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His smile faded He looked down at Maeve and wished suddenly that he could take it all back, all the times he'd hurt her and snubbed her and rejected her "You alere," he said softly

More, he thought, say ret in his throat and a burning need for absolution

Tears puddled in her eyes, her mouth trembled "No," she whispered A tear streaked down her face "No"

Ian wanted to close the distance between them, maybe even wipe the tears from her eyes But he couldn't move, couldn't really fathom that kind of intimacy Too e, dark and ugly and swirling with lost moments, a lifetime of miscommunication

They stood that way for what seeret as he was On the mantel, the porcelain clock ticked slowly onward

You can hurt your mother, or you can not hurt your mother Simple decision Simple

The thought ca It was as if Selena were inside hi, to take a risk

Everything is easy for you, Selena

And so difficult for you, Ian

She was right The world did hinge on choices, soht now,

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touch his ht every wrong that had punctured their relationship for years, but it could be so for

A beginning

He gazed down at histhe silvery trails that streaked her pale cheeks, and he wished to Christ he could hold her Just that

But he couldn't, of course Not yet All he could offer was an uncertain start "Mother, II'"