He was awakened by the sound of the doorbell.
As everything came back to him all at once, his first reaction
was paranoia. The press. Reporters and photographers. They had
scaled the gate, and they were coming for him, coming to mock
him.
"Go away," he shouted.
But instead of leaving him alone, they resorted to pounding,
screaming his name. They rang again, more pounding.
He called for Marie and ordered her to send them away. The
housekeeper came back a moment later and told him who it was at
the door.
He grabbed the ring and leaped up from his chair, tears finally
coming as he staggered down the foyer.
He twisted the lock and swung open the door.
And there she stood. A sobbing Greta, wearing, he noticed at once
and unmistakably, the very gloves he had bought for Laurence.
Pigskin, and fit for a queen. His queen.
Yes, she was wearing them now, and didn't that then mean that he
had bought them for her, really? That they belonged together?
Chapter 24
Peter sat on the rug with his legs crossed, Isle in a bundle
beside him, and together they listened to Kate's soothing voice
mingle with the sound of the light rainfall outside.
Ivy came into the room, humming softly.
"Is she asleep?"
"Not quite. I think she's sorta wired. She's had a tough day. You
too."
"You three," Ivy said.
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