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Rowan looked back at me. “I just needed to know if I was unwanted.”
“No.” I stepped closer, then stopped. “Can I?”
“Are you angry?”
He nodded.
I touched his cheek with two fingers.
He was warm, real, and breathing.
“You were wanted every second, my boy.”
Then the patio door slid open behind us.
Mom stepped through with a bright gift bag. “Dawn? Why are you standing out front? I brought the boys their presents.”
He was warm, real, and breathing.
My mother stared at Rowan like she’d seen a ghost.
“Dawn,” she whispered.
I stepped between her and my son.
“Which boys, Mom?”
Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
“You brought gifts for Riley and Rex,” I said. “But you knew there were three.”
Watson stood beside me. “You told us Rowan died.”
My mother stared at Rowan.
Mom’s hand tightened around the gift bag. “Not now. Let’s do this later, when the backyard isn’t crawling with teenagers.”
“No,” I said. “Let’s do it now.”
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