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How typical of Margaret to feel she kneas best for everyone Currently, though, I was e attitude

My f irst custo--a woman I’d never met before--stepped into the shop and f ifteenup a hundred-dollar yarn sale A proaret set aside her project, an afghan for ourco to happen, don’t you?"

"Happen hat?" I asked

"This adoption thing"

I froze I should’ve known Margaret wouldn’t leave the subject alone At least not until she’d cast a net of dire predictions I understood that this impulse was one she couldn’t resist, just as I understood that it was motivated by her protectiveness toward ht now

"What’s that?" I asked, hoping my irritation didn’t show

"Have you talked to a social worker yet?"

"Well, of course" I’d spoken to Anne Marie, and she’d reconed to Ellen and had handled her adoption Anne Marie and Ellen f it so perfectly together that their story had inspired me to look beyond aret shook her head, which annoyed ave me the phone nuaret’s brows cahtened her lips

"What now?" I asked, trying to remain calm

"I wouldn’t recommend that"

"Why not? It’s too late anyway"

"This social worker deals with foster kids, right?"

"I guess so" I knew so, but didn’t see how that was relevant

"Why should it h it should be obvious

"Because she’s got children in her case f iles," Margaret said with exaggerated patience "She probably has lots of kids and nowhere to place them Mark my words, she’ll f ind a reason to leave soaret," I said pointedly, "Brad and I are going to adopt an infant This social worker, Evelyn, is helping us through the process, nothing aret didn’t respond for several minutes Just when it see an infantto argue "We’ll have to wait and see what the adoption agency has to say"

"It "

"Brad and I will cross that bridge e cohtly, as if she needed to consider every negative aspect of this process "There are private adoption agencies, too, you know"

I did know about them, but it ency first

"What about adopting fro to be helpful, but I wasn’t convinced I should let downthat in reserve," I said

"I hear it’s even more expensive than private adoptions"

"Yes, well, it’s another option to investigate…"

Margaret’s shoulders rose in a deep sigh "Are you going to tell Mo"Probably not…"

Margaret nodded, herthat Cody’s my stepson," I reminded her On our last visit she’d asked copious questions about the "young ht with nize Julia ent to see her a few days ago"

I felt a jolt of pain--for Margaret, for her daughter, Julia, for Moaret had mentioned it Our mother’s mental state had declined rapidly over the past two years and I suspected that in a little while she wouldn’t recognize aret and I shared responsibility for checking in on her andsure she ell and contented These daysafter our mother

I could pinpoint exactly when that role reversal had taken place It’d been the day Moarden She’d collapsed while watering her f lowers Everything had changed from that moment on Ourin a care facility now, she was increasingly confused and uncertain It brokeso hard to hide her bewilder to her

"Moaret mumbled "At some point her mind will clear and she’ll realize you have an infant"

I sh I had aret did, too

The bell above the door chilanced up at an attractive young woman who’d entered the shop I hadn’t seen her before

"Hello," I said, welco smile