Page 14 of Dion

"Because I’mthat determined." her fingers linked through his.

"Why do youcare?"

She gave him asurprised look. "I’m your best friend and I want this foryou."

"You’re abeautiful woman and I’m sure this is cramping your style. Whatif you meet someone?" A frown crossed his brow and he tried toignore how that made him feel. "It's going to cramp your style."

"I haven’tmet anyone and we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it."

"I should havethought about that." His fingers tightened on hers. “I’mputting you out."

"Will you justhush? I’m doing this. We’re doing this and it’sgoing to happen." Leaning over, she kissed his cheek. "Stopworrying."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Nowlet's go and have lunch, I’m starving."

*****

"You came."The man lying in the bed looked gaunt and very old.

"Under duress."

"Can you sit?"

"I prefer tostand. Lydia has been at me to come and see you and this is the onlyway I was able to get her off my back. What's wrong with you?"

"Lung cancer.She didn't tell you?"

"She must have,but I didn’t care. I still don't."

"Won't youplease sit?"

"I’llstand." She repeated. "Nice place. I suppose Lydia ispaying?"

She saw when hismouth twisted. "She’s helping. I - I didn’t comeback to get money from you."

"Yet you’retaking hers."

"I deservethat."

"And more. Whatdo you want?"

"To make peace."

"You’reyears too late." She felt the nagging queasiness in her stomach.It’d been going on for several days and she didn’t darethink about the significance of it. The last IVF had been done twoweeks ago and she thought it was too early to say whether or not ithad taken. She didn’t want to jinx it.

"What's wrong?"

She’d been sodeep in thought that she’d forgotten about the man lying inbed.

"Nothing."Moving forward, she sat on the chair near the bed. There was noresemblance between them. Odette had taken the looks from her motherwhile Lydia was the spitting image of the man lying in the bed.

"You look somuch like her." There was a wistful look on his face as hestared at her. "The same flawless complexion and wide browneyes. The same fiery spirit and-"

"I didn’tcome here to reminisce. What do you want or should I hazard a guess?You want money."

"I’mdying."

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