Page 87 of Rescued Heart

A bricked archway revealed another room, and the host stopped at the table under a painting of a water fountain with a group of children splashing each other. Mary, dressed in a flamingo-pink shirt with about five strands of lime chunky-beaded necklaces, sat facing the host’s direction. A man with dyed black hair had his arm resting on the back of her chair as he whispered something into her ear.

Party of four. Not three. Eddie zeroed in on his mother’s left hand but couldn’t tell if she wore a ring by the way she held a piece of bread. Had she gotten married?

Whatever the man said, Mary tilted her head and released a laugh louder than the classical cello music being played overhead. The man noticed the host and turned his face.

Joel Gillian.

Eddie reached and gripped the nearest chair. He couldn’t do this.

Bianca had frozen beside him. All except her gaze and her deepening brows.

Mary’s voice boomed over his thoughts and the music once again. “Eddington, you came!”

Joel stood and extended his hand toward Eddie. “Good to finally meet you, son. I’m Joel Gillian.”

Son? Somehow Bianca’s fingers were now laced through Eddie’s.

Eddie glared at Joel. “I know who you are. I just don’t know why you’re here.”

Mary fluttered her ringless hand to her chest, then to her necklaces, and finally planted her palms on her lap. “I’ll explain everything. Come, sit. This tiny place has delicious bread.”

One chance. She had one more chance.

Eddie pulled out a chair three over from Joel. He gestured for Bianca to sit, and then he took the seat beside her.

Joel straightened his tie and then sat.

The host cleared his throat. “Can I start you two off with something to drink?”

Mary lifted her glass. “Their raspberry tea is lovely.”

Eddie grabbed the cloth napkin. She used to hate tea. Said it was only dirty water. “I’ll have water with lemon.”

“And you, Ms. Pearl?”

“I told you it was Bia Pearl,” came a stage whisper from the archway, where two women peeked from behind the wall.

Joel raised his bushy brow at the hostess. “I thought when I called, you guaranteed us privacy.”

The host sent a scowl toward the women. “Everyone’s privacy is our top concern. I will take care?—”

“Do you mind if I take a quick selfie with them?” Bianca asked Eddie. “I’m sure they’ll leave afterward.”

Joel huffed. “One photo will lead to fifty. You’re only causing more trouble by encouraging them to be here.”

Eddie scooted his chair back. “I’ll go with you.”

Bianca smiled at the host and tucked her hand in Eddie’s elbow. “I’ll have lemonade, please.”

Before they reached the archway, Bianca tilted her head closer, and her breath tickled his neck. “I won’t blame you if you’re plotting our getaway.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Eddie muttered.

“This will be the only fan photo I take tonight. I was trying to fix the tension, but…how can I help you get through this night besides praying?”

He needed all the prayers he could get. She was already doing more than enough by giving him someone else to focus on. “Trust me, you’re helping.”

The two women peeked around the archway, and their eyes widened when they spotted Eddie and Bia.

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