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“Listen, I didn’t call so you two could run an interrogation, I called for—”

“Advice,” Travis said, signaling wildly to Jake for a pen and paper Jake shoved both at hi about? Travis wrote, to which Jake mouthed back, What am I, a mind reader?

Caleb had made his way back up the aisle He sank into his seat, picked up his drink and finished it

“Here’s the proble he says”

Travis: “The paternity test?”

“Not that”

Jake: “You et rid of the—”

“I mean, move out of the rat trap she lives in Put herself under the care of a top ob-gyn Let—let this guy buy her things she needs, let him take care of her and, of course, the kid once it’s born”

“Of course,” Jake said calmly, and clapped his hand to his head

“He wants to do the right thing,” Travis said, just as cal himself in the temple

“Exactly He wants to do the right thing The logical thing The responsible thing”

Silence again Caleb rose, paced a little , Texas, Jacob and Travis rose, paced in opposite directions, shaking their heads whenever their paths crossed

“So,” Travis finally said, “who, uh, who are we talking about here, man?”

“A friend,” Caleb said quickly Too quickly He winced “Just souy I know”

“And,” Jake said, “and you, ah, you want our advice?”