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I hand her the letter

She opens it, scans the page, and gasps “Wait What is this?”

“Marilyn is clai I fathered a child with her”

“What? Is this … I mean, could it be true?”

“Technically, yes But I don’t think so”

“But you don’t know So it could be”

I nod The pain visible on her face slices atto do?”

“I talked toto file a denial and counter with a request for DNA testing”

“Jesus”

“I know I’ like this would happen I wanted to let you kno, so you weren’t blindsided” I take her tre hands between mine “I know neither of us wanted children, but if … if she’s mine, could we still make this work?”

She looks at ut ache She can’t

“I’ht now” She shakes her head as if to clear it “I’ll always be here for you as a friend But if you’re asking me if I could play step- this all through”

My heart sinks intoit onto the floor I’ to lose her, just like I lost Marilyn I can’t handle that a second time Not when this woman across from is my ideal mate

“Edgar?”

“I can’t lose you, too, Efia”