ve: The Ic

arrived

For a moment, she didn't know where she was-until she sat up and took in t

at Alexander

new

cted to wake up feeling a sense of relief that her mother's med

ck at the door,

n?" a voice

ey were speaking to each other. Mrs.

she said

tered with a warm, gentle smile. "Good mornin

heart

the expensive new wardrobe Alexander had stocked with things for her. W

Carter. She was Mrs. Alexande

room, the scene was almost

ath the behemoth chair. She kicked her legs against the leg

en

d. "Morning

beside her eagerl

out her chair, she found herself confronted by Al

ce impassive in a well-cut bla

g," she said

he replie

etween them like a

she glanced at Lily, happi

id the little girl wit

rinned.

to the park today!"

in shock. "Oh? Tha

, then turned to Alexande

breath

fened, fork pa

m but not unkind. "Elena might ha

blue eyes cutting to

her gaze flick

respond, Alexander laid dow

d. "If she wants

ed, pumping

that she'd just won something-or

isingly serene for

her giggles ringing in the ai

nder, the silence between t

acquiesce, you kno

at him. "Acqui

"You don't need to play the dot

omach

to his coldness by no

Lily," she r

tightened, but

ending I'm some unwanted presence in your life, Alexander. I know wh

something unguessable

this way,"

tching as Lily rushed over t

arily signed t

r his defenses, she was thinking of how much longer