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Authors: Destiny's Surrender
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DuChance and his knife. By now, he probably knew she and the baby had taken off. She prayed he hadn’t take his fury out on Addy.
The driver left her at the front door and went on his way. Billie drew in a deep steadying breath and with the baby awake and peering around curiously from his perch in one arm, she used her free hand on the door pull. A red-haired white woman dressed in the black-and-white livery of service answered the summons. “May I help you?”
Another steadying breath was drawn in. “I’m here to see Mr. Yates.”
The woman scanned her slowly, taking in her well-worn dress and wrinkled cape. “Which one?”
She and Drew had never discussed his family, so she had no idea how many other male Yateses there might be. “Drew.”
Tonio was doing his best to get out of her arms and down to his feet, but she held him close. The woman eyed the baby silently. “Wait here.”
She disappeared.
Standing on the porch, Billie gave Tonio a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for being such a good boy.” The laughing voices of people having a good time came to her with more clarity. Once again she wondered what was being celebrated but the speculating vanished with the return of the servant and a richly dressed woman in a blue gown. Her face, framed by drawn-back, jet-black hair, bore a strong resemblance to Drew. There was gold around her neck and matching earbobs adorning her lobes.
“Hello. I’m Alanza Yates. Bonnie says you wished to speak with my son. I’m afraid he’s unavailable at the moment. Is there something I might help you with?” Her gaze brushed Tonio before moving back to Billie.
Billie wondered how to explain her reasoning for showing up on this beautiful wealthy woman’s doorstep unannounced, an explanation the lady seemed to be waiting for, but there was no easy way to go about it, so she went with the truth. “My name’s Billie Wells and this is Drew’s son.”
The woman looked so shocked, Billie thought she just might swoon. “I beg your pardon for showing up this way, but the baby and I need Drew’s help. We’re in sort of a pickle.”
Billie prepared herself to argue her way inside, but the woman stepped back so she and Tonio could enter.
Her eyes swept over the baby again. In turn she received a shy smile but she didn’t offer one of her own. She gestured to one of the fine chairs. “Have a seat. Bonnie, would you ask Drew to come inside for a moment please.”
The servant exited.
Seated, Billie tried not to squirm in response to the uneasiness churning inside.
“Where did you and my son meet?”
“San Francisco. I’m a whore, ma’am.” The way the woman stiffened made Billie whisper, “I’m sorry.” Not because she was ashamed of what she was but because of what the revelation must be doing to such a woman of quality.
To escape the show of distress, she put Tonio on his feet. His hand-me-down clothes weren’t the best but they were clean. He made a move to take off, but she placed a gently restraining hand on his little chubby arm, which he didn’t care for and strained against to escape.
“You can let him go. It’s all right,” Drew’s mother offered quietly.
Free, he took a few steps away from Billie and paused a moment to survey the surroundings. Billie worried that he’d somehow find a way to break all the beautiful costly-looking vases and other ornamental touches in the room, because that’s what he did best, but he seemed content to stare around. From beneath her lashes, she spied Drew’s mother watching him intently. For a woman who’d been shocked out of her bustle she seemed to be holding up well.
Drew entered and his first glance was for his mother—“Bonnie said you wanted to . . .” Upon seeing Billie his words faded, his eyes widened, and confusion claimed his handsome features. Hair tied back, he was formally dressed in a black suit of Spanish design worn over a snow-white shirt with ruffles over the buttons.
The driver left her at the front door and went on his way. Billie drew in a deep steadying breath and with the baby awake and peering around curiously from his perch in one arm, she used her free hand on the door pull. A red-haired white woman dressed in the black-and-white livery of service answered the summons. “May I help you?”
Another steadying breath was drawn in. “I’m here to see Mr. Yates.”
The woman scanned her slowly, taking in her well-worn dress and wrinkled cape. “Which one?”
She and Drew had never discussed his family, so she had no idea how many other male Yateses there might be. “Drew.”
Tonio was doing his best to get out of her arms and down to his feet, but she held him close. The woman eyed the baby silently. “Wait here.”
She disappeared.
Standing on the porch, Billie gave Tonio a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for being such a good boy.” The laughing voices of people having a good time came to her with more clarity. Once again she wondered what was being celebrated but the speculating vanished with the return of the servant and a richly dressed woman in a blue gown. Her face, framed by drawn-back, jet-black hair, bore a strong resemblance to Drew. There was gold around her neck and matching earbobs adorning her lobes.
“Hello. I’m Alanza Yates. Bonnie says you wished to speak with my son. I’m afraid he’s unavailable at the moment. Is there something I might help you with?” Her gaze brushed Tonio before moving back to Billie.
Billie wondered how to explain her reasoning for showing up on this beautiful wealthy woman’s doorstep unannounced, an explanation the lady seemed to be waiting for, but there was no easy way to go about it, so she went with the truth. “My name’s Billie Wells and this is Drew’s son.”
The woman looked so shocked, Billie thought she just might swoon. “I beg your pardon for showing up this way, but the baby and I need Drew’s help. We’re in sort of a pickle.”
Billie prepared herself to argue her way inside, but the woman stepped back so she and Tonio could enter.
Her eyes swept over the baby again. In turn she received a shy smile but she didn’t offer one of her own. She gestured to one of the fine chairs. “Have a seat. Bonnie, would you ask Drew to come inside for a moment please.”
The servant exited.
Seated, Billie tried not to squirm in response to the uneasiness churning inside.
“Where did you and my son meet?”
“San Francisco. I’m a whore, ma’am.” The way the woman stiffened made Billie whisper, “I’m sorry.” Not because she was ashamed of what she was but because of what the revelation must be doing to such a woman of quality.
To escape the show of distress, she put Tonio on his feet. His hand-me-down clothes weren’t the best but they were clean. He made a move to take off, but she placed a gently restraining hand on his little chubby arm, which he didn’t care for and strained against to escape.
“You can let him go. It’s all right,” Drew’s mother offered quietly.
Free, he took a few steps away from Billie and paused a moment to survey the surroundings. Billie worried that he’d somehow find a way to break all the beautiful costly-looking vases and other ornamental touches in the room, because that’s what he did best, but he seemed content to stare around. From beneath her lashes, she spied Drew’s mother watching him intently. For a woman who’d been shocked out of her bustle she seemed to be holding up well.
Drew entered and his first glance was for his mother—“Bonnie said you wanted to . . .” Upon seeing Billie his words faded, his eyes widened, and confusion claimed his handsome features. Hair tied back, he was formally dressed in a black suit of Spanish design worn over a snow-white shirt with ruffles over the buttons.
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