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.

she said, carrying him and giving him a

and he blinked as he saw Irene shower his baby brother with affection. He thought to himself that although the kid

eyed him. "Are you actually getting

"From studying,” Tommy replied.

Did you remember what you

snorted a little proudly. "Why not? It's not that

Tut, tut... That tone!

then asked, "Roses

sugar is sweet, and so are you," Tommy promptly

Irene continued. "Snow."

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

in stratification—the poems she had Tommy memorize were

keep doing your best," she said. "Since you did

and Irene

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

his little head. "Do you think Mommy is

threw himself into her arms— even if it