When Hidden Lanterns Glow We Find Roads Toward Peace by Ryn Arlo Dane 195

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caught her sideways glance in his direction, and his heart came to a screeching halt. She was doing it now? They hadn’t discussed particulars, but he’d not presumed she would do it so 

soon. 

“Am I in trouble?” Kaylee pushed her bottom lip out. “I know the teacher was annoyed Mom, but I was only singing Good Luck Babe. I was just wishing everyone luck because I know I didn’t get all the math questions right so maybe someone else 

needed some luck.” 

“We will talk about your disruption of the class later,” January gave a smile that was tentative at best. “But you’re not in trouble. This is good news.” 

“Are we rich? Did we win the lottery? Is that why all the fancy cars are out there?” 

“No, we did not win the lottery.” 

“We are rich,” Gulliver couldn’t help but taunt a bit. He knew he was pushing January’s buttons but there was something about the way she responded, even if she was pissed off at him which made him unable to stop his needling. 

“He is rich,” January corrected. “Gulliver is wealthy, Kaylee but that doesn’t mean you get to ask him for tons of stuff.” 

He almost laughed as the child visibly deflated. He newly 10:19 

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knowing that he was already treading thin ice with his wife. However, in the moment he was waiting with bated breath to see how it was January was going to approach the news he was the child’s father. 

“Do you remember when we went to the rehabilitation center with Henry?” January asked the child who nodded vigorously. Her hair was bouncing all over the place as she bobbed her head up and down and January reached out to smooth it off her brow and to tuck it behind Kaylee’s ear. “Do you remember how the veterinarian mentioned a few times how you look very much like his friend’s child?” 

“Yeah. It was funny because you were in a bad mood. I think he wanted to kiss you.” 

January blinked at the comment. “What?” 

“Dr. Ford. He was staring at you a lot and I think he was trying to be flirty like when Papa is trying to get kisses from Nana. Dr. Ford kept looking at you. I think it’s why he kept saying I look like his friend’s kid.” 

“What do you mean?” Gulliver asked with a growl. He looked at January, “did he hit on you?” 

“Easy there, tiger,” January laughed in his face. 

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kill him.” 

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“He didn’t know it was me, Gulliver.” January rolled her eyes at 

him. 

He pulled his phone out and sent Ford a text. 

“Would you behave?” January hissed at him. 

“He should have asked your name and then he should have called me into the room 

“Gulliver, take a breath,” January snorted. “He did ask my name. I refused to give it. It’s not his fault. He didn’t know.” 

“He should have.” 

“Can we get back on topic?” 

“Sure.” He pocketed his phone. “My message is sent anyway. I hope he cowers.” 

“Good grief. There is so much to unpack in that statement, but this is not the time.” January turned her attention back to the child sitting next to her. 

“What’s mine is mine. He should know better.” He watched her nostrils flare with indignation and fought his smirk. She thought he couldn’t see the way she was already attuned to him. They were two halves of the same soul. She just needed to accept his apology, one she was correct in pointing out he had nivem:19 

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knew they were meant to be. 

He saw the nervous tremor in her fingers as she took Kaylee’s hand in hers and squeezed them. He wanted to wrap them around both and promise to never let anyone, including him, hurt them again but if anything from the last while was clear, it was that she was not ready for him to touch her. 

January cleared her throat, “so the doctor at the clinic, is friends with Gulliver.” 

Kaylee turned and looked at him with wide eyes, “do you have a kid who looks like me?” 

“Yes I do.” 

“Gulliver!” January snapped at him. “Not helping.” 

“Well, it’s true. My daughter looks identical to her.” 

“You’re being an ass.” 

“I’m being me. You used to love –” 

“Don’t!” she snapped at him furiously and shot a meaningful glance in Kaylee’s direction. 

“Well, he’s not wrong,” her father commented as he entered the kitchen with a glass of milk and cookies on a tray. 

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As January turned red with anger he held his hand up. “January, get on with it, love. You’re stressing yourself out over something which I am sure is going to be good news to the child. Please.” 

He could see her middle finger itching to extend in his direction and he winked at Kaylee.