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She couldn’tHarmon happy He wasn’t her responsibility Her life

“I just couldn’t stop thinking how irresponsible I was to just give someone, anyone, the ability to havewith needless pain, while I’oal, or intention, at all, when I donated I just didn’t think Like I said before, haven’t you ever done anything that you so deeply regret you can’t let it go? I’ain, I’m here for freedom”

Oh, God She felt those words clear to her soul All the way inside, as deep as it got Hell, yes, she’d done soo She’d let a ht she’d loved convince her to turn her back on her sister Her friends She’d ditched them all because Mike had told her she had to think of hi to be, to create, for the rest of their lives

She’d listened so exclusively to hiie had called, devastated and needing her, the day Duane had burst into her room and told her she was a cancer in all their lives She knew Duane said horrible things when he was drunk Angie knew it, too They’d both lived through them more times than she could count

She hadn’t known that that day was different That Angie had been ho there in paja, he hadn’t turned his back or left her roo her with verbal abuse

Standing, she went to the pretty cherrywood desk across and down frorabbed the folder, which was the only nondecorative iteh her laptop was on the keyboard shelf just beneath the desktop

“Here,” she said, handing hiive to hi Had had it ready

“That’s everything I could think of to show you that you have no need to worry You can see by my home that I’m financially secure Or—” she cocked her head “—I suppose I could be living above my means, in over my head, but you can look us up My sister and I own Feel Good, a company and brand of apparel and household items for women We’re privately owned, but we still file profit and loss statements”

He didn’t open the folder Seeain The look in his eye—kindand appreciative?—made her want to smile She nodded toward the folder instead

“In there you’ll find how conscientious and aware I a possible to provide for every chance of well-being for my baby I’ve opted to have every test I can have at this point—all the screenings and blood work, even those that were optional I’m sure you’re far more familiar with the with my medical records, which will show you that I live a healthy lifestyle You also see the paperwork in there showing that I’ve already arranged to bank the cord blood, which isn’t inexpensive, and I hope that will help assure you that I a all available options in the event that ot ateeks from today to install all of the baby-safe latches on my drawers and cupboards, and a security camera for the nursery that will show on a monitor in my room”

She planned to have the baby in a portable crib in her room for the first fewclass she’d taken

“You can take as long as you like to look over everything,” she told hi? Tea? Coffee? I can do a cup at a time”

“What kind of juice?” He seemed to be absorbed by the folder

And she kind of felt like she’d pulled her pants down or so Not totally in a bad way

“I have several,” she said, not sure she was talking just about juice at that point She had several thoughts about him Several desires, too, all of a sudden, which were totally inappropriate and not what she was going to offer hie, pineapple-coconut, strawberry-banana”