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It’s not until then that the girl noticesthere Her eyes widen when she looks at me

“Are you h that’s a wondrous thing

I choke and then start coughing My eyes water, and I bend over to try to catch e to get a hold of lass of water Helen holds out to ulps of the cold liquid

“I should have told you before we got here, but I didn’t kno,” Theo says, looking re at me worriedly

“Are you okay?” she asks, chewing on her fingernail

I try my best to put on a brave face, but I’m not sure if I pull it off “I’m okay It was just a little tickle in my throat”

She relaxes back against Theo’s chest, seely satisfied with my reply

“Jules,” Theo begins, “I’d like you to hter, Aria Aria, this is Jules”

“Hi,” she says quietly, her little legs swinging between Theo’s

It takes h to answer in kind I’ a child, which makes her my stepchild

“Hello, Aria That’s such a pretty name”

She samma’s name” Her smile turns to a frown “She died before I was born”

“I’m so sorry to hear that”

Her head tilts to the side “Daddy said you’re married Does that mean I have a momma now? My other one left and didn’t want me”

I turn helpless eyes to Theo, who appears to be struggling with how to handle the question as much as I am Luckily, Helen co a wife is one thing, but being a parent to a child I’ve neverelse entirely