as Alyce's eyelashes fluttered, her mind swim
ull throb radiated from her bandaged w
vision focused on the armchair beside the bed. Sittin
's eyes were rimmed with red as she twisted a
em, she had kept her mother at a cold distance. It wasn't until Katherine and Edward died in that highway crash that Alyce
rm tears rolled out of the corners of
ushed to the edge of the bed, reaching out her hands befor
'll go call the doctor..." Katherine'
right elbow, she threw herself forward and wrap
six months since Alyce had been brought back to the
ashmere at her mother's neck, inhaling the famili
re. She wrapped her arms around her daughter's
ght here," Katherine cried softly,
e's breathing steadied and she
r handkerchief. When her eyes fell on the thick white
o protect you. We never should have forced yo
closed her fingers over
I don't
h, looking straight i
arclay Reid. In fact, I
e's eyes
? Just this morning you c
her lips into
ter what happened today, I figured it
's vault, keeping the ceremony a secret for now
's calm gaze, then reached out
t it through, Mom will su
cks sounded agains
ed and Charisse stepped inside, carrying a bo
awake?" Chariss
neath the covers, the warm
into an expression of gentle concern-the exact mask she
s hand on the bed, a muscle twitched near her
ke, Alyce. I had the kitchen simme
k the tray, smiling warmly
ou, Charisse. She just woke
chair Katherine had just vacated and
olish today? Doing something l
rter and pulled the quilt up to her chin
ch, Charisse, why don't you dr
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