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One

“You’d better get on out of here, or you’ll be late to stand on your head”

Sabine Hayes looked up froner Adrienne Lockhart Taylor, standing at the counter She had worked for Adrienne the past thirteen er of her boutique “I’m almost done”

“Give o I’ll stay until Jill shows up for her shift and then I’ll stop by the bank on my way home You have to pick up Jared by six, don’t you?”

“Yes” The day care center would price gouge her for every et Jared hoot there Sabine loved teaching yoga, but it lethe deposit?”

Adrienne leaned across the counter “Go,” she said

Sabine glanced quickly at her watch “Okay” She put the deposit into the bank pouch and handed it over Thank goodness Adrienne had coether the ne display The trendy boutique was known for its exciting and edgy displays that perfectly showcased Adrienne’s flair for irl fashions Sabine couldn’t have found a better place to work

Most places wouldn’t look twice at an applicant with a nose piercing and a stripe of blue in her hair It didn’t matter that it was a small, tasteful diamond stud or that her hair was dyed at a nice salon in Brooklyn Even after she’d bitten the bullet and had the bright color re at home, she’d been turned down by every store on Fifth Avenue The businesses that paid enough for her to support her son in New York were flooded with applicants more experienced than she was

She thanked her lucky stars for the day she spied Adrienne walking down the street and complined it herself Adrienne invited her to come by her new boutique one afternoon, and Sabine was enamored with the whole place It was fun and funky, chic and stylish High-class fashion with an edge When Adriennefor sons, Sabine couldn’t apply fast enough Not only was it a great job with above-average pay and benefits, Adrienne was a great boss She didn’t care what color hair Sabine had—now she had purple highlights—and she was understanding when child illness or drama kept her away from the store

Sabine grabbed her purse and gave a quick wave to Adrienne as she disappeared into the stockroom and out the back door It was only a couple blocks to her son’s day care, but she still had to hurry along the sidewalk, brushing past others ere leisurelytheir way around town

Finally rounding the last corner, Sabine swung open the gate to the small courtyard and leaped up the few steps to the door She rang the buzzer at exactly threeafter that, she had her toddler in her arms and was on her way to the subway

“Hey, buddy,” she said as they went down the street “Did you have a good day?”

Jared grinned and nodded enthusiastically He was starting to lose his chubby baby cheeks He’d grown so much the past few months Every day, he looked more and more like his father The first time she’d held Jared in her arms, she looked into his dark brown eyes and saw Gavin’s face staring back at her He would grow up to be as devastatingly handso heart She should be able to contribute soenetic makeup of her child, and if she had her pick, that hat it would be

“What do you want for dinner tonight?”

“A-sketti”

“Spaghetti, again? You had that last night You’re going to turn into a noodle before too long”

Jared giggled and clung to her neck Sabine breathed in the scent of his baby shaed her whole life and she wouldn’t trade hi

“Sabine?”

The subway entrance was nearly in sight when someone called her name from the restaurant she’d just passed She stopped and turned to find awine at one of the tables on the sidewalk He looked familiar, but she couldn’t come up with his name Where did she know him from?

“It is you,” he said, standing up and stepping toward her He took one look at her puzzled expression and smiled “You don’t remember me, do you? I’allery opening a couple years back”