The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 45

Chapter

45

I

After we sat down, the waiter handed us the menu to take our orders.

pizza, describing the toppings on each one.

She nodded eagerly. "Yummy."

After going through the options, I asked her, "Which one do you want to try?"

Willow blinked and replied, "I want them all."

handed the menu back to Zane and let him decide. Zane surely doted on Willow. He turned to

waiter replied politely,

chattered excitedly, "Mommy, guess what?1 overheard my classmates talking about Zachary. He has been

to wait at the school gate until after 9:00 pm every day." Kids couldn't

but he didn't appreciate it and chose a bad one instead." "Willow." I held her close. "Do you realize how lucky

I continued, "So why should we waste time on people who don't matter? Let's cherish the present and enjoy

nodded seriously. She stood up, hugged me, and gave me a big kiss.

After a moment, he teased

for a while before answering hesitantly,

he didn't

the past, Willow wouldn't utter a word no matter what she went through. But now, whether it was good or bad, she was willing to speakup. It was clear she was getting better, wasn't she? "Mommy." Zachary woke up

responded impatiently, "Wait

Jessica had become so mean. She wasn't like this

and handed him her phone. "Order takeout

voice,