Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

Josefina's fingers rested lightly on Brandon's wrist. The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

After a moment, she withdrew her hand. "Grandpa Brandon, you're almost back to your old self," Josefina said, handing him a bottle of pills with a playful smile. "Take one of these daily, keep your spirits high, and maybe throw in some stretching exercises for good measure."

Brandon chuckled heartily. "Josie, you've got a real gift for healing. If it weren't for you, I'd have been pushing up daisies by now. I'm in such fine fettle, I could even help with babysitting. You just focus on chasing your dreams, traveling, and shopping. Just bring 'em into the world and leave the child-rearing to us; ."

Josefina just blinked, speechless. Oliver gazed at her with such warmth in his eyes that it was as though he was saying all they needed was her "yes".

Before Josefina came into his life, Oliver was never keen on kids. But now, the thought of having a daughter as beautiful and sweet as Josefina seemed pretty appealing.

Feeling the weight of their stares, Josefina wished she could make a swift exit.

The air was thick with awkwardness until Oliver spoke up, "Grandpa, you still need to take it easy. With the way you are now, you'd be hard-pressed to keep up with a little one!"

Brandon fell silent. Was he being side-lined?

Noticing Josefina's embarrassed face, Brandon quickly changed the subject. "Don't you worry, Josie. These old bones can still run a marathon. Bennett is in good shape, and he can help out with the kids too. We'll get some nannies, a night nurse, tutors, a chauffeur... everything they need to have a good time."

family could

cell phone rang, cutting

need to come back. There's a situation with Annika. She's asking for

when I get there." Josefina hung up, urgency etched

have to take care

about to speak when Oliver

It's good to have someone with you just in case," Brandon added, although the pair was already out the door and possibly out of

were long gone. Worry gnawed at him. "Bennett, get someone to look into what's happening with the Harrison family. If

at the

but he couldn't help thinking of one person in particular. "Lena," he said with a slight disdain. "Every time I see

Oliver isn't taken with her. Josefina

echoed. "Lena doesn't have the grace to be the daughter of the Harrison family. Josie's

to access

...

the Harrison family

with venomous intensity. Her gaze was sinister and foreboding. Yet Annika remained

have some connection with our sister, but that won't save you. Today you took my necklace. Who's to say what you'll swipe from this house