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"I never knew Candy was pregnant," he told her again "I s over the years, but at no time would I have abandoned my own f lesh and blood"

"That’s very noble of you, Mr Carlsen, but as I said, it’s too late I’ in the AA rules that will help you sort it all out My advice is to let go of this Ellen’s happy She has a good life with me"

"Not with your husband?" he pressed

"My husband…"

Tim’s eyes narrowed and she could tell he already knew she ed His earlier re the pretense would be senseless

"I’ the question She was finished with this conversation "I believe it’s time you left, Mr Carlsen, otherwise I’ll have to call the authorities"

Tiet an attorney involved, but I will if I have to"

"You do that"

Tim waited a moment, as if undecided what to do next After several seconds, he said, "Thank you for seeing me"

Arms folded, Anne Marie nodded abruptly

Tiain, so shaken that she started to tremble

A fewokay?" she asked Anne Marie ed a wobbly smile "Not really…"

"Oh?" Teresa watched her carefully "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Anne Marie braced her elbows on the desk and covered her eyes "I’m not sure… I need time to think"

"If I can help in any way, just let ed

Anne Marie ure out what to do about this diff icult conversation--

including the fact that Tiht him with every resource she possessed First, however, she needed to f ind out what her own rights were Her hand shook as she f lipped through the Rolodex on the corner of her desk until she came to Evelyn Boyle’s name Evelyn, as a social worker, knew adoption law Evelyn would be able to tell Anne Marie her rights

Her heart felt as though itaat the age of thirty-eight Then life had taken a wonderful and unexpected turn and brought her Ellen Anne Marie wasn’t going to give the child up Not for anyone

Chapter 9

We don’t knit to s There are cheaper, faster and easier ways to obtain a sweater than to knit it We knit tothe most joy out of our yarn and stitches

--Annie Modesitt, author of Confessions of a KnittingHeretic and Knit with Courage, Live with Hope annie my stomach was in knots as I pulled into the driveway after work Casey had been with us for alotten no less than three phone calls from Cody and had talked with Brad an equal number of times Each and every one of those calls had been about Casey The girl had created a complete upheaval in our peaceful family life As Evelyn had said, there were a few adjustment problems She’d also predicted that the kids would accept each other in a day or two; it hadn’t happened Brad felt inadequate to deal with the conf lict between Cody and Casey on his own He seemed to think I’d handle it better, but I wasn’t really sure what to do, either

"I’h the door that led froe I realized an announce for me The relief on their faces was coh at my arrival

I kissed my husband on the cheek As he usually did, Brad had started dinner--chicken and Spanish rice Casey sat at the kitchen table with her head bent over one ofI found that interesting but knew better than to comment

Cody scowled at her from the other side of the room "I need to talk to you," he said, then added "privately" in a whisper

"Okay," I agreed I went over and hugged hiry

It took e shoes "Hoas school?" I asked Casey, coet you?" I decided to ask a question that required an actual response

"I don’t need anything" The words, as well as her body language, were def iant

"Okay, but let me know if you do"

"Can I talk to you and Dad now? " Cody asked

"Okay by me," Brad told him He turned down the burner under the pan of rice The chicken was in the oven, and it would be about half an hour before the evening meal was ready