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Instead of pressing it, I said nothing, and we sat together in silence As I waited, I watched his hand fidget in his lap

"How did it go with Jane last night?" he asked after a

At his words--and despite all that we’d been discussing--I flashed on an i with Allie in the kitchen

"Better than I’d iined it would," I said

"And she liked the album?"

"She loved it"

"Good," he said For the first time since I’d come in, he smiled, but it vanished as quickly as it came

"I’m sure she wants to talk to you," I said "And Kate’s still out there, too"

"I know," he said, looking defeated "They can come in"

"You sure?"

When he nodded, I reached over and put a hand on his knee "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes"

"Do you want me to tell them not to talk about the swan?"

He consideredhis head "It doesn’t avelook "I’, but I prooing to do anything to upset Jane I don’t want her worrying aboutabout tomorrow"

I rose fro to leave

Noah, I kneas angry with hi that the sas Allie--he’d needed to believe that she would find a way to come back to him--but the swan’s inexplicable disappearance had shaken his faith profoundly

As I left his roo, What if the kids had been right all along?

In the hallway, I kept this inforht be best if they si and react as naturally as possible

Both Kate and Jane nodded, and Jane led the way back inside Noah looked toward us Jane and Kate stopped, waiting to be invited in farther, not knohat to expect

"Hi, Daddy," Jane said

He forced a slanced at Jane and rown cold on the bed "I’ry, but other than that, I’m fine Kate--would youforward "I’ll get you so How about soood" He nodded "And et it for you," Kate said "Do you want a piece of chocolate cake, too? I heard they made it fresh today"

"Sure," he said "Thank you Oh--and I’m sorry about how I acted earlier I was upset and had no reason to take it out on you"