CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
(part six)
Monday night, 9:27 P.M.
Turning down the hallway to her condo, she saw Aden waiting by her door. She should have expected that.
“Shouldn’t you be with your kids?” Sandy asked.
“My kids are at home, Sandra. After an evening at the Emergency Room, I took them home. They’re exhausted.”
“They shouldn’t be alone,” Sandy said. “Did [...]

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CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
(part five)
Monday evening, 6:25 P.M.
“You sure you feel up to going?” Heather asked Blane. “I can go by myself.”
“To Katy’s birthday party? I wouldn’t miss it,” Blane said. “Do you always introduce yourself to the new Katy?”
“Every year,” Heather said.
“That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard of.”
He held the door for her and they [...]

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CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
(part four)
Nash nodded. Sandy bent down to kiss his cheek. Flooded with guilt that her life had caught up with this precious boy, she hugged him tight. Nash wept against her shoulder. She sighed.
“I have to go sweetie,” Sandy said. “Love you Nash.”
“Can I stay here with you?” Nash asked.
“If I call your Dad,” [...]

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CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
(part three)
“I wouldn’t mind surviving seventh grade,” Nash said.
Sandy hugged Nash the moment MJ was done. She left them to get some more ice for Nash’s face.
“Those guys must be bigger than you.”
“There were five,” Nash said. “Yeah, they’re bigger.”
“You keep practicing with Colin, and those boys won’t bother you any more,” MJ nodded. [...]

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CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
(part two)
Katy bounced out of her bed. She threw herself at Jill and Jacob.
“Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!”
Jill and Jacob started. Katy blushed as if she’d never heard the song before.
“I’m so glad you were born!” Jacob exclaimed.
Jacob lifted her from the bed. With Jill following behind, he carried Katy out [...]

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CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
(part one)
Two weeks later
Monday morning – 3:56 AM
“Happy birfday to me, happy birfday to me,” came a soft singing voice over the baby monitor.
Jacob touched Jill’s shoulder to wake her. He leaned over to kiss her lips. Sitting down at the side of the bed, he set a cup of coffee on her bedside [...]

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