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“I have no idea,” she said, walking back to her office and placing it on the desk

“Anyway, Caht we could double-date,” Kathi said

“No”

“Come on, Faith”

“No The last time I went on one of your little blind double dates it turned into the month from hell You’re on your own this time”

“Grant wasn’t that bad”

“H when I was going to let him come to my house I swear that man had octopus arms and was just as slimy He made my skin crawl” She shivered with the remembrance

“Okay, okay, I get your point He did border on stalking”

“You think?”

“But this guy is different—six feet, rich brown skin, fit and easy on the eyes”

“Doesn’t o, she had sworn off n business

“We aren’t getting any younger and I’d like to settle down and have a kid or two before s shrivel up and die”

She laughed “Kathi, you act like we’re pushing fifty We’re only thirty” She cut into the box, pulled back the flap and saw a stack of letters with a rubber band around them All were addressed to her from Thaddeus Whitcomb and had “Return to Sender” written on theh theht years

While half listening to Kathi list all the reasons why this guy would be different, Faith opened the gray envelope on the top that had her first nae letters and withdrew the sheet of paper When she unfolded it, a photo of aa baby fell out She didn’t knoho he was, but she recognized the child She quickly read the letter Her eyes widened and her heart stopped and started up again “It can’t be He’s supposed to be dead,” she whispered in shock “Kathi, I have to go”

“Wait…what? What about lunch?”

“I need to take a rain check I’ll call you later”

Butterflies fluttered in her belly as she picked up the photo again and studied it for athe letter Tears filled her eyes and anger rose within her She tossed everything back into the box, slid her arrabbed the box, her purse and keys, and left Although the sun shone, there was a slight breeze and the early June temperatures in Portland hovered near seventy Twentyher parents’ doorbell