Novels by Eileen Pryce

WYATTOf course, I was surprised to see Mom at the doorway.When I asked Ruby to visit and meet my parents, I never thought it would be the other way around. My parents would visit Ruby instead and we would have this meeting at her house.I couldn't help but be nervous about it. What I feared was Ruby's reaction. It must have startled her to find Mom at her store yet grant her request to visit this house. She wasn't prepared, at least not for this kind of meeting. And Austin? I knew it was the big issue for Ruby."Dad is here?" My voice rose from the shock when I heard Mom's request to Austin. She wanted him to welcome Dad at the doorway meant Dad would be here soon."Yes. Your dad and me drove here together." Mom replied.Not only Mom, but we had to face Dad as well.I turned to look at Ruby whose face was stiff from the moment she arrived home with Mom. And the firm grip on our entangled hands told me she was also nervous for this encounter.I softly tugged her hand, drawing her att

RUBY[Mom is here.]I sent that message to Wyatt on the way home, of course, with Mom because we were on her car.However, there was no answer even after we almost reached my house. Wyatt might be busy with Austin so he was away from his phone. And I should have called him as this was urgent. But I couldn't as I had to attend the conversation with Mom."So this is where you live." Mom said beside me after we made a turn to a street toward my house, which was a few meters ahead."Yes. The house is number thirty four."Soon, we arrived at the house, and my heart was beating wildly as we stepped out of the car.Oh, God! What should I do?"Your house is nice." Mom commented, but my mind was already elsewhere.It was like my body and mind weren't in sync and my legs moved without my will as they just followed Mom's steps."Should I ring the bell?" Mom's question snapped my mind from my thought and only then did I realize we had stood on my doorway.But when I was about to enter the code, t

ELEANOR (WYATT'S MOTHER)When Addison came to me with the news of Ruby and and viral videos, I couldn't help but to be raged by that. Even though years took us apart, I knew Ruby never did such things they accused on the videos. She was kind hearted and never puposely did harm to others.Ruby was such a sweet and lovable daughter I wished for, and I couldn't deny that I was heartbroken when she and my son decided to divorce. But I had to let her go when a few years had passed and there seemed no hint of her return. Perhaps, they weren't meant to be together.However, when she suddenly appeared at my doorway with Cookie in hands, hope resurfaced. They were fated and just needed to make a great detour for it to stick them together in a robust bond.It also explained why my son disappear from New York and conducted his work from somewhere. Turned out, he stayed in her city. If not from the videos, I might not know about this.Still, I was furios for whoever made them."The legal team has

RUBY"Mommy, why are your foods delicious?" Austin's question started a new segment of our conversation during lunch. Sometimes I was wondering how could he never run out of questions?"Which one is delicious?" I threw a question back. I made meatballs soup with vegetables, fried chicken, and rice. Just three menus, but they were more than enough to feed my little family."The soup, fried chicken, and rice." He mentioned one by one while pointing with his finger at each, then added, "All of them are tasty."I chuckled at his way of praising the meals. "Do you like them?"Austin nodded in a bit exaggerated. "I like all of them."I opened my mouth to respond to him, but Wyatt beat me with his sentences."I know why her foods are tasty."Austin perked up. "Why?""Because she thinks about you when she makes these. She pours all her love into her foods."I rolled my eyes hearing that. Such a cheesy lines.However, my son seemed to believe it--it is the truth, though--because his eyes now w

RUBYI listened to all of Wyatt's explanation carefully, from his question to the worst scenario we had always feared. It wasn't about him or me anymore. It was about us, with Austin included. And I understood why he was disconcerted about this."So, what do you think?" He asked after a moment of silence.What did I think?"Does that mean I have to move out to New York?"He didn't reply to me right away and kissed the back of my hand. "I wish we could live together in New York, in our house. But if you prefer to live here, I will be okay with that, too. Just maybe, we need to move out to a safer environment."I let his answer sink in for a few seconds, then asked him another question. "What about my store?""You can appoint your trusted employee to be a manager and oversee the store here. Then you can focus on building a branch in New York."He had been encouraging me to expand my business. Was it the time to do that?"You won't do that alone, honey. I'm by your side, and you definite

WYATT"Updates?" I prompted Ron as the call connected. It was Saturday night, and he should have been with family, not dealing with work. Still, after the restaurant incident forced me to move Ruby and Austin to a more private location, I couldn't wait anymore."We've tracked the account and got their places. They turn out to live in the same city as Mrs Logan, but they seem not to have any connection with her.""And?" My patience was running out to hear the full explanation."The legal team has visited and questioned them about the videos. Also, we have warned them about the consequences for ruining Ruby's Bakery's image because all their claims aren't true.""What did they say?""Our staff described them to be flustered when we mentioned the consequences. So we gave them options. They would face prison and fines, or just prison, but they had to make a video for clarification."I nodded in acknowledgment. That was what I expected from my staff. "What did they choose?""We have to wai

Anna peered through the common bathroom door on the first floor before stepping out casually as if nothing had happened. She walked past Dave, who was sitting on the couch in their living room and reading a report on his tablet, with Zach crawling on the floor."Zach, baby, come here." She called for Zach's attention, which was never hard to get. "Let's play outside."And his reaction was predictable. He was running toward his mother excitedly. His smile was so big that it was going to explode.Being a child seemed fun, didn't it?She followed him, running out of the house to their yard barefoot. She couldn't help her own smile from forming on her face at seeing him and another happiness she had just found out about today.She was pregnant with their second child.But be quiet. Anna wanted to make a surprise for her husband.Oh, she couldn't wait to see his reaction!"Zach, come here. Mommy wants to say something to you."Zach halted his running to look at his mother with an indescrib

Three years later.She watched everything. Their every move, laugh, giggle, scream, and more. She couldn't help but grace a wide smile over that. It was too good to be true. But it was what that was as it was the reality.Baby Zach was now three years old and in his active days. He had run on every corner of the house and was always excited to run outside.Although it tired their body from following him around, she didn't complain, especially Dave. He always had the energy to play with him and never ran out of ideas. He raised their child with all his heart.She shook her head to force herself back to her place. She couldn't only observe them all the time, as she needed to finish the cookie dough.Zach had the exact liking as hers for sweets. So she tried to be the best mom by baking them instead of buying them outside or ordering chefs to make them. It was cheaper and could adjust to her family preferences, which she wanted, not too much sugar.As Dave said, sugar was a killer.She

"Hi, baby boy. I'm happy you're awake, and I can hold you. Your mother must feel the same way. But she's resting now, so let's not disturb her and play with me instead." His voice was laced with happiness as his eyes flitted the same feeling. There was nothing happier than this moment when he finally held baby Zach. And the fact that he was born healthy was wonderful. It could be perfect if his wife's recovery went well.Baby Zach wriggled his tiny hands and managed to capture Dave's finger. He gripped it though his eyes were still closed. Baby Zach might sense familiar and safe, so baby Zach didn't cry, which made Dave's heart swell with pride and warmth. Only his touch could do that, and he couldn't be more proud of that."What do you think about this world? It's amazing, isn't it? You have me, your mother, and your entire family by your side. And in the future, you will find your own friends."Baby Zach was just quiet, and if his grip was not still on his finger, Dave might have th

A few months later.Anna was closing drawers after checking what was inside was still inside.It might be confusing. The point was Anna had just finished looking at their baby’s needs, such as clothes, diapers, socks, blanket, and more. She wanted to make sure everything was ready when the time came, which was soon. Her due date should be this week, and she couldn’t be more excited to finally welcome their baby.She moved to the only bed in the room. It was big and had four wooden walls on four sides to protect the baby from falling. And it was the one Dave said could accommodate her body while breastfeeding their baby. She even could sleep on it too.Her hand touched the doll on the nearby side and placed it neatly between another doll and the pillow. She had some, mainly cute animal characters, to accompany him while he was sleeping.Yes, him. Their baby was a boy.“Do you like it, honey? It’s nice, right? Your father prepared them for you.” She spoke as her hand caressed her so big

"I saw everything, Anna. I know what you hide behind your back." His eyebrows raised as if waiting for her to reveal it by herself. There was no point in hiding it anyway since it was why he approached her. He already saw her enjoying the ice cream!"What do you mean?"So she was going to play with him. Unfortunately, he didn't want to pretend that he did not see that. "The bowl. Ice cream."And she could only force a grin."Come here." His hand reached out to invite her to come near him."No. You will scold me.""That means you know you were doing wrong. How many bowls have you had?""Hmm. Five?""Count it correctly, honey.""Okay. Okay. Nine." She raised both her hands in the air and surrendered herself."No, honey. The bowl in your back is the eleventh."He actually didn't have a problem with her enjoying the ice cream. But Anna liked overeating, and she might have more if he didn't watch her."Good job Dave. She needs to be more careful with her health." Rebecca, standing beside h

Finally, the day they had been waiting for came. It was hectic but also fun. Their friends and families gathered together to celebrate the happy day. What was more pleasing than that?The vow went well. Although Anna felt more nervous, everything was perfect this time compared to the real one. Her father led her to the altar and handed her to Dave, which generally did at a wedding ceremony. And she and his husband stated their vow again and became husband and wife one more time.And to make it perfect, he sealed their vow with a kiss on her lips. Then cheers and applauses filled the hall.It was indeed a favorable moment. And it lasted until night."It's a pleasure to finally meet the newest Mrs. Byrne." Alexander greeted Anna and took her hand to land a quick kiss, like how a gentleman met a lady for the first time. "My name is Alexander Green.""Oh!" Anna couldn't help but show her surprise. She heard a lot about him from Dave, but this was the first time they met in person."Based