AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How’d she find out?” Roberta asked.
“Like you said, it’s a small town. Tony has a lot of fans.”
“Can I say something?”
They looked up to see Bridget standing in the entrance. After giving birth a scant thirty days before, Bridget looked amazing. She had dressed à la Roberta, with tight capris and a formfitting sweater, but not the stilettos. Instead on her feet were scuffs with ostrich feathers on them that Big Mike had brought to the hospital.
“Dear, of course you can,” Roberta said.
“We’re not ashamed of Isabella, Mrs. Harper. The family loves her, as you can see. And if Patty wants to talk to me, please ask her to get in touch. I want to talk to her, too.”
“Uh-oh, someone is chewing on her fist,” Roberta said. “Is it time to eat?”
“She can eat. I’m letting her nurse whenever she wants,” Bridget said, moving to the bassinette to pick Isabella up. “She’s so tiny she can have whatever she wants, right, baby?”
“Oh, she is cute,” Tina said. “You’re lucky to have a grandchild.”
“I have two, remember,” she replied, taking Flynn from Bridget. “Two beautiful grandchildren.”
Two weeks later when they were settled in the new house, Tony left in the morning to run errands, and Bridget was home alone with the babies, doing her routine. At about ten, a gentle tap at the door got her attention.
She looked out the sidelight, and there stood Patty, dressed for a nightclub but without the tiara. Sighing with relief, Bridget was glad she had made the effort to look nice every morning because Tony was home on paternity leave. Clean clothes with no milk stains, combed hair and lip gloss, she looked okay. Hesitantly, she unlocked the door and opened it.
“Hi, Patty, come in.”
“Thanks. My mom mentioned that you wanted to talk to me.”
Noticing that she was checking out the house, Bridget felt proud. Tony had made this for their family.
“I’ll get right to the point. I owe you an apology regarding the fire. When they found the tiara, we all pointed fingers at you. That was wrong. Please forgive me.”
“Forgiven. So where’s the baby? I’ve heard so much about her.”
Bridget guessed that was the end of the discussion about the false accusation of arson. So she moved on, too. “You have? From your mother?”
“Who else? Mutual friends told me she’s adorable. I brought a little gift.” She pulled a wrapped package out of her big handbag.
“Thank you, Patty. She’s over here in the bassinette.”
Something must have woken her, because seconds before, she had been sound asleep. Bridget was pleased because she was at her cutest, sucking on a pacifier like there was no tomorrow, smiling and squinting her eyes at Bridget.
“Here she is, Miss Isabella.”
Bridget watched Patty’s response carefully; it would be discussed with Tony in depth, she was sure. The thought made her smile. Patty had lost the challenging posture she always had, and was relaxed, ducking down to see the baby up close.
“She’s beautiful. She might even look a little bit like Tony, even though she’s fair. His chin and the curls. I guess the hair color came from Roberta?”
“My mom is fair, too. But yes, she does have Tony’s hair, not the color, but the curl. Would you like to hold her?”
“May I? I’d love it.”
“Have a seat.” She pointed to a love seat by the front window.
“I love your house. Are you the decorator?”
“Thank you, Patty. No, I’m a minimalist. Joey’s girlfriend, Candy, did all this. I love it, too.”
“Open your gift. It’s more of a housewarming present than a baby gift.”
