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.

waiter replied

chattered excitedly, "Mommy, guess what?1 overheard my classmates talking about Zachary. He has been having a really tough time

his new mommy doesn't even want to pick him up. He has to wait at the school gate until after 9:00 pm every day."

whispered, "How could he be so dumb? He had such a great mommy, but he didn't appreciate it and chose a bad one instead." "Willow." I held her close. "Do

waste time on people who don't matter? Let's cherish the present and enjoy every second we

seriously. She stood up, hugged me, and gave me a big kiss. "From now on, I'll

up and observed me intently. After a moment, he teased Willow, "So,

for a while before answering hesitantly, "Um. I care

but he didn't mind. His usually stern

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

impatiently, "Wait

voice grew softer. Jessica had become so mean. She

handed him her phone. "Order

low voice, "But delivery