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However, she knew that a strong religious upbringing was sorandchild Dolores Falk had loved her granddaughter deeply, and Anne Marie felt a responsibility to do as Dolores had requested Anne Marie understood that Dolores’s love had protected the girl Fortunately Ellen’s birth s and crihts This had made it possible for Anne Marie to adopt the child

Teresa stuck her head in the off ice "He’s back"

Lost in her thoughts, Anne Marie glanced up "Who’s back?"

"The man"

"What man?"

"The one who came by when you and Ellen were in Paris,"

Teresa said, sounding a little iotten but she’d relegated the matter to the bottom of her list "Has he asked to speak to uarantee that’s what he’s here to do"

"Okay" Anne Marie pushed away fro in the doorway She winked outrageously at Anne Marie, then lowered her voice "He’s still hot"

"Teresa! You’re a rinned from ear to ear "True, but I’m not blind"

Anne Marie came around her desk and stepped quietly out of the off ice Sure enough, a aze went instantly to her face Over the course of her life, men had often looked at her She knew she was reasonably attractive and yet the look this ave her expressed aze was intent, ful, even expectant Anne Marie felt confused by it

She ister "Can I help you?" she asked, keeping her voice cool and yet polite

"Are you Anne Marie Roche?" he asked

"I aly handso her out Most likely he was here to sell her insurance or to show her a new gift line She’d never seen hi personal Which was just as well; attractive though he was, Anne Marie could only respond to him in an abstract way Since Robert’s death, she hadn’t been interested in dating And once Ellen entered her life, her entire world had begun to revolve around her daughter

His dehtly

"I’m Tim Carlsen"

What was that about? If he was a salesman, he hadn’t bothered with a friendly approach "Hello, Ti to allow hi?"

He looked at Teresa, who’d busied herself organizing a display of new children’s books She did her best to pretend she wasn’t listening in on the conversation, although she couldn’t avoid hearing it

"Can I ask what this is about?" Anne Marie asked, trying again

"Perhaps it would be better if we spoke privately," Tim said

"About?"

He stiffened his shoulders "Ellen," he said quietly "This is in regard to the child you’ve recently adopted"

Anne Marie felt the oxygen rush froestured calmly toward her off ice She felt paralyzed as she tried to f igure out what possible connection this hter The birth certif icate hadn’t named a father, and yet…

Inside the off ice, she took her seat behind the desk Ti for an invitation

"You knowto ht to the child Her visitor shook his head "I’m sorry to say that I do not"

For some reason, this information reassured Anne Marie

"How do you know about Ellen, then?"

"I’ve only heard of her" Tiht years’ sobriety"

Heard of her hoas the f irst thing she wanted to ask But she had no idea how to respond to his confession, nor did she understand why he felt it was necessary to tell her such a personal fact

"Congratulations," she said tentatively, "but what’s that got to do with Ellen or me?"

"I met Candy Falk at probably the lowest point inher question

No one needed to remind Anne Marie that Candy Falk was Ellen’s birthaddict

"Back then Candy and I were both using"

"Drugs?"

Tis, you naood ti spread down Anne Marie’s neck Her suspicion had been correct She was starting to connect the dots and she didn’t like the picture that was taking shape in her mind

"You still haven’t told hter," she said curtly Ellen was part of Anne Marie’s life now A very precious part, and she wasn’t about to let soain Tinored her question "Candy and I broke up, and ed for me to enter rehab I’ve been clean and sober ever since"

"And?"