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Claire sighed irades anye Really, I’ht you’d be happy Now I can stay at home next year and that will save money”

“We’re happy if you’re happy, pumpkin,” Daddy said

Momma made the face where she tried not to frown, but it still caes?”

“A couple others, yes,” Claire admitted “But I really had et in there later than go off to another school now”

Daddy nodded amiably “That makes perfect sense”

Zeke didn’t say anything But then, what could he say? It was obvious he was as gobsmacked as Mimi

Caain and God bless Daddy, he tried to keep things upbeat and cheerful, but the rest the dinner went by miserably slow

~~

Zeke stepped outside to the backyard patio Surprisingly, it was dark He flipped on the patio lights

“Please turn that off,” he heard Mimi say

He killed the light and followed the sound of her voice to the sht that he could see her well enough, but he couldn’t read the expression on her face Ilass of wine and slipped out to the backyard Here she sat holding her drink, one leg crossed over the over, in an oversized Adirondack chair Her skirt was hiked up a few inches above her knees and her right foot jiggled furiously She earing flip flops, which looked completely out of place with the rest of her outfit It also looked ridiculously sexy

“Claire went ho chess with your dad,” he told her

Mimi took a sip of her wine “And Momma?”

“She’s doing the dishes I offered to help, but she ordered me to come out here and visit with you”

“Did she?” Mi about it tore at Zeke’s gut He’d only seen her in this kind of mood a couple of tirandmother had passed She’d been incredibly sad, an eht she’d asked him to leave the house He kneas because she’d discovered his father’s letter She thought he’d betrayed her by not telling her about it