Page 46 of The CEO

Adam leaned over and put Lilly close to Bree.

She kissed Lilly on the lips and then on her cheeks. Then she cupped her face. “Mama loves you, more than anything, baby girl.” She leaned back so Lilly couldn’t grab her. “Take her out, Adam,” Bree turned away as the tears began to roll down her cheeks. “I need to sleep. I want to get better fast, because I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stop from cuddling her.”

“It will be soon. You’ll heal quickly.”

He said it like he believed it.

Bree wanted desperately to believe it, too. She wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to resist holding her child.

Two monthslater

Bree was meeting Stacy for tea. Finally healed enough that she could lift Lilly, she’d decided to take Stacy up on her offer for afternoon tea.

Bree packed a diaper bag and hauled it and Lilly out to the Navigator.

When they arrived at the Danvers residence, she was immediately shown into the living room.

Stacy was standing near a tea cart when Bree entered. She looked up. “Ah, there you are. Right on time. How are you feeling? Wade and I heard what happened to you. I’m so sorry you had something like that happen to you. I never did like Simon Chandler, but I never thought him capable of what happened to you. Please sit. And let me see that sweet girl.” She held her arms out to Lilly.

Never shy, the baby went to Stacy right away.

Stacy laughed. “Oh, you are such a sweet girl. Yes, you are. That’s right. You’re a sweet girl.” She looked over at Bree. “Is she always so friendly?”

Bree nodded. “She hasn’t met anyone she didn’t like yet. She always makes friends. I hope she keeps that up as she gets older.”

They talked for a while.

Stacy gave Lilly a Vanilla Wafer cookie. “My children loved these when they were babies.”

Lilly managed to mangle the cookie getting it soggy. Then it was just a matter of her trying to eat it and smearing most of it in her hands and on her face.

The baby tickled Stacy.

The older woman laughed delightedly.

“Are you sure you don’t mind her getting so messy? She’s likely to get the cookie all over your beautiful carpet.”

Stacy waved an arm in front of her. “Don’t worry about it. The carpet can be cleaned. And I haven’t enjoyed myself this much in a long while.”

When Lilly was done with the cookie, Stacy’s butler appeared with a damp washcloth and Bree cleaned Lilly’s face and hands.

Bree decided it was time to go. “I’d like her to get a nap before Adam gets home. He likes to play with her when he gets home.”

“That’s so good that he is a hands-on father. Wade was the same way. A lot of fathers simply let the wife raise the children, but we decided before we ever had children that we would both raise them. I believe that it’s much better for the children when both parents are involved.”

“Oh, we couldn’t agree more. Adam and I both want to raise our children together. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon. Forgive me for not getting over here sooner, but I wanted to wait until I could bring Lilly with me.”

Stacy raised her eyebrows just a little. “You couldn’t help what happened to you. I hope they throw the book at Simon Chandler and his cohorts. I never did like that man.”

“I didn’t either. I felt sorry for Janie, but now she’ll be able to divorce him without any repercussions.”

“I saw her the other day.” Stacy leaned forward. “She’s already filed the paperwork to divorce him. Simon will still get what he came into the marriage with but little else because of the role he played in having you kidnapped. She said she thinks he could get more than twenty years for it. Plus when they married, her parents set it up so she would be well taken care of in the event of a divorce. They apparently weren’t happy with the man she chose to marry.”

“I can’t say as I blame them for that. I think Simon has always been a tool.”

“Most definitely.”

Bree stood and picked up Lilly. “Thank you so much for having us over today. We had a great time. I’ll have to remember about the Vanilla Wafers. Those, though messy, would be a good treat for Lilly once in a while.”