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.

...

was a good distance away, then made her way over to Gary. "Annalise is in, so get

"We can't just pull something together at the last minute. You think coming up with a plan

voice, Julia eased up. "I'm just getting impatient. Don't you want to

I do. Cody was such a sweet kid when

just a little guy. He'd run straight at us when he saw us, all wobbly and barely able to stay on his feet,

grew more strained, and Julia felt her mood

really appreciated him back then. We never held little Cody or treated him

ive

us now and wants nothing to do with us," she

a deep sigh. "It might not be as bad as you

come

flat. "I hope

at her. "How about we pick Cody up from kindergarten

we even do that?" Julia

not? I heard Jessica hasn't been picking him up herself lately. She's been sending a driver. Cody might be excited to

it a try after hearing