Novels by Eileen Pryce

RUBYThe next day, it was finally my turn to visit Wyatt. I came with Helen and Austin. However, she made my son wait with her for Allan's arrival on the lobby. It was to give me alone time with Wyatt, she said, and I couldn't be more thankful to her."Hi." My voice was cracking. Watching Wyatt lying on the hospital bed with many tubes inserted to his body and cables connected to medic equipments to monitor his vitals. It was a painful sight, tearing me inside out.But I had to keep going. As painful as the sight hurt me, I had to be his reason to survive. So I forced my steps forward, aprroaching me with tears starting to fall down.I took the chair next to his bed, holding his left hand, where it had the least things attached. Doctor said his right arm was broken.I moved forward and placed his palm on my cheek. It was warm.He was alive."I'm here, honey, so open your eyes. I want to see them, honey. Please." My tears were pouring, wetting his hand but I refused to let it go. "Our

RUBYNo.No way.I couldn't be happened.Wyatt couldn't be injured and bleeding.No way.However, as much as I affirmed myself with those words, the reality struck me and tossed me to the deepest hole. Wyatt was hurt and unconscious."What happened?" It was Mom's voice.But I couldn't bring my head up. All I saw was bloodstain on my hands.It was Wyatt's.No.I wasn't sure for how long I stayed like this, stunned and disconnected. I only knew that my son was safe in Mom and Dad's hands so I could focus on regaining everything.I gulped as my sight became more blurry from tears. It had been blurred the moment I saw Wyatt's body lying helplessly on the road. But now, I could not hold it any longer.A hand landed on my shoulder, forcing me to divert my focus from my agony to the person, whose look as despairing as me. Mom."Austin is in William's hand. You can cry now."And it was the button. The despairing sobs escaped my throat uncontrollably. I broke off.I was crying in her arms, let

WYATT[Austin and I are in the company. We're in the lobby.]I was initially confused getting such a message. Did I misread it? Which company did she mean? And most importantly, was the sender really Ruby?But, I didn't misread her text, and it was indeed from Ruby, my love. So, did it mean she was here?I shifted my attention from the presentation ahead--we were in the middle of a meeting--to Ron, who seemed to feel my need as he turned toward me as well. So I motioned with my head to get closer. "Check if Ruby and Austin are in the lobby." I said barely whispering as not to disturb the meeting.Ron nodded and quickly left his spot. And in less than five minutes, he returned with a confirmation. "A woman named Ruby with a boy came to the receptionist and asked for you. So I told her to grant them access."My mood, which had been better since I read her message, lit up more. It seemed that this dull meeting room didn't matter anymore because I knew Ruby and Austin would greet me as so

RUBY"If you and Uncle Wyatt are good now, that means he can be my daddy, can't he, Mommy?"I was stunned at my son's question. He specifically used 'daddy' in his words, meaning he understood how Wyatt stood in our life. Wyatt wasn't merely an uncle to him.I caressed his cheek with my thumb. "Do you want him to be your daddy, hm?" This should have eased my way to explain our future life with Wyatt to him. Still, I found myself surprised at it.Austin bobbed his head, not only a nod. He seemed enthutiastic to this idea. "Uncle Wyatt said he could be my daddy if I helped him win your heart, Mommy."So this was the reason. Turned out, Wyatt had planted the idea from long ago. "He did?""Yes.""And you followed his words?""Yes, Mommy.""Why?"Okay. I understood he craved for a father in his life. But why did he choose Wyatt out of people?Austin hummed, thinking before coming up with an unexpected reply a moment later. "He cares for you, Mommy. And he promised to make you happy and me,

RUBYI would admit something. When I took Laura's invitation, the possibility she would invite more people didn't cross my mind. I was too happy for her that all I could think was to be part of the party and celebrate it.Only when we accidentally met Meredith and she told that she would also attend to Laura's party did I realize there could be more. So I had no other choices except to prepare myself to meet and introduce our little family to them, which meant more people would learn about my and Austin's existence in Logan's family.It was a matter of time, though. Sooner or later I would face them."There. Two. One."My mind snapped to the present at the excitement emitting from Kevin and Laura's guests. They were counting for the important show. Revealing the gender.There was a big cake--not as big as a wedding cake--which contained the secret and Kevin and Laura were slicing it. Meanwhile, the guests were anticipating for the answer. What could it be? A boy or a girl?Soon, all t

WYATT"Yes. We're a couple, but not yet married."I would admit that I was startled to hear Ruby's words in replying Meredith at our unexpected encounter. She said it, preceeding me to take an initiative, even without we discussed such a situation before. It happened suddenly, so did her reaction.And what amazed me mere was she and Meredith carried on with their conversation, including introducting Austin to her, of course, as our son. Ruby and I, even though she didn't state it clearly since Austin was among us.Therefore, on the night after I sent Austin to sleep, I made an inquiry about it."You surprised me, love." I uttered as soon as her figure appeared from the bathroom.Ruby's brows furrowed as she walked to the bed. "What do you mean?""Meredith." I mentioned the name, whom she acknowledged immediately. "I didn't expect our encounter, especially seeing you talk to her casually."She took the space beside me, tucking herself under the blanket. "I also didn't expect to meet he

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