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“What are you planning on telling the a bite of his sandwich

Elena took a sip of water “Actually – I was thinking of telling thenant”

“Really, you’re going to explain this situation to them?”

“No,” Elena said quietly “I actually was planning on telling thee is the father”

Neal felt a little tug at his heart, as though so it hard for him to concentrate He didn’t expect the jealousy that suddenly dominated his mind

“Oh,” was all he ed to say

“Neal,” Elena said cautiously, “I know I said I didn’t want to be a mother, but I never expected to feel… this way”

“You want to be in this child’s life,” Neal finished for her

“Yes,” she nodded “Are you sure you’ll be OK with that?”

“Of course,” Neal said “I told you I was, and this way – well, you and I will be able to stay friends”

He lingered on the word friend, and Elena are of it She did feel a little surge of happiness to know that Neal would be in her life, but she also registered the difficulty of their situation They would have a child together, but they would never be a family She could claim the child, but Neal would only ever be the uncle

“I’d like that,” Elena said

Neal was suddenly aware of how ain, as he had in the first feeeks of their strange new arrangement He wanted to touch her, kiss her, and ain He wanted to hold his head to her sto would one day call him ‘Dad’

He wanted so s that his head spun fro that both Elena and his father had been right His shallow lifestyle had been an attes that he would be terrified to lose It didn’t matter anyway In the end, life had forced his hand, and he was at that point now He had barely experienced what a life of purpose trulysnatched away from him

“Shall we get started on the papers you brought froled thoughts