Two Weeks in Geneva: Book Three Read Online Free Page B

Deep, or not so deep really, inside, he’d clung to the hope that the days apart had given her some distance, time to see that they could work through this and a willingness to let him explain. Apparently, he’d been mistaken.
    “But this one”—Lily’s voice penetrated his thoughts—“couldn’t be happier to see you. Isn’t that right, munchkin?” she said with grandmotherly pride and affection coloring her tone. Then she handed Ethan over.
    Alexander wasn’t surprised at the relief he felt to have his son back near him. He always missed the baby fiercely, and separate and apart from whatever happened with him and Quinn, he was comforted by the fact that he’d found Ethan, couldn’t imagine living his life without him. His boy would be loved by both of his parents, and he’d know it.
    “Something to drink, Alexander?” Lily asked as he held the baby in one arm and then the other to remove his jacket and sat down on the floor with Ethan. That he was treated like a guest, treated so formally , even by someone he’d believed to be his strongest advocate was yet another reminder of how his world had shifted.
    “Thank you. Water is fine,” he said.
    “I’m so happy to see you, son,” Alexander said in French as Lily returned.
    “Oh, you’re teaching him French. How wonderful!” she said.
    “It seems only proper.”
    “Do you think he understands?”
    “I’m not sure. His expression doesn’t really change, but he seems to follow along I suppose. Do you think he understands English?”
    “Ha! Excellent point. I have no idea. But we still talk to him anyway, so it can’t hurt.”
    “And he’ll know the language when he comes to visit me.” He hadn’t intended to broach this topic, but Lily might be a good barometer of where Quinn’s head was at since she’d been so infuriatingly opaque.
    “Yeah. Quinn will have a stroke, but she’ll just have to get over it, won’t she?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Oh, don’t play coy with me, young man,” Lily said, steel in her words. “You two—excuse my language—fucked up but good, didn’t you? From where I sit, you are two are the dumbest smart people I know.”
    “But, Lily, I never—”
    “Aah, I don’t want to know, don’t want to hear anything from either of you. That’s your personal business, and I want no part of it. But let me say this, and I’m telling her the same thing: I don’t care ’bout neither of y’all’s feelings, and I don’t care what happened between you. That baby is the only thing that matters, and if he gets hurts in your mess, you gonna have to deal with me. So I suggest you work it out. Is that clear?”
    She leveled her gaze at him, unwavering, honest, and with the ferocity of her love for Ethan showing through.
    “Crystal.”
    She pursed her lips and nodded, seemingly accepting his answer.
    “I swear, you young people make stuff too hard. I met my husband at a dance when he was stationed down in Georgia. We liked each other, got married, and raised our little family. Easy peasy. No drama. Something you might want to try,” she said with an incredulous expression on her face.
    Alexander couldn’t help but laugh, and Lily joined him. He knew Lily would always be on Quinn’s side to some extent, but so far, she’d been evenhanded, fair, and given how much Quinn respected her mother, he could only hope Lily’s attitude toward him would rub off.
    He stayed for several hours, until it was clear Ethan was running on fumes. As Alexander took him to the nursery, he heard Lily, presumably on the telephone, say, “You can stop hiding at Verna’s now. He’s about to go. Good-bye, Quinn Elizabeth.”
    He jogged back down the stairs but before he could leave, Lily, catching him off guard, enfolded him in a hug. “Bye, Alexander.”
    ••••
    “So the coast is clear?” Verna said.
    Quinn sighed. “Apparently.”
    Verna didn’t say anything else, just nodded and watched Quinn, her gaze like a