23

Chapter 23

Lanie squinted through the jeweler’s lens as she put in a replacement diamond to repair the ring she held. She knew enough about the market to know this rock would have bought her a nice little house and allowed her to stay home for at least a year after the birth. Instead, she would be returning at six weeks postpartum, but what choice was there? She couldn’t risk telling Jason until she was able to prove she could give her daughter a secure life too. Otherwise, his money and power would facilitate him walking all over her and taking their child if he chose to.

She stifled a sigh and tried to push her worries out of her head. It did no good to rehash the same concerns over and over. The course of action was set, and she had to follow it.

“Lanie, you have a customer here.”

She looked up at Ned, managing a smile as she removed the magnifying lens. “For me? I work in the back.”

“He said you came highly recommended.”

She shrugged. “Okay.”

“Shall I send him back here, or do you