第83节

    【】hlesslifesee.hoiingon,andillexplainhojusty.shellprobablyjustsay,ohthatsgood,likeshealakethedinnerahedinner,andgotobedstilltryingtodecidelorshirttoodoyouthink”hollyfinallyfinishedaosharon.

    “oooh”sharonjuedandherarlehollysshoulders.

    “oooh”hollyfrohatandallyousayisoooh”

    sharonplapandlaughed.“no,yousilly,thebabykicked”

    hollysuthdroppedopen.

    “feelit”sharongiggled.

    hollyplacedherhandoversharonssthetinylittlekick.boththeireyesfilledhtears.

    “ohsharon,ifonlyeverynuteoflifeontslikethisioanagain.”

    “butholly,nobodyslifeisfilledonts.andifitonts.theyal.hoeddowns”

    “oooh”theybothshriekedagainasthebabykie.

    “ithinkthislittleboyisgoingtobeafootballerlikehisdaddy”sharonlaughed.

    “boy”hollygasped.“yourehavingaboy”

    sharonnoddedhappilyandhereyesglistened.“holly,etbabygerry.gerry,etyodtherholly.”

    fortyfour

    “hi,alice,”hollysaid,hinfrontofherdesk.hollyhadbeenstandingthereforafeinutesnosaida.

    “hi,”alicesaidshortly,refusingtolookupather.

    hollytookadeepbreath.“aliadat”

    “no,”shesaidshortlyagain.“chrisstoseeyouinhisofficeagain.hesyoutoeaicle.”

    “aicle”hollygasped.

    “thatsisaid.”

    “alihriskneehewoulddef”

    “heknoerrupted.

    “”hollye”

    “fiveyearsagoiappliedforajobasaaybesothingeup.”hollyusedtoseeingtheusuallyelookingso...upseteventheangry.

    hollysighedanddeherochrissoffice.shehadasneakingsuspisheingthisoneallonherown.

    hollysledassheflibergazineshehadorrober,asoexcited.herfirstgaziter.torroouldbeagoodday.

    althoughshehadonlysoldtheadspathatoprodueryofntioningitierviepresschrisatall.butdespiteallthatshefeltshehadreallyprovenherself.shehadtakenherjobbythereinsandguideditthroughtosuess.

    “itsnidenise.pleasetellyourfriendstoe.”

    “ok,thanks,”hollysaid,glandthedoorbehindher.

    “”shesnapped.

    “didyoureadtheartireallyproud,”hollygrinnedbroadly.

    “no,ihavenot”alidthedoorbehindher.

    hollygiggledandchasedheroutoftheofficeagazineinherhand.

    “butlookatit,aliceitssogooddanielwillbesohappy”

    “sofpaperatherdesk.

    hollyrolledhereyes.“look,stopbeingsuchababyahedathing”

    “no”alicehuffed.

    “fihen,youanthen...”hollytuedandly.

    “givethat”aliappedthegazinefroollyshandandflickedthroughthepages.herjahepageoftheblueroh.

    atthetopofthepageitread“aliodelthathollyhadtaken.

    “readitoutloud,”hollyordered.

    alieshookasshebegantoread:“aobe...”shetrailedoffandherhandsfleouthinshock.“partyrrespo”shesquealed.

    hollyeouttojointheabroadgrinonhisface.

    “onth.”

    alicegaspedatthendstuttered,“butholly...”

    “hollytspell,”chrislaughed.“you,oherhand,areagreatverysorry,alice.”

    “ohgod”shegasped,ignhi“thankyousoch,holly”shethresaroundherandsqueezedhersohardhollyuldhe.

    hollytriedtopullalicesaraaroundheedgaspedforair.“alice,thisanyoneever”

    “itsthavebeenhohdidntinoticethis”alicelookedatholly,startled,theochris.“fiveyears,chris,”shesaidacgly.

    chrisedandnodded.

    “iedfiveyearsforthis,”shentinued.

    “iknoyoffioalkaboutthat.”

    “isupposeiulddothat,”alicerepliedstely,butsheuldnthidetheglintofhappinessinhereyes.aschrisheadedto.

    hollydeheretogetberedition.“oops”shesaid,trippingoverapileofhandbagslyingoutsideherdoor.“sallthis”

    akealicea

    ...