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lackest hair He describes you like a fairy-tale character He’s never quite decided on princess or villain”

I put my hands into my hair and est idiot to even believe for one day he could be so” I can’t finish

“You’re the girl he calls Shortcake When I first heard your nickname, I kneill tell you now, he’s never looked at anyone the way he looks at you”

I a to feel irritated with this lovely woer use her as a sounding board She cannot believe her son would do anything so hurtful I open my mouth but she silences me firmly

“He dated Mindy I’hter-in-laeet as pie Cinderella hasn’t got anything on Mindy”

“She’s lovely She’s not my issue”

“But she never challenged Josh You have since the first day you ry You’ve never been scared of hiet the upper hand in your little office skirmishes You notice him”

“I’ve tried not to”

“Neither Josh nor his father are easy ht Patrick, for example Reasonable, calm, ready with a smile Josh has a nickname for hi woman to love someone like Josh, and I think it’s you Patrick’s an open book Josh is a safety-deposit box But he’s worth it You won’t believe ht, but so is his father”

Elaine waves Josh over and he begins striding toward us

“Please go easy on hiht the bouquet,” she admonishes me “If you’d put your arms out a little”

“I couldn’t”

She kisses s me with such kind familiarity I close my eyes

“You will one day If you decide to stay, we’re having a family breakfast at ten AM in the restaurant I’d really love to see you both” She walks back down the path, where she intercepts Josh

They begin urgently conferring Great She’s giving the ene in this place, by this water, under this sky I go and sit on a low concrete bench and try to craht Josh was in love