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Having little memory of any family other than what she could recall of her parents, Natalie struggled to is

Howto a family? To ? How could he have s? Didn’t he realize how blessed he was?

She stuffed another kale chip in her mouth

“Do you have kids I could play with, too, Natalie?”

Coughing to clear her throat of the chip that lodged there, Natalie shook her head “No, I don’t have any kids”

Carrie’s brows veed together and she shook her head,further “Well, that’s just sad”

Yes, Natalie supposed it was, but bringing a child into the world just so she wouldn’t be alone would be just as sad She’d once thought she’d meet someone ould want to stick around, ouldn’t leave her, who’d want to have babies with her But after Jonathan’s betrayal she wasn’t so sure Maybe some people weren’t meant to ever be a part of a real family Certainly she never had been

“Soht think so, but I’ the child or Matthew to feel sorry for her At Carrie’s continued look of skepticism, Natalie continued, “I’m quite happy with my life, really”

Mostly, she told the truth Except for the part where Matthew had taken her job and occupied her thoughts

“Here, let ets in your food,” Natalie offered, reers to comb Carrie’s hair back into a ponytail

Natalie could feel Matthew’s hot scrutiny and finally she looked up,his eyes

“You make that look easy”

Natalie shrugged “Not much to it”

“Maybe not, since she sat perfectly still for you” Matthew gave Carrie a pointed look

“She didn’t hurt ave Natalie an exasperated look “He pulls my hair out when he does it!”