BooksBarbecue
Back Born Out of Wedlock
Chapters (52)
  1. Born Out of Wedlock
  2. Dedication
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Prologue
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Chapter Eight
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Chapter Twenty-One
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  44. Chapter Forty
  45. Chapter Forty-One
  46. Chapter Forty-Two
  47. Chapter Forty-Three
  48. Chapter Forty-Four
  49. Chapter Forty-Five
  50. Chapter Forty-Six
  51. Acknowledgements
  52. Other Titles by Author

After finally pulling herself together, Addison towel dried Chauncey until not an ounce of moisture remained, but when she caught a whiff of chlorine on his fur, she knew her work was not yet done. It was almost two in the morning when she climbed the stairs leading to her room, but her need for sleep was secondary to the needs of little pup she held in her hands. Carrying him into her shower, Addison tenderly gave him a bath, laughing more than once as he pranced around the shower or tried to clamber up her legs. Using every towel at her disposal, she made sure he was totally dry before she crept down the hallway to Joanna’s room and set him down near the open door. She patted him lightly on the butt and smiled when he waddled in without argument. Quietly closing Joanna’s door, Addison returned to her room and slept until mid-morning.

***

The clock had just finished chiming eleven when Addison came down the stairs. Ignoring the study, she kept on walking. Her mind wasn’t on business. It was on Joanna and Chauncey.

It was her neglect that had caused Joanna to fall down stairs long in need of repair, and because of Addison’s indifference, Chauncey had almost died simply because broken latches had never concerned her. They did now.

She strode into the kitchen, and her unexpected entrance immediately turned George and Fiona into statues. Frozen where they stood, they said not a word.

“I’d like some coffee,” Addison said, breaking the silence.

“I-I-I put a carafe in your study a few minutes ago,” Fiona said.

“No,” Addison said, rubbing the back of her neck. “I want one of those...one of those...” Exasperated at her own ignorance, Addison blurted, “I want to go for a blasted walk and take a cup of coffee with me.”

“Oh, you mean a travel mug,” Fiona said, grinning.

“Yes, that’s it. Can I have one of those please?”

Fiona flashed a quick look at her husband, and his face wore the same shocked expression. Please wasn’t a word Addison ever used, at least not with them.

It took Fiona only a moment to find an insulated cup, and after filling it to the rim, she twisted on the lid and handed it to Addison. “There you go, miss. Be careful. It’s hot.”

“Thank you,” Addison said as she headed for the door. “And I will.”

***