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" My newfound appreciation for Blythe expanded this week. Yesterday, she handed me a personal check for $10,000. I don&amp;#039;t know if this was her own money or if her mom paid her back, and I didn&amp;#039;t ask. The gesture itself was enough for me.  This morning, I cashed the check and delivered it to Gabby. She&amp;#039;s in a new apartment now. Her landlord kicked her out of the house she rented in Echo Park after she missed a few rent payments while she was in Iraq, so she&amp;#039;s shacked up in tiny apartment in Hollywood. The place smells like eggs and sour milk, and I worry that it might not be healthy for the baby.  Gabby invited me in for a cup of coffee and some pound cake. I made sure to wear the sweater she gave me, and I think that made her really happy.  For a tiny crap hole, the apartment was impeccably furnished and neat. It was a studio apartment, but she&amp;#039;d made the best of the space. I noticed she&amp;#039;d used Japanese screens and curtains to carve out a little nursery for the baby. Though it wasn&amp;#039;t due for seven months, the baby&amp;#039;s presence took up half the apartment. There was a crib, a high chair, a stroller, and little fluffy white teddy bears.  We sat across from each other in her tiny kitchenette area, sipping coffee. &amp;quot;Cute place,&amp;quot; I said.  &amp;quot;I hate it, but it&amp;#039;s temporary. Until I get my stuff in order.&amp;quot;  &amp;quot;How have you been?&amp;quot;  &amp;quot;Good. Tired. It takes a lot out of you.&amp;quot;  &amp;quot;I can imagine.&amp;quot;  &amp;quot;No, you can&amp;#039;t. No offense, but guys have no idea.&amp;quot;  A loud blast came from outside \u2014 probably a car backfiring. Gabby clenched a fist and rubbed it with another. She saw that I saw and got embarrassed, changing the subject, &amp;quot;Oh, before I forget. I want to give you a little something.&amp;quot; She reached down and handed me a small box.  &amp;quot;Another gift? Gabby \u2014 this is crazy. You can&amp;#039;t afford it.&amp;quot;  &amp;quot;Just shut up and open it.&amp;quot;  I lifted the lid and my jaw hit the floor. It was a Bronze Star.  &amp;quot;Gabby\u2026&amp;quot; &amp;quot;I don&amp;#039;t want it. It&amp;#039;s yours. You could probably sell it on eBay for a fortune.&amp;quot;  &amp;quot;I can&amp;#039;t take this.&amp;quot;  &amp;quot;Yes, you can, and you will. If anyone asks how you got it, tell them you swerved to avoid an IED.&amp;quot;  &amp;quot;Is that what this is for?&amp;quot;  She didn&amp;#039;t answer. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s a medal of valor. And what you and your sister are doing for me deserves an award. I can&amp;#039;t tell you how much I appreciate it. How much we appreciate it.&amp;quot;  She got up and walked around the table to give me a hug. &amp;quot;I swear I&amp;#039;ll pay you back. Someday, when things are a little more stable for me.&amp;quot;  &amp;quot;That&amp;#039;s completely unnecessary. This is for you \u2014 both of you, no strings attached.&amp;quot;  She loosened her grip and wiped her eyes. &amp;quot;Jesus. Pull it together, Gabs. Every time I see you I become a weepy little wimp. I don&amp;#039;t know what&amp;#039;s the matter with me. You should go, though. My shift starts in five minutes and I don&amp;#039;t want to be late.&amp;quot;  She pushed me out the door.  &amp;quot;If there is anything I can do\u2026&amp;quot; &amp;quot;Go! And don&amp;#039;t be showing your new girlfriend that gift. That&amp;#039;s between us.&amp;quot; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/love-sex/mens-perspective/a2517/diary-he-011508/>