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"Cameron, please, I tried to warn you about expectations Please, don’t make this worse I don’t want you to think I just used you"

"You certainly didn’t do that You could have I would have welcomed that, but no--you weren’t ready Now I understand why" He laughed without humor "God, I’ve made a classic fool ofto do I’ to check back with you later--much later See where you are Maybe you’ll be free Maybe not But I’le"

"It’s not--"

"It is," he said "I could handle what I thought I was up against I didn’t know you were in love with someone else" He took his foot off the brake and coasted forward When he stopped in front of Paul, he juer side of the SUV and opened the door for Vanni He then went into the back, pulled out her s them to Paul "Hey, buddy," he said "Make yourself useful"

"Sure," Paul said, taking theot Mattie out of the car seat and before passing hi slow moment to put a little kiss on his head Then as he passed the baby to Vanni, he placed a soft kiss on her lips Against them he said, "I’m sorry it didn’t work out better"

"It wasn’t your fault," she whispered back

"Here’s your good boy," Ca the baby

"I had a lovely ti"

He couldn’t resist He touched her hair, gazed into her eyes Out of Paul’s earshot he said, "I hope I get a chance to show you I’h all this crap I’d never let you down, never leave you to wonder how I felt Never" He took a breath "I hope the son of a bitch disappoints you"

She laughed hollowly "I’ to happen" She held her son against her chest and put her pal You’ve been very decent"

He laughed "That wasn’t inal idea" He became serious "You know my number, in case you’re ever ready to move on I mean, really move on"

Paul stood near the front door with Vanessa’s suitcase in one hand and the stroller in the other, watching as they said goodbye It was sheer torture The soft kiss, the whispers, the hand against his face It was all so sweet, so tender Oh God, he thought I’ve lost her forever Again

When Caot back in his car and drove away, Vanessa walked briskly up to the front door Paul stood there wearing a hangdog look and rather thanin her life would be different right now if he’d leveled with her from the start, if he’d made hiood friend He opened the door for her and she walked right past him "Hello, Paul Have a nice weekend?"

"Not so much You?"

"Lovely, thanks"