The Doctor's Secret Bride(108)
“Oh, it’s you,” Bridget Ashley said. Her eyes washed over Michelle with contempt as she came toward them, holding two little dresses in her hand.
Michelle remembered shopping with Precious. They used to have such fun trying on one pretty outfit after another. The kid didn’t seem to be having any fun today. It was impossible to have fun around that woman, she thought, recalling the night in Boston when Bridget was shamelessly throwing herself at Erik—her then new, secret husband.
Bridget placed a possessive hand on Precious’ shoulder. “Precious, you know you shouldn’t talk to strangers.”
“Oh, knock it off, Bridget.” Michelle challenged the malice in the other woman’s voice. “I’m no stranger to her.” She was careful to place her wool coat in front of her stomach. She didn’t need Bridget blabbing to Erik about her condition.
“Her father made it clear he doesn’t want you near her. After what you did to Erik—”
“Don’t even go there, woman. You know nothing about what I did or didn’t do to Erik. You couldn’t even begin to imagine what we had.”
“Had, being the operative word. Well, as you can see, he’s over it, over you.”
“Stop it! Stop it!” Precious ran from them, tears streaming down her face.
“Look at what you’ve done.” Bridget snapped in a condescending tone, casting a worried eye around at the attention they were attracting. “But what else should one expect from an ill-bred ghetto rat?”
Oh God, that hurt. Michelle ignored her insult and chased after Precious. She found her huddled on the floor in a corner of the store. Michelle dropped down beside her and pulled her into her arms. “Oh, Precious, baby.”
“Michelle, I miss you so much, and Daddy says I can’t talk to you. Why, Michelle? Don’t you love me anymore?”
Dear God, help me, Michelle prayed silently as she rocked Precious in her arms. “Yes baby, I love you. I will always love you, no matter what. You have to believe that. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of you. I wonder what you’re wearing to school, if Sippy and Charlie are still sucking on those stupid rocks, if Sam Martin is still trying to kiss you.” Michelle smiled as she arranged her on her lap. It felt so good to hold her, to smell her, breathe in her innocence.
Precious lifted limpid eyes and placed her arms across Michelle’s shoulders. “You’re wearing my earrings.”
“I told you I would never take them out. Good thing they match all my outfits. Diamonds are forever, I guess.”
Precious smiled then stated rather sadly, “You missed my birthday. I had a big party. I’m eight now. And look.” She gave Michelle a wide grin. “I lost two teeth.”
Michelle knew Precious was having a party and had wondered if Erik would have been upset if she sent her a gift. In the end, she’d decided not to. The man had asked her to stay away from his daughter and she was trying to adhere to his commands. “I hear you have a new nanny,” she said. “Is she nice to you?”#p#分页标题#e#
“She’s old and she smells funny, and she doesn’t put notes in my lunch box like you did.”
“Well, we’re going to fix that right now,” Michelle said, as she searched her bag for a notepad and pen. When she was finished writing, she read the note out loud. ‘Dear Precious, I love you today much more than I loved you yesterday, but still not as much as I’ll love you tomorrow. Have a great lunch. Michelle.’ She drew a happy face, little hearts, and a half dozen x’s and o’s at the bottom of the note. “You keep this in your lunch box and read it every day. Okay?” she said, placing it into Precious’ hand.
“Okay.” Precious pressed the note against her heart then pushed her hand into the pocket of her slacks. “I have your lucky penny,” she said, opening her palm. “I take it everywhere with me. Do you want it back?”
The light in those brown eyes widened the hole in Michelle’s heart. It took all her energy not to break down in front of her. “No baby, you keep it. I have your earrings and you have my penny. Maybe one day you can pass it on to someone you love, someone who means a lot to you. Okay?”
Precious nodded. She folded the penny inside the note and shoved them into her pocket. “You know what else?” she asked smiling up at Michelle.
“What else?” Michelle managed a tentative smile.
“Grandpa Erik and Grandma Felicia got married. They went to Greece on their honeymoon. What’s a honeymoon?”