The Runaway Groom

A woman's voice? Who was it?

Irene asked tentatively, “I'm looking for Zachary Slate."

"Oh, he's having a shower," the woman on the other end replied.

Irene was speechless for a moment. "Okay. Just tell him to call me back when he's done—"

The woman cut her short before she could finish. “Actually, I think he'll be busy..."

Irene frowned so hard her brows almost knitted together.

Did that woman think she was in a relationship with Zachary and was trying to assert dominance?

“Look, I'm not his girlfriend—we're just friends, and there's something we need to talk about, that's all," Irene explained. “Tell him to call me back."

With that, she hung up and dropped on the couch, feeling bemused. Was that how he was going to get over being dumped? By messing around with women?

Her baby pulled her hair just then, and Irene patted him in return, returning her focus to playing with her baby.

He had been walking steadily these days, although he had often tripped on his first steps.

the best, baby," she said, carrying him and

saw Irene shower his baby brother with affection. He thought to himself that although the kid was leading a life of bliss at the moment, he would not escape the fate

Irene eyed him. "Are you actually getting tired from

"From studying,” Tommy replied.

Did you remember what you studied?"

"Why not? It's not

Tut, tut... That tone!

then asked,

is sweet, and so are

Irene continued. "Snow."

I should have guessed, as a blow-away paper the rain had brought to rest," Tommy recited smoothly and with

nodded in stratification—the poems she had Tommy memorize

said. "Since you did

Tommy skipped around happily, and Irene

sleep, while Tommy basically could do everything himself these days—he would even insist on

little head. "Do you think Mommy is too

Tommy threw himself into her arms— even if it was hard work, he was