d and unwelcoming. It was once my

s blocked

, you are not a

. "Let me in, or you and your whole family

Good. Without another word, he stepp

inside, voices drifte

sible. I don't want my daughter unmarried for t

aisle with a big belly. And I want you to be mine bef

fed. H

will never set foot in thi

ly, M

er will that ha

rembled at her sides, and I could tell she want

ng of m

s snapped

d in rage. "You're not supposed

ead. "Your house? You m

ed. "This is my h

voice. "Mom, stop it! Stephanie has now

ack echoed

the side, a red handpri

? I did all of this for you a

? Everything you have-everything your daughters wear, eat, live in-it

ent s

ked. "

ed away, heading

t to breathe before

anie,

my eyes for a secon

me

want?" My v

hing that might have been regret. "I

"You must

e you. I never loved Emily. Let's l

my head

inked. "

t me bac

hard, his pride warrin

he actual

ll do anything. Just g

oo late, James. Besides, I'm not the same woman

ined of colo

myself to another man. A stranger. And you know wha

grass, shaking his head.

were my first boyfriend. But you were never my first love. My fi

freely now. "

were

ream tore th

bit

il

me, her eyes

I grabbed a thick tree branch

ar you'll lose your preciou

top, horror flashi

s mine!"

take him. He's

"If you try to take him again

ken. "You can try. But

d away. My head was pounding, my body st

m, I whispered a na

s Rob

t. A name that stil

I would soon