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`` so your father was also a doctor ? ''
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`` yes , he had a general medicine practice for forty years .
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he just recently retired . ''
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`` did he pressure you to follow in his footsteps ? ''
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he grinned .
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`` i 'm starting to feel like i 'm being interrogated . ''
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she laughed .
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`` i 'm sorry if you feel that way .
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i 'm just trying to get to know you . ''
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`` you 're certainly a very attractive interrogator , '' he said .
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`` i think you 're avoiding the question by flattering me . ''
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`` there 's flattery and then there 's the truth . ''
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cocking her brows , she replied , `` and then there 's not answering my question . ''
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he held up his hands in defeat .
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`` fine , fine .
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no , i did n't feel pressure to become a doctor .
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my father would have never wanted me to pursue a profession where i did n't feel useful . ''
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megan smiled .
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`` so you 've always had a need to help people ? ''
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`` pretty much .
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as the oldest , i always looked out for my two younger brothers and sister .
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my mother has always called me an old soul . ''
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`` i can see that about you . ''
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leaning forward , he rested his elbows on the table .
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`` now it is my turn to be the interrogator . ''
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`` okay , i do n't mind . ''
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`` what about you ?
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did you always see nursing in your future ? ''
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`` yes and no .
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originally , i wanted to be a doctor . ''
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his brows shot up in surprise .
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`` really ? ''
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when she nodded , he asked , `` what happened ? ''
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there was no way she was going to tell him the truth about her past and why she had been forced to abandon medical school .
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instead , she shrugged .
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`` life happened , i guess .
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i decided on the next best thing , which was nursing . ''
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pesh stared thoughtfully at her .
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`` was it your son ? ''
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`` excuse me ? ''
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`` was it your son who changed your plans about medical school ? ''
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she shook her head .
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`` no , it was before i had mason . ''
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`` does he ... are you ... ? ''
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pesh shook his head .
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`` forgive me .
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i was being too forward . ''
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`` no , go ahead .
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i told you i was n't afraid to answer your questions . ''
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he grimaced .
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`` but it 's rude to pry , and it 's not my business . ''
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`` just ask your question , '' she replied .
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after a resigned sigh , he finally asked , `` were you married ? ''
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`` no , i 'm not divorced .
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and no , mason 's father does n't have anything to do with him . ''
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anger flashed in pesh 's dark eyes .
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`` even though i know nothing of him , i know that he is not a man .
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a man does not abandon his children and his responsibilities . ''
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`` you would be right .
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he 's just a boy playing at being a man , '' she replied , glancing down at the table .
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when pesh took her hand in his , she jerked her head up in surprise .
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in a soft voice that vibrated with empathy , he asked , `` he hurt you very much , did n't he ? ''
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as she shifted in her chair , she tried downplaying the moment by wagging her free finger at pesh .
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`` now you 're really turning the heated questions on me , are n't you ? ''
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he quickly released her hand .
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`` i apologize . ''
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she sighed .
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`` no , it 's okay . ''
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she raked her fingers through her hair as she tried processing if she was really going to be honest with pesh .
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gazing into his eyes , she did n't detect any judgment or prying-there was only compassion .
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`` yes , he hurt me .
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he continues to hurt me each time i look at mason and realize what he 's being denied . ''
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she jerked her chin over to where aidan cradled a sleeping noah in his arms .
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as the others talked and laughed around him , aidan stared down at his son with such love in his eyes and adoration on his face that it cut a jagged hole in megan 's chest .
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her chin trembled as she replied , `` i want that for my son . ''
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pesh 's dark eyes pooled with empathy as he once again took her hand in his .
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`` it is n't the same pain , but i do know how you feel .
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i experience it every time i see a husband and wife sharing a loving moment .
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it drives home what i do not have ... what i have lost . ''
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megan wiped her eyes with the back of her hand .
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`` emma told me about your wife .
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i 'm very sorry . ''
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`` thank you , '' he murmured .
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nibbling her bottom lip , megan then hesitantly asked , `` what was she like ? ''
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by his raised eyebrows , pesh seemed surprised by her question .
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megan hoped she had n't stepped over a boundary in asking .
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he leaned back in his chair and drew in an agonized breath .
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`` she was my world-the sun , the moon , and the stars . ''
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he met her intense gaze , checking to see if she really wanted him to continue .
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after she gave a brief nod , he began to talk .
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he told her how they had met and all the little attributes that jade possessed that made her special .
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as megan listened to him speak with such reverence and love about his late wife , she could n't help feeling just a little bit jealous .
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she 'd never had a man possess such intense feelings for her .
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she could n't imagine ever being loved so completely by a man that not even death could lessen his feelings .
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`` what you had with jade , what you still feel for her , it 's really beautiful , '' she murmured when he finished .
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pesh jerked a hand through his thick hair .
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`` it 's interesting to hear you say that .
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i think most women are turned off by what they perceive is a man who ca n't let go of his dead wife . ''
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megan shook her head .
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`` i do n't think so .
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