Broken Dreams Stories

Chapter 80

Evelyn was in the kitchen, her hands busy with dinner prep, but her mind elsewhere, thoughts of her conversation with Rayna carlier occupied her mind as she tried to figure out what Sandra was up to.

She was jolted back to reality when she heard the front door burst open. Samantha’s voice rang through the house, a high–pitched excitement that brought a smile to Evelyn’s face as she quickly wiped her hands on a dish towel and hurried out to meet Samantha.

“Mommy! Mommy! Guess what?” Samantha’s small feet pounded against the floor as she raced into the dining, her face flushed with enthusiasm.

“What is it, sweetheart?” she asked, her eyes sparkling as she knelt to her daughter’s level.

*1 met Rek!” Samantha exclaimed, bouncing on her toes

Evelyn’s brows shot up in surprise. “You did! At the park?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Samantha nodded vigorously. “Yes! Can you believe it?” Samantha asked, and Evelyn laughed, delighted for her daughter who had reconnected with a lost friend

“That’s wonderful, baby. Was he there to play too?” Evelyn asked, genuinely curious.

“He was driving by and saw the park, so he stopped to see if I was there. And I was!” she said, her voice bubbling over with excitement.

Maya was tempted to cut in and say that wasn’t exactly what Derek had said, but she didn’t want to dampen Samantha’s excitement, so she quietly watched with a smile on her Face.

“He said he missed me and kept looking for me at the playground,” Samantha said, her eyes gleaming with joy.

Evelyn’s heart warmed at the thought of the little boy who had made such a strong impression on her daughter Now she was dying to meet the kid.

he lives

asked, and Samantha shock

to the park?”

come to the park to play with me every Saturday! And he took Maya’s number so he can call if he can’t come. Right, Maya?”

to keep in touch. “That’s great, honey. Did you

alone. But he promised to come play with

ta

frowned, wondering why Evelyn was asking that sort of question about a grown man

parents must be if he was still living at the hotel, and

friend who was making her daughter so happy. She reached out to smooth back a strand of Samantha’s hair,

a sudden realization dawn on her. Evelyn had been assuming all along that Rek was

Derek Stone, the owner of Stone Palace Hotel, but before either her or Samantha

at the phone screen. She raised a brow when she saw Rayna’s name flashing “Go wash up sweetie,” she said, getting to her feet. “I

kissed her forehead before walking towards the living room

leave, feeling a knot of worry in her stomach. She had to find a way to explain the situation

back to Samantha, whose eyes were still shining brightly. “Sammy,

shook her head. “No. Do you think Mommy

that. Okay! We have to tell her the truth, and maybe she can see

her mother and see how beautiful she was, so that they

with Derek while Maya was not close enough

12:15 PM dd-

Chapter 80

big curious eyes. “Rek? Are