The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Zane had checked into the issue beforehand, so it didn't take him by surprise.

"Yeah," he replied.

A voice came through the line. "In that case, Willow's guardian has to own property within the school district."

Zane could feel a headache starting to set in. He wasn't Willow's legal guardian, after all.

"Is there any way around that?" he asked.

"There is. Buy a house for Willow and put it in her name. Since she's a local resident, that'll work."

Zane smiled. "Alright, let's do that. I'll send you the money, and you can take care of the rest. Sounds good?"

"Yeah." The other person agreed right away.

Zane looked up. Out of nowhere, he felt grateful for having money. Money could fix everything.

He chuckled. This, he thought, was what it really meant to have money. He'd always be the one to step in whenever Willow needed help.

...

off until I was a good distance away, then made her way over to Gary. "Annalise is in,

grim. "We can't just pull something together at the last minute.

just getting impatient. Don't you want to hold

course I do. Cody was such

I remember when he was just a little guy. He'd run straight at us when he saw us, all wobbly

Julia felt

such a shame we never really appreciated him back then. We never held little Cody or treated him the

ive

hates us now and wants nothing to

let out a deep sigh. "It might not be as bad

come around and forgive

voice was flat.

"How about

even do that?" Julia

him up herself lately. She's been sending a driver. Cody might be excited to see us

give it a try after hearing that. She