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