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Ginger ca the plates on the table A slow smile spread across my face when I saw my jar in her hand Lil Man reached his chubby little aret out of his confineh chair She set the jar on the island before walking over to give hione and genuine happiness rested on her features as she talked to our son Ours He carried e I’d been surprised she’d suggested despite the adoption, considering the other things she held onto in relation to his sper ed to Shawn

I glanced in their direction, the two of the an intense conversation about the toy puppy he held The sight of them was an instant balm to my soul I picked up their plates and carried thelancing down at the ing to one of utter surprise

“Pork chops,out on me”

I sat across from her “Hey, you all assumed I couldn’t cook Just because I don’t really like to doesn’t mean I can’t”

She raised an eyebrow “You certainly did very little to dispel that myth”

I shrugged “Well, to be fair, you haven’t tasted it yet”

My state the plate with new suspicion She scooped up some of the potatoes, sniffed, then took a srabbed her throat, and started choking My eyes ide before she started laughing

I looked over at Shahose hands were covered in the white substance—as he giggled alongside her “Your mom thinks she’s funny”

She picked up her fork and resu “I’m a little funny”

Dinner was edible, but Ginger wouldn’t be giving up her job of being the main cook anytih I told her I’d do it She happily threw my line about division of labor back at me

When she joined us in the living room she had the jar in her hand The Paw Patrol DVD played, keeping Lil Man’s attention even though atched the daainstthem act out as on the screen

She settled on the other side of me “Can’t wait to see what you have in store for ht now, but I seeured…” Her words died out and she looked down at the jar, tilting it from side to side

Nervous babbling, another tell

I sighed and ran the back of my knuckles across her cheek “You sure you’re okay?”

A s the lid Closing her eyes, Ginger reached in and pulled free a blue paper, then placed the jar beside her We stared at each other as she unfolded it, then she looked down at the slip in her hand Because of her soft gasp and widened eyes, ers