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her& friend. The girls may not know how to react to
their mom s homecoming.
Homecoming? Ally didn t know if that was the
appropriate way to describe her reunion with her
family. She d have a lot to get used to. The house
was like a castle, and an ostentatious show of wealth.
Home didn t come to mind. Ally reached for Santino s
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hand instinctively but she dropped it as soon as her
mother and brothers showed their displeasure.
 I can t wait to see the girls, Ally said all at
once, rushing toward the terrace doors.  Hang on,
Ally. There s something you should know first. David
warned her before she opened the doors.  It s about
Molly.
Concern washed over Santino s face and Ally
studied his expression before she focused on David,
holding her breath, waiting for some sort of
devastating news.  What?
 Ally, it appears Molly is quite attached to me
and really, no one else.
Ally giggled.  I m sure that s so true.
 It is, Darren retorted.  No one can manage the
child any better.
 She ll be glad to see me. Ally dismissed the
warning and rushed toward the girls. Tanner had once
told her how the girls loved to play in the water.
They were swimming around in a circle, playing tag,
when she walked outside.
Holly looked up at her mother. Familiarity
washed over her face and she reached for her
immediately.  Momma?
Ally dropped her handbag and ran down the three
steps into the shallow end of the pool. She grabbed
Holly and hugged her close to her chest, staring over
the little girl s head, searching the eyes of her other
small child.  Molly, do you have a hug for me?
Holly clung to her and looked back at her sister.
 It s Momma, the little girl told her sister.
 No. With her orange floating devices keeping
her above the water, she kicked her feet and swam
into the deep end of the pool.
Ally cried and laughed at the same time. So many
emotions pulled at her heart as she held one daughter
and admired the other for her spunk and
independence. She had a good reason, a very good
reason to feel what she wanted to feel. She wouldn t
push her until she was ready to come around.
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 Molly, what did I tell you about playing on that
side of the pool? David scolded her.
She reached for him with one arm.  Get me.
David started for her but then stopped.  Swim
back to your mom, she ll help you.
Ally smiled and mouthed the words  thank you
but Molly started to wail like someone who was used
to crying and getting exactly what she wanted.
David stood his ground.  Molly, your mother is
home now. She s safe and sound with her family. He
shot Santino a pointed glare.  The least you can do is
swim over there and give her a hug.
 She s a  wittle bad girl sometimes, Holly said,
cupping her hand over her mouth and Ally s ear.
 A  wittle bad girl, huh? Ally laughed outright
and tickled her daughter silly. Holly laughed and
laughed, wiggling free at the same time.
 I don t wanna see her. Get me. Molly was
persistent and Ally didn t know how much she should
press the issue. She didn t have to wonder long.
An older woman dressed in a plaid skirt rushed
outside as if the sky were falling right then and there.
She walked over to a cabinet behind the loungers and
pulled free two beach towels.
David introduced the nanny.  Mrs. Thacker, this is
Ally.
 I know who she is, Mrs. Thacker said.  And I
certainly know who he is. She walked to the other
side of the pool and plucked Molly from the water.
Ally locked gazes with David.
 I don t mind to take care of my own children,
Ally informed the impolite woman.
 It s time for their nap. They get fussy if they
don t stay on schedule. She turned her back to Ally
and then grumbled,  Something a good mother would
know, if she wasn t scooting around the country with
her lover.
Santino s face turned beet red.  Was that
appropriate? His thick arrogance laced every syllable
he spoke. Ally shook her head. She realized if the
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girls trusted this woman, the last thing she needed
was to cross her in front of her daughters.
 Holly? Mrs. Thacker held out her arms with a
lime green towel draped over her back.  Let s go. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]