“Do you know what to do now?” Alex asked smugly.“Yeah… I got it,” Justin replied. “You need to plan out what you’re going to say in advance. If you freeze up halfway, it’ll be so embarrassing.“And remember, when a girl is mad, you have to coax her!” Alex added, looking every bit like a little know-it-all. “Got it. I understand. Now go to sleep.” Justin pulled the blanket up over Alex and held him close. “Goodnight, Uncle Justin,” Alex whispered, but in his heart, he meant “Goodnight, Dad.” “Goodnight, Alex.” The night was still and peaceful, the faint chirping of insects drifting in from the lawn outside. Justin lay awake, his eyes open in the quiet night. Moonlight filtered through the sheer summer curtains, casting a soft glow over Alex’s peaceful face. In his delicate features, Justin could see traces of Haley—so unmistakably hers. This small body, curled up beside him, was a part of both of them. Their child. The one they had created together.*
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