Monica touched her neck, looking a bit shy. "Yeah... we slept together."


    Anastasia grinned, her eyes lighting up. "Ooh, spill! How was it?"


    Funny how thingse full circle, Monica thought. She used to be the one grilling Anastasia like this.


    Monica hesitated, blushing. "Well... let''s just say he''s exactly like he looks."


    Strong. Intense.


    Anastasia burst outughing. "No way! Now I get why you stayed single for so long. Back then, you only went for those skinny twenty-something guys-looked like they''d snap in a breeze! Now you finally see what a real man is like, huh?" Monica couldn''t hide her smile. "He''s definitely an upgrade. Anyway, I''m thinking of introducing him to my parents soon."


    Anastasia raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, moving fast! Are you two thinking about tying the knot?"


    Monica shook her head. "No rush. I want to enjoy this for a while. The honeymoon stage is the sweetest, you know? Once you''re married, it''s not so easy to be carefree." She rolled her eyes. "And speaking of crazy, I need to have a word with Alisa. That psycho messed up Jason''s promotion."


    Jason was thinking about quitting, but he couldn''t let go of the serial killer case. He was determined to see it through.


    Anastasia frowned. "Didn''t you say Alisa owes a ton of money? If you ask me, steer clear. The crazier someone is, the further away you should stay. Like my grandma always said-better to annoy a gentleman than mess with a snake."


    Monica nodded, thinking of Julie and Gianna-both troublemakers. People like that were best avoided.


    “Alright, you''re right. I''ll focus on my beauty salon, hang out with Jason, and live the good life. Money, romance-what more could I want?"


    Anastasia teased, "Someone''s in love!"


    Monica smirked. "And loving it."


    ...


    Anastasia got back to Southridge Estatester that afternoon.


    James was already home. He''d checked on Pattie and found a way to help her


    get her voice back-it would just take some time.


    As long as Pattie could recover, nothing else mattered.


    James moved into his old room, with ab set up for his work. Emmie and Nancy were napping. Out in the yard, Herman and Pattie were kicking a ser ball, bothughing. Dailey and Nelson took turns as goalie-three adults, all doting on Pattie, giving her the world.


    Anastasia stood by the window, watching. Pattie spotted her and waved, signing, "Mom!"


    Anastasia waved back, wishing with all her heart that one day she could talk to Pattie without relying on signnguage.


    There were guests in the house-friends Katelyn had invited. Anastasia only found out when she walked into the living room.


    Salma was out at her part-time job.


    Katelyn called her over with a smile. "Ana! Come here, sweetheart. This is Mrs. Walker. Say hello."


    Anastasia didn''t know which Mr. Walker Katelyn meant, but she greeted her politely. "Hello, Mrs. Walker."


    Mrs. Walker-Autumn-looked about


    fifty, but she carried herself with elegance and confidence. It was Anastasia''s first time meeting her but something about Autumn. seemed oddly familiar, like she''d seen her before, though she was sure she hadn''t.


    Autumn smiled warmly. "So you''re the lovely daughter-inw Katelyn''s always bragging about. No wonder her son''s so crazy about you."


    Anastasia frowned ever so slightly. There was something off in Autumn''s tone- sweet on the surface, but with a bite underneath, as if she was hinting that Anastasia had only gotten this far because of her looks.


    But since Katelyn had brought her, Anastasia just said, “Mom, I''m going upstairs to check on Emmie and Nancy."


    Katelyn waved her off. "Go ahead, dear."


    As Anastasia climbed the stairs, she nced back and caught Autumn watching her. Their eyes met for a second, and there was something strange in Autumn''s gaze-something Anastasia couldn''t quite read.


    A littleter, Nelson came upstairs to give a quick update. He mentioned Julie, almost in passing. "Ma''am, Julie died in prison-supposedly from illness. Someone''s already imed her body."


    Anastasia frowned. "Who? Someone from the Brown family?"


    "No," Nelson replied. "There''s no


    record. I asked around, but everyone''s tight-lipped. Feels like they''re all in on something. Mr. Salstrom''s lost his memory, so didn''t want to trouble him. I just thought you should know."


    A chill crept up Anastasia''s spine. "Are there any Browns left?"