Chapter 27

They left the study after young Blake started screaming for pudding. Lauren wasn’t paying attention because she had spent the previous several minutes assisting young Blake and teaching him how to hold a spoon properly.

Francis emerged from his study after receiving a call from Mr. Wesley. They exchanged greetings and entered. The old man was taken aback when he heard a youngster giggling; he couldn’t believe it when Francis explained that the child was his grandson, whom his wife was babysitting. Francis led the elderly gentleman to the kitchen, where his wife was caring for little Blake.

When the youngster grinned and accepted the spoon from his grandmother, the old guy couldn’t believe his eyes. Not only does the boy resemble his grandson Mahlon, but he also resembles Mahlon and himself.

Lauren had a good idea of Francis’ motives at that time, and all she could think about was how her daughter would respond when she learned what her father had done.

The el