My 5-year-old niece, Kiara, was visiting. Noticing that I had a phone message, I hit the speaker button. “Hi, hon,” my boyfriend said. “Real busy at work. Love you. Later.”

Kiara (who had listened intently) said: “Aunt Cindy, that was Brian. He said that he was busy at work so he’d have to love you later.”

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Cindy Hendrickson / Gloucester

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