" And is that really a bad thing?" Rachel interjected. "Would you havepreferred to keep going the way you were?"Charlie knew he was caught out so he w...s lost for words. He sighed andlaid back into his chair, stretching his limbs out as far as he could."You're right," he said, gazing up at the sky. "I guess my shortcomingshave set us on the right path for once."Rachel did not mean to hurt Charlie's feelings. As a result, she couldnot think of anything else to say on the matter so she veered. Our conversation wasn’t really about anything that I can remember and as we eventually finished the beer, Ashley asked if I wanted to go watch some TV. She ushered us into the living room and as we sat down, Ashley scooted close to me, and leaning into me, she kissed me on the cheek. I was shocked and as I looked at her, she was smiling as I asked, “What was that for?” Ashley quickly replied, “Thanks for the ride home and for wanting to hang out.” I couldn’t believe it and as I put my hand on. The thought of going outto the fairgrounds and working that evening appealed to me. It was likea grand adventure in a new locale.The old fairgrounds were at the foot of Main Street, just this side ofthe railroad tracks. They had been there for as long as there had beencounty fairs, but economics had changed all of that. Wheeler Foods wasthe largest company in Leeds. It's a small company that private brandsvegetables and meat products liked canned stew, but as far as the CityFathers of Leeds. " I'm not joking," I said. "It's really the way I feel right now!" Good," Lance said. "We can adopt if you want to be a mother, Kim. Or wecan get a surrogate mother and have one child from each of us." Really?" My man had this way of suddenly turning serious on me at theoddest times. But I liked the idea. I could see myself holding a littlebaby--or two of them, a matched set!--with me as a young mother simplybeing a mom, as I remembered my own mom, and not to neglect my dad, I alsosaw our.