diner owner, said through gritted teeth. He jabbed a thumb over his
ption. The thought alone se
ved in this city with nothing but a smal
bleak, but this job
e needed-young, pretty, and charming. He figured those
Antonela's beauty also bro
d's attention, and the fights in the
et her go, certain she wouldn't be able to keep up. But she'd promise
es on him, he knew he couldn't live with the guilt
n and he was constantly irritable about her wor
e waiting customer when her phone vibr
something had happened to him. But when she heard the voice on the other end of the
" It was D
rs instantly wel
life, they had spoken o
stolen, and just like that, her conne
through social media, along with her new number, but she n
at something terrible had happened, f
re it belonged, but she never stopped
you again," Antonela said,
eply. But it didn't come. Instead, a sob broke through the
nela?" Dominique asked bet
nela said, her hand trembling as she clutched the phone. "You
her voice choked with the kind of snif
whispered, feeling a hot flu
ching silence, Antonela felt her heart might stop
ld went
, clattering to the floor and dr
nth complaint from the sam
n shock-face pale and streaked with fr
he demanded. He got no answer. "Wh
n ripped through her chest as she remembe
mother must have missed her. Guilt consumed her. In a daze, she
hreatening to fire her with every step. But in that mom
ce hollow. "But if you're going to
l clutching at him, met his eyes
s already running, disappearing into the poorly
ht the first train out of South
mes as necessary, but returning to her h
ingle tear slipped from her eye,
g she had a grandson. Worse, she had d
and asked her to meet
he was really back, even when Antonela
her family, and certainly not near the man who
ying she would make it in t
ntonela was unmistakable, especially when the m
y embraced, Antonela felt something different about her fri
though she felt a desperate ne
onela's arms, her face softened completely. He was beautiful
ase don't let anyone see him," A
ominique cooed, gently squeezing Adam's chubby cheeks. "But
993 compact car, which was
rance and wished her strength. Then, she dro
he grounds for the gathering that would mark her mother's grave. When she s
iced where she was going. She didn't see the man walk
ance and stumble
. She didn't see the man extend a hand to help her. When she finally
a distraction, standing in the way of he
flew open. She knew that voice. "I was be
her gaze locking onto th
o see again in this city, Benjamin D
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