Reese stepped out of the old house, shooting onest nce over her shoulder before slipping into the passenger seat.


    "At least it wasn''t a total waste," she said. "I think a fewpanies seemed pretty interested in our system."


    n started the car, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Clever Cloud''s scheduling system hit the market before ours. Let them take their time,pare, hesitate. It''s not the worst thing. Might work out for us in the long run."


    Reese gave him a sideways look, the hint of a smile on her face. "You''re taking this surprisingly well."


    n shrugged. "I''m trying. But honestly, the Ratcliff family is such a mess. No one even knows who Robbie''s mother is, or if she was there tonight. Makes you wonder what she''d think if she saw all this."


    Reese didn''t answer. She leaned her head against the window, eyes slipping closed.


    Outside the hospital emergency room, the air was thick with tension. Mr. Ratcliff and Jane had rushed over after seeing their guests out. The first thing Mr. Ratcliff saw was Sofia, red-eyed and leaning against Sebastian''s shoulder. After bottling up his anger all night, he couldn''t hold it in anymore.


    He pulled Sebastian aside, voice low and sharp. "What kind of father are you? Your son''s in the ER and instead of calling Reese, you''re out here with her? Is this really the time?"


    Sebastian just looked at him, face unreadable. “Grandpa, don''t me Sofia. She didn''t know Robbie was allergic to mango."


    Mr. Ratcliff mmed his cane down so hard the sound echoed. "She didn''t know? And you? You didn''t know either?"


    Sebastian kept his gaze on the emergency room doors. "I barely have time for these things. How would I?"


    He really didn''t know. Reese had always handled everything-birthdays, medicine, clothes, food. She just took care of it, no fuss, no reminders.


    Mr. Ratcliff''s voice carried down the hall. Jane frowned, feeling like Sebastian was being called out in front of the whole world.


    She nced over at Sofia, who sat there, silent and still. Any fondness Jane had felt for her because Robbie liked her was gone in a sh.


    Jane almost said something, but stopped herself. Sofia was the Meyer family''s heiress, not someone she could lecture like Reese. She swallowed her criticism and went to Mr. Ratcliff''s side, her tone softer.


    "Dad, you can''t put all this on Sebastian. Reese always took care of these things. If you want to me someone, me Reese. She was the one who always made Robbie''s birthday cake. This year, Robbie begged me to have Reese here, and I did. Who knew Reese would refuse him, not even bring a cake?


    "If she''d brought one, Robbie wouldn''t have asked Ms. Meyer to do it.


    "And she was here tonight. She saw Robbie with Ms. Meyer, but she didn''t say a word about his mango allergy."


    Mr. Ratcliff''s knuckles went white around his cane. "What did you say? Reese was here tonight?


    "And you still let that woman go up and cut the cake with Robbie? Didn''t you think about how Reese would feel if she saw that?"


    Jane shrank back a little. "It''s not my fault. Reese turned Robbie down. That''s why he asked Ms. Meyer."


    Mr. Ratcliff''s face was stormy. "Reese has done so much for this family. Can''t you show her a little kindness? Just once, try to understand how she feels!"


    He turned on Sebastian, voice rising. "And you! You knew Reese was here, and you still did this right in front of her. Aren''t you worried she might be hurt?


    "She''s still pregnant with your child, you know."


    Sebastian''s response was t, almost empty. "She won''t be upset."


    Reese had never raised her voice, never lost her temper. She was always gentle, always soft-spoken. Sometimes Sebastian couldn''t even remember what it looked like when she was angry.


    Mr. Ratcliff pointed at him, furious. "You are just keep pushing her away. Make Sofia leave, call Reese and apologize. Really apologize. Robbie needs her here." "Grandpa, please calm down. I''ll call her now."


    Sebastian pulled out his phone, worried by how upset Mr. Ratcliff looked.


    "The person you''re calling is not avable at the moment. Please try againter," came the cold, automated voice.


    Sebastian frowned. Reese never ignored his calls.


    She was always the first to worry about Robbie. If he so much as sneezed, she''d be at his side in seconds. Now, with both Mr. Ratcliff and Jane already there, Reese was still nowhere to be seen.


    Was she really, finally angry with him?