Part 60 (2/2)

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.

Peter stood up. ”Thanks for letting her stay here tonight. I'll bring her over tomorrow afternoon, if that's okay.”

”Sure,” Ivy said. ”A deal's a deal.”

”Thanks.”

Peter had offered to marry Ivy, but she had declined. In their out of court settlement, Peter had agreed to child-support payments, and Ivy had granted him visitation rights.

For the rights to her ISLE hardware and software design, ICP paid Ivy six million dollars.

They hugged, and then she was gone.

He sat back down beside Isle and she stirred. He took her in his arms.

”You miss Grandma Gracie and Grandpa Byron already?” he said, pretending she understood every word. ”Me too,” he said.

Byron and Grace had left a few hours ago for Maine, to take care of some things and plan their move west. They intended to find a vacation home in California, where they would reside for however long Byron managed Wallaby.

Peter's own home now felt like it used to, before Isle. Quiet, empty. Yet at this moment, it was more full of life than ever.

But this, he had to keep reminding himself, was temporary. That was the deal. But it was better than nothing at all. Better than being completely alone.

The next song started playing on the disc player. Kate's voice chased away the silence, replaced it with the missing element.

”When you're a little older,” he told Isle, ”I'm going to teach you how to sing just like that.”

”And who's going to teach you?”

Peter spun around.

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