Page 53 of Bound by Love
Mary looked at Brie. “I think that’s part of the reason I volunteer there. It’s the one thing I can do that has the potential of bettering these girls’ lives, and the lives of their children and grandchildren. The cycle of victimization stops with them.”
Candy smiled at her. “That sounds similar to what we do.”
“Yes,” Mary agreed, nodding her head.
“That’s wonderful, Mary.” Her conviction astounded Brie. Faelan had shared with Brie that he’d seen a real change in Mary, but this went far deeper than Brie realized. She actually admired the woman now.
Mary smiled smugly, taking a sip of her drink. “I think so.”
That typical Mary smugness gave Brie an idea. “I may have too much time on my hands, but I can’t help thinking about kinky ways we could use those walkie-talkie things people put by the crib—”
“Baby monitors,” Mary instantly corrected.
Brie squealed with joy, snapping up all of Mary’s clothespins.
Mary’s look of surprise quickly returned to that smug look when she said, “Well played, Stinky Cheese. Well played.”
“I didn’t even see that one coming,” Lea laughed. “You were so sneaky, Brie! Was I right or was I right that games are totally necessary?” She stuck her tongue out playfully at Mary.
“Yes, it was slightly amusing, Lame Girl,” Mary said, taking another sip of her drink. “And you’ve got one more joke left to tell. Today appears to be your lucky day.”
Lea turned to Brie and asked, “So, I have a question for you, Brie. Why did you keep Hope’s name a secret for so long?”
“We were waiting to announce it after she was born.”
“Why?”
“Rytsar asked us not to tell him the baby’s name until he could hold her for the first time.”
There was a collective “Aww…” in the group just before Lea snagged all of Brie’s clothespins.
“What the heck?” Brie cried. It took her a moment to realize she’d used the forbidden word. “That was very sneaky, Lea.”
“Hey, I learn from the best! To make up for beating you all, here is my last joke for the day, in honor of our Russian friend’s cold motherland.”
“Give it to me.”
“If you’re cold, you should sit in a corner. Do you know why?”
Brie shook her head.
“It’s 90 degrees!”
Mary was the first to laugh.
“Isn’t itacutejoke?” Lea finished.
“Oh, Lord, you’re making a math joke,” Candy laughed.
Autumn looked at them, confused. “Sorry, guys. I was never good at math and I’m the only one here who doesn’t seem to get it.
“You will,” Brie said, drawing on a napkin. She handed it over to her. “See? A corner is at a 90-degree angle.”
Autumn put her hands to her mouth, laughing. “Oh, Lea, you really do have the best jokes.”
“Don’t believe her, Lea,” Mary protested.
“Come on, you laughed, Mary. Don’t even pretend you didn’t,” Lea scolded.
