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"Well, she should be," Mark said in annoyance "You’re single, decent-looking…what’s her problerieving for her husband"

"It’s time for her to be finished," Mark said "It’s been two years She needs to start living again She needs to take a chance on someone"

"Like you?" Salance "I’ot that," Sa it Maybe at so it"

Mark went upstairs, disgruntled He told hi out again Why, then, did the situation bother him so oaiting in bed for hi through the pink las, which were hanging on the back of a chair Her fair ivory skin was dappled with red patches Mark’s heart renched with concern when he saw that her eyes et

Sitting on the edge of the ainst him "What is it?" he whispered "What’s the matter?"

Holly’s voice was muffled "I wish my ht hair and the delicate curve of her ear And for a long time he just held her "Iover you, even though you can’t see or hear her"

"Like an angel?"

"Yes"

"Do you believe in angels?"

"Yes," Mark said without hesitation, despite everything he had ever said or thought to the contrary Because there was no reason for him not to allow for the possibility, especially if it comforted Holly

Holly drew back to look at him "I didn’t think you would"

"I do," Mark said "Faith is a choice I can believe in angels if I want to"

"I believe in the to replace your mom But I love you as much as she did, and I’ll always take care of you And so will Sa…what if I marry someone ould help me to take care of you, and love you in a mom-type way? Would you like that?"

"Uh-huh"

"What about Shelby? You like her, right?"

Holly considered that "Did you fall in love with her?"

"I care about her A lot"

"You’re not supposed to marry someone if you don’t fall in love with her"

"Well, love is a choice, too"

Holly shook her head "I think it’s so that happens to you"

Mark smiled into her small, earnest face "Maybe it’s both," he said, and tucked her in

The folloeekend, Mark went to Seattle to visit Shelby Her cousin’s engageht at the Seattle Yacht Club on Portage Bay It was yet another step in the progression of their relationship: attending a fa Shelby’s parents for the first ti ith them From her descriptions, they seemed like decent, normal people

"You will love them, I promise," Shelby had told him "And they will love you"

The word "love" otten to the point when either of them had said "I love you," but Mark sensed that she wanted to And itforward to it Of course he would say it back And he would mean it, but probably not in the way that she wanted hio, Mark would have assumed that love was an ability he lacked But Holly had disproved that entirely Because the feeling of wanting to protect Holly, to give her everything, this soul-deep urge toMark had ever felt before caht to Seattle, worried as hell because Holly had coht fever Ninety-nine point nine "I should cancel," he had told Saot it covered Holly will be fine"

"Don’t let her stay up late," Mark had said sternly "Don’t let her eat crap Don’t miss her next dose of ibuprofen, or--"

"Yeah, I know Everything’s fine"

"If Holly’s still sick tomorrow, the pediatrician’s office is open until noon on Saturdays--"

"I know I know all the stuff you know If you don’t leave now, you’re gonna ht"