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