The Cherished Wife

"Aunt Nancy, this is your home too. You've been so happy here, so why leave in such a hurry?" Noelle clung to the idea of Nancy staying. Nancy had given her the motherly love and attention she had been missing all her life.

Noelle's parents were still around, but they never showered her with the affection she craved. Nancy's short stay at the Phoenix Tree Residence had filled a void in Noelle's heart and given her a motherly love she had never known. Noelle had come to see Nancy as true

kin, and the thought of her leaving was just too much to bear.

"Sweetie, why the tears all of a sudden?" Nancy's heart went out to Noelle. "I'm just heading back, not disappearing forever. If you miss me, just call, and I'll be right over to see you!"

Leaving Noelle was hard for Nancy too. She had had kids of her own, but her biological daughter had been taken from her early on, and the child she had raised was the child of an enemy. Even after reconnecting with her daughter Tania, things were complicated-Tania had her own life with Peter, and... Well, it was painful for Nancy to even think about that girl.

"Aunt Nancy, don't be down. I've got you covered. Once you're back home, I'll be on the phone with you all the time, and we can still go out for coffee! Did I tell you? I've teamed up with a buddy to start our own coffee joint. I'll show you around next time, deal?"

it was like a punch to

pat before turning to Charles with a playful warning. "Charles, I'm leaving Noelle in your capable hands. Don't you dare give her a hard time, or I'll be back to straighten you out." "I've got it." Charles nodded with a wry smile. "Looks

Charles, I'm all packed up.

the rush?" Noelle's face fell with disappointment. "Won't you consider staying a little

dear. We'll have plenty of time to catch up. I'm just eager to see Charles officially welcome you into the Hoffman family, you know?" Nancy reassured her. "Now, Charles,

"Sure thing!"

Charles bounded upstairs and quickly returned with Nancy and

you back now!" He then glanced at Noelle. "Noelle, you just take it easy

you don't need to see me

Please let me take you home!" Noelle pleaded playfully. "Anyway, our fridge is pretty empty, and I've got to help Charles with dinner tonight. We can head to the grocery store after I drop you