Leanne felt the lump sticking in her throat at that heartfelt announcement. The sincerity on the woman's lovely face was unmistakable. She had witnessed the family dynamics and felt acute envy and the shame of it coursing through her veins. She never had that. She had a home, parents and nice clothes to wear. Never let it be said that she had not been treated fairly. There hadn't been any love. She had never been hugged or encouraged, only lectured.
What she saw here today was so alien to her that it made her feel uncomfortable.
Pretending absorption in the refreshment, she listened to the conversations flowing around her. Of Lilly laughingly recounting when she decided to give up her modeling and she was as sick as a dog when she was pregnant with both kids. The other two women recounted similar stories with Mary-Ann shaking herhead and recalling that her baby boy had been the worst of them all.
"My Christos kept me going every blessed time of the day. I was constantly heading to the bathroom to throw up or to pee. My hormones were all over the place and my poor darling husband had the brunt of it."
She had been eyeing Leanne and saw the flash of expressions on the girl's beautiful face. The woman had great difficulty hiding her feelings. Making a decision, she rose and took the tray, handing it to Lori.
"Would you give me a moment with the mother to be?"
She asked her daughters quietly.
"And keep that son of mine from bursting through the door."
With encouraging nods and smiles, they left the room and closed the door behind them.
"If you're planning on giving me a pep talk, you might as well save your breath."
Pushing upwards, Leanne started to remove the blanket.
Reaching over, Mary-Ann placed a firm hand on her thigh.
"I just want to talk."
"I love my job and I'm not giving it up."
Mary-Ann nodded, keeping her hand where it was.
"I understand all of that. I've seen you in action and acknowledge you're very good."
She patted Leanne's thigh before sitting back and crossing her arms over her chest.
"I was prepared to hate you."
Leanne's brows lifted in surprise.
"Really?"
"Yes."
The older woman nodded.
"I could see from the very start that my boy was head over heels in love. He had never brought a woman here before."
She waved a hand.
"Not since that girl in high school that he had a crush on. The minute I saw him with you, I knew he was a goner."
A smile touched her lips.
"The Kostas men fall deeply and when they do, the world knows."
Her smile faded.
"I know something of your upbringing. No."
She shook her head when Leanne's eyes started flashing.
