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He looked ridiculously deflated “Oh, yeah I just thought, if this is a reconciliation, you should—”

“Nome what I should and shouldn’t do, Blake I’m not the same woman I was before And I’m scared to death you’re the same damn man ”

“I’rown, too I kno precious our life was I won’t ain ”

“I hope not ”

He est journey begins with a single step ”

He was right; it used to be one of her favorite sayings Now, that kind of optimism felt far, far away

He was obviously waiting for her to respond, and when she didn’t, he glanced around “Well, do you want to watch television for a while? I could make some popcorn and hot chocolate—like the old days ”

The old days

With those simple words, she saw her whole life flash before her eyes This spring she’d worked to unearth the real Annie, and now Blake wanted to bury her once again beneath the sand of their old patterns Tomorrow, she knew she would have to make an effort, an honest effort to find her way back to Blake, but tonight, she was too damned tired to start “No, thanks,” she said quietly “I think I’ll just go to bed It’s been a long day You can sleep in the green guest room I put fresh sheets on the bed today ”

“Oh I thought—”

“I knohat you thought It isn’t going to happen ”

She hed at his expression—so confused and crestfallen—but it wasn’t funny He was her husband, the father of her children, the man she’d vowed to love, honor, and cherish until death parted the room of the house they’d shared for soto say to him

Blake met Natalie at Customs

She gave hi around “Where’s Mom?”

“She couldn’t make it I’ll tell you all about it in the car on the way home ”