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"Lots! We went to Paris We were supposed to go last Christmas, but then there was a problem with our airline, re, so we had to wait until this summer, but that was even better I have a neish now"

Anne Marie couldn’t re this open with soer

"What’s your neish?" Tim asked her

"To learn French I say a neord every day Baxter knows that Viens ici hed "See? The chien understands"

"Good for you Both of you"

"I’ve signed her up with a French tutor," Anne Marie said She’d found one through Teresa, who seemed acquainted with just about every teacher in the school district "I’ lessons, too"

Tilanced at Anne Marie "You’re a terrif ic mother," he said in a low voice

"I try"

"Do you have a list of wishes?" Ellen de to wish for"

Anne Marie looked at him suspiciously as Ellen chattered blithely on "Barbie and Lillie and Elise have wish lists, too," she was saying

"Friends of yours?" Ti to Anne Marie She nodded

"Barbie met Mark," Ellen continued "He’s in a wheelchair and they’re in love And Lillie met Hector"

"Does she love him, too?"

"Yes!" Ellen said loudly "They hold hands in public "

Tim tried to restrain a smile "Tell me more about your wishes"

"Okay" Ellen’s expression was solened up for karate classes That was one of o?"

Ellen wrinkled her nose "Too ravely "I heard that"

"Do you have kids?" she asked

His eyes darted to Anne Marie "Not yet, but I’d really like to be a daddy one day"

"A man needs children," Ellen said with all the wisdom of her nine years

"Oh? Why’s that?"

"Children are ilanced at Anne Marie "I couldn’t agree with you ot Only…only this wish hasn’t come true yet"

"And ould that be?"

"I want to meet my dad"

Anne Marie placed a protective hand on Ellen’s shoulder

"Your dad?" he repeated slowly

Ellen bent down to scoop up the dog and held him close

"Everybody has one, you know"

"I know," Ti about him?"

Ellen shook her head sadly "I don’t even have his picture"

That was a blessing as far as Anne Marie was concerned

"I’m sure he wonders about you, too," Tiirl, he’d be very happy"

"Do you really think so?"

"I’o any further, Anne Marie said, "Ellen, why don’t you play on the swing set while Tim and I visit?"

"Okay Can Baxter come with me?"

"He should probably stay here for now You can take hireed readily enough, then dashed off to play with the other children

"Enough about the father business," Anne Marie said with barely restrained anger

Ti it up She did"

"You led her on"