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.

carrying him and giving him a peck on the

living room after dinner, and he blinked as he 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

and Irene eyed him.

"From studying,” Tommy replied.

what

a little proudly. "Why

Tut, tut... That tone!

then asked, "Roses

are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you,"

Irene continued. "Snow."

patch of old snow in a corner, that I should have guessed, as a blow-away paper the rain had

in stratification—the poems she had Tommy memorize

she said. "Since you did well today, you have

and Irene

himself these days—he would even insist on washing up himself before climbing into bed although he was

little head. "Do you think Mommy is too

being with you, Mommy." Tommy threw himself into her arms— even if it was hard work, he was