Chapter 253
Lunar Heights Estate.
Rosita flipped through the photos sent by her private investigator.
“So, you’ve cozied up to Gavin now?”
She let out a cold, derisive laugh. “You really can’t teach an old dog new tacks, can you?”
Did Lauren really think that landing Gavin would get her away from Saul, that creepy old bastard?
“Oh, Lauren, life isn’t that easy. You’re the one who dragged me into the Lockwood family mess, and now you want to walk away clean? What about everything I’ve suffered because of you?”
Rosita pulled out her phone, found Jason’s number, and dialed.
“Jason, it’s me. Do you have time to meet?”
After a week of bed rest at the hospital, Briony was finally on the mend.
Dr. Warren assured her she could go home and recuperate in comfort.
She was thirteen weeks along now–officially in her second trimester. The nausea and fatigue of early pregnancy had faded, replaced by a healthy appetite and a visible glow.
On the day she was discharged, Gwendolyn White and Carney took Briony out shopping for new clothes–her old wardrobe no longer fit her growing belly.
Gwendolyn led her through the boutiques, making sure she was outfitted from head to toe, inside and out. James and Carney trailed quietly behind, arms loaded with shopping bags.
When it was time to pay, Briony tried to hand over her own credit card, but Gwendolyn firmly pushed it back.
“This is a little welcome gift from your new godparents. If you don’t accept, I’ll be offended!” Gwendolyn grinned, eyes sparkling.
Briony was taken aback. “You… you want to make me your goddaughter?”
Gwendolyn laughed warmly. “What’s with that reaction? Don’t want us?”
Briony’s eyes stung with sudden emotion. “No, it’s not that. I’m just… surprised, that’s all.”
Carney looked at her, his tone gentle. “Neither Mrs. Winslow nor I ever had children of our own. When we were young, it seemed fine, but now–well, things get a little lonely. If you don’t mind, we’d be honored to have you as our daughter.”
James burst out laughing nearby. “Come on, Professor, you’re a bargain, but Mrs. Winslow is priceless!”
“Enough out of you,” Carney said, trying–and failing–to sound stern.
James only grinned wider. “By the way, that artifact restoration you finished last week? Three thousand words. On my desk Monday morning.”
The smile slid right off James’s face. “No more jokes…”
He turned to Briony, pleading. “Bryn, please, just say the word. Once you call them ‘godparents,‘ Professor will be so happy he might let me off the hook!”
Briony chuckled, then looked at Gwendolyn with a shy smile. “Godmother.”
Gwendolyn’s face lit up as she squeezed Briony’s hand. “Wonderful! I finally have a daughter!”
Carney gave a little cough.
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Chapter 253
Briony glanced his way and obediently said, “Godfather”
He tried to keep a straight face, but the smile tugging at his lips gave him away. He pulled a small, wrapped box from his pocket and handed it to Briony
“Every milestone deserves a bit of ceremony. Here, take it.”
Briony hesitated.
Gwendolyn took the gift and pressed it into Briony’s hands. “Take it–gifts from your elders bring good luck, especially for the baby!”
At that, Briony stopped protesting and accepted it. “Thank you, Godfather”
Carney couldn’t hide his joy any longer. “Alright, we’re done here. Let’s head home!”
“Yes, home,” Gwendolyn echoed, looping her arm through Briony’s. “I finally have a daughter, and in a few months, we’ll have two beautiful grandchildren, Carney, we’ve really hit the jackpot, haven’t we?
Carney’s smile only grew.
James sidled up to him. “Feeling good now, Professor? So, about that paper–can I skip it?”
“Absolutely not,” Carney replied, his smile vanishing as his strict–teacher persona returned. “Three thousand words. Not one less.”
James groaned.
Though Briony was on maternity leave, she refused to let herself become idle.
Back at Elderview, the team had unearthed several new artifacts. Normally, she would have joined them, but pregnancy meant she had to stay in Silveridge.
Carney coordinated with the Antiquarian Society to have the more challenging restorations shipped to her, so Briony could work from home. The pace was much lighter than before: Carney enforced a strict schedule–only three days a week, no more than eight hours a day.
At home, Gwendolyn was constantly experimenting with new recipes, training the housekeeper to whip up nutritious meals especially for Briony.
Between the lighter workload and her cheerful mood, Briony blossomed during her month at Silveridge. At her prenatal checkup that morning, Gwendolyn accompanied her to the women’s clinic. When Briony stepped on the scale, she found she’d gained nearly seven pounds.
In Dr. Warren’s office, the doctor reviewed her latest test results and smiled. “You’re looking much healthier than you did a month ago, Briony. Mrs. Winslow must be taking excellent care of you.”
Briony and Gwendolyn exchanged a warm, grateful glance.
Gwendolyn gently patted Briony’s now–prominent belly. “She’s really growing fast these days. I am a little worried, though–with twins, won’t it get very tough near the end? And… is it true she’ll have to have a C–section?”
