way they moved Love filled her, for the boy and the man Then she reminded herself what the ot back at noon Jesse, Gabe and Matt, joined by neighbors and Paula’s friends, hid in the kitchen, then ju, "Surprise!"

She actually looked startled, then delighted "A party forbefore they sat down to lunch

Afterward, before Paula opened her presents, Bill took Jesse aside

"How you doing?" he asked

"Better"

"Still hurting?"

She shrugged No one wanted to hear the truth She didn’t want to live it, but it was impossible to escape

He put a hand on her ar to ask Paula to hed "Seriously? That’s fast"

He looked both pleased and chagrined "I kneas right the second I h to knoe want and that’s each other I talked to Matt about it Not to ask his permission, exactly, but to let him know my intentions"

"What did he say?"

"That he was happy for us both" Bill squeezed her aretting a big RV and driving around the country for a couple of years We’ll come back here to see you and Gabe every couple ofant to see"

Jesse didn’t want to think about theone, then reminded herself they were her friends and of course she wanted them to be happy