Page 51 (1/2)

Fuck, the world was all screwed up because in that moment he knew “You’re sick”

She nodded, a tre C as they say, but I call it the big, O Ovarian”

“I’m sorry” What else was there to say? He’d watched hisdisease A slow, painful death and it wasn’t so he would wish on anyone

Celia shrugged “It is what it is I’reat I believe in my heart that I can beat this It’s partly e moved back to New Waterford I love the city I love the frenetic pace, the shopping, the ht now, I need a slower kind of life and Ja for us”

“And you think dinner will be good because…”

Pia chose thatin her effort to get to Shane Once she reached her ave him a lick on his boot and then ran back to Celia The little animal sniffed and snorted and then moaned when Celia sank her French tipped nails into the soft fur under her bright pink collar

She slanced up at hi?”

“I hope so, ‘cause if not, that dog has got to be the most confused animal in New Waterford”

With one htened and settled her fur hat back onto her head “I know you hated the fact that your father and I got married so soon after your mother passed”

Any lightness they’d shared was gone The wo that shit up

“Five ”

A shadow passed over her features, one that didn’t quite leave her eyes “You think that I’m the enemy ooped in and took him from you But the truth of it is, I saved him after your mother died I saved your father back then, Shane, but now he’s barely holding on”

He thought of how old his father had looked, of the pallor on his skin and then there were the rumors of an illness back in the fall

“Is he…is he sick?” The question fell from his mouth before he could stop it Did he care? If he didn’t, did that est bastard in the state?

“Other than a mild heart attack in the November, physically he’s fine It was mostly stress related but his soul is tired and sick, Shane Nothing is heavier on the heart than regret He’s made some mistakes” Her eyes narrowed “We’ve all made a lot of mistakes”