The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 558

Now that Willow and Penelope had reached a consensus, the rest of us agreed to grab lunch together. We chose a restaurant the children liked, and they ordered the burger-and-fries set with pudding for dessert. After ordering their meals, Willow and Penelope peered over the counter at the bunny-shaped puddings, their jaws dropping in awe.

Willow asked in amazement, "How did they make that pudding? It's so cute!"

Penelope was stunned by the dessert, too. "Beats me! But the chefs must be geniuses."

Suzy and I watched the kids from our seats and grinned. I marveled at the idyllic moment, wondering if anything could come close to it. Suzy poured me a glass of water and said, "I never thought I could enjoy such happy family moments, especially with a child."

"Tell me about it," I said heartily. "Before meeting Willow, I thought raising a child was supposed to be challenging and full of conflicts." Raising Zachary had been like that. I could be looking out for his best interests, and he would think I was deliberately picking on him.

Suzy wordlessly surveyed me with a surprised look on her face. "Did you have a hard time with your first child?"

my words carefully and answered gravely, "Sort of. I don't hate him as much as I hate his father, though. As far as I'm concerned, his father was a

I nodded. "Yeah."

She had experienced the same betrayal as did, and she added with understanding, "A husband can never go back to having a normal family life after he cheats. He's got his mistress to worry

to bond over time. He

I told myself he would learn that I cared about him if he stayed with me

shoulder in

that. Since then, I've washed my hands off the

and the rest of society are until you've left a horrible marriage," Suzy

I wouldn't have met

were served, I called out to Willow and Penelope, "Kids! It's time for