Page 73 of The Ties That Bind
“It’s his health, isn’t it?”
When Brie said nothing, Mary nodded. “Yeah, Lea’s oblivious because she’s so wrapped up in seeing Autumn again that she failed to question your strange interaction or the physical change in Tono.”
“He’s fine,” Brie insisted.
“Sure he is…”
“So, what’s going on with you? I can’t handle the radio silence, especially knowing you’re with Greg again.”
“I’m fine.”
Brie realized Mary had chosen to answer her with the same reply Brie had given her about Tono.
Before she could question her on it, however, Mary threw her off by telling her, “I’ve thought of the perfect name for the new kid.” She nodded toward the baby. “Since your nickname is Stinks, you should name this one Little Stinker.”
Brie stared at Mary in shock. “Wait! That sounded an awful lot like Lea humor.”
“No! Not even close.”
Brie raised an eyebrow as she gently patted Anthony on the butt. “I think living with Lea has rubbed off on you.”
Mary sneered. “God, I hope not!”
“It’s not such a bad thing, you know…”
Mary’s phone rang and she glanced at it nervously. “Greg is calling. He doesn’t know I’m here, so I’m going to slip out. Just tell everyone I’m a shitty friend and leave it at that.”
Brie grabbed her hand. “No, please don’t go, Mary. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.”
Mary stared at Brie for a moment, then shook her head. “Price is too great.”
As she got up to leave, she fished a small present from her purse and tossed it on the chair she’d been sitting on. “I’m happy for you, Brie.”
Brie felt her stomach twist in a knot as she watched Mary turn and leave. Shaken by her sudden departure, Brie slowly picked up the package she’d left behind.
She opened it and found a small snow globe of the Disney castle with the wordsI still believeengraved on the stand.
Brie choked up, realizing the significance of the gift. This was not only a present to her newborn son—but a personal declaration.
Mary was reclaiming the one thing she held most dear from her childhood.
Beautiful
Brie was sleeping peacefully, curled up against Sir.
She’d been up several times during the night to feed Anthony while Sir took care of Hope, who’d been too excited to sleep because of the baby.
When her phone started vibrating, Brie glanced at the name and almost ignored it. But, even in her half-awake state, the name jogged her memory and she suddenly sat straight up in the bed.
“What is it?” Sir whispered, not wanting to risk waking the baby who was sleeping in his bassinet just a few feet away.
“It’s Randall Cummings, Sir.”
“The lawyer involved in the film offer?”
Her heart started to race as she turned to him and nodded.
“Are you going to answer it?”
