Build And Break novel Chapter 42

"I came here to make sure you don't deny Angela and the boy from visiting."

Angela noticed Jimmy's hands ball into fists. His limited patience was starting to run thin.

She turned to Steven with begging eyes. "You're going to let me and Daniel go, aren't you?"

"Of course I am. You'll go and I'm coming with you." He looked at Jimmy. "If the invite is still open for me."

Jimmy nodded against his wishes. "Mama insisted on that."

"Perfect. We'll see you at dinner then."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Mama, they've come," announced Jimmy as he held the door open for Angela, Steven and Daniel.

The boy ran inside like he's at his home. "Gracie. I'm here, Gracie."

As soon as the limping old woman appeared, wiping her hands dry on the yellowed apron she wore, Daniel jumped into her arms. "There you are, my little prince. Oh, my, you're getting heavier by the day."

Angela went to help take Daniel from Grace's arms. "Get down, Daniel. You're hurting Gracie."

Without argument, the boy obeyed, then ran to Jimmy. "Uncle Jimmy, will you pick me up?"

Laughing, Jimmy obliged the boy. A grin instantly formed on Daniel's face as he waved at Angela and Steven. "Look, Steven. I'm as tall as you now."

"Oh, you will someday, my prince." Grace quickly spoke followed by a wink at Steven. "Come on in. Jimmy, come help your mama."

"Can I help?" Daniel chimed in eagerly.

"Yes, you can." Grace continued. "Angela, why don't you show Steven to the family room and get him a drink? No, you stay with him and I'll bring you two a drink. You're both guests here tonight."

"You know, I never asked you. What was Tony doing in our bedroom, without all of his clothes on?"

"He spilled soup on his shirt and refused to wear one of yours like I offered."

"What was he doing sleeping on our bed?"

"He had a bad fever and the pills he took made him drowsy. So I refused to let him leave before he took a little nap. And I couldn't let my best friend sleep on the sofa when he was that much ill and he still came all that way to help me."

"Help you with what?" Now that he was finally giving her the chance to recount what had happened that day, he wanted to know everything.

"Do you really want to know?"

Oh dear. She wasn't going to tell him that she did actually cheat on him and give him the dirty details, was she? He still wanted to know the whole story so he nodded his answer.

"Like his mama, Tony was an excellent cook. I had asked him to help me prepare dinner for my husband whom I hadn't seen for a week. I wanted to surprise you when you returned back from Europe. But you surprised me first by coming home early. Then you surprised me again by divorcing me."