Book of Love - David Horne Page 0,10

gently herded her kids to stand in front of her. They looked up at him.

"My name is Edward Sullivan Bailey, and this is my wife, Megan. These two rascals are Edward Junior and Hailey. You will most likely be seeing much of us as we are a family of bookworms. Actually, the entire Bailey clan is a bunch of bookworms." The man chuckled as he looked at his children, who beamed up at him.

Matt smiled and chuckled as he rang up the books and looked at Edward. "I doubt you could be more of a bookworm than Alfie was in high school. I remember him always having a book nearby. I even remember him carrying a couple of books about America, something about understanding everything about Americans and our oddities."

That got a deep belly laugh from Edward, the man had less of a British accent. "I know, when he used to visit with his family and it was supper time, it usually fell to me to get the then boy Alfie away from his books." There was a fond smile on his face.

The family left once they were finished paying and left with waves and promises to come again soon.

Matt sighed and looked at the time on his phone. His mom should be here any minute. As if the thought had summoned her, the woman walked up to the door and opened it. The double bells chimed. Matt had his mom in his arms before the second chime finished ringing.

"Matt!" his mom nearly shouted as she hugged him as hard as her small frame could. Matt hugged her tightly as well. She pulled away. First, she gave him a critical once over and seemed to be pleased by what she saw.

"Why on earth are you in a bookstore?" she asked while looking around.

Sighing, Matt walked toward the door and locked it. He flipped the open/closed sign to closed. Then, he walked his mom to the seating area. She sat down and looked at him a little worried now.

He began telling her everything and didn't leave anything out. He told her about the argument, him coming out to his father in an attempt to stop the stupid marriage idea, the argument, and how he left the house. How his father froze his accounts and his friends turning their backs on him. How he was homeless for a few weeks and how he had been on the breaking point when he met Alfie, he told his mother about all that his ex-high school friends had done to all of their victims when his friends went too far and the police became involved. His mother had forbidden him from even coming near his old friends. She knew then who Alfred was when he brought him up. She seemed happy to learn that the sweet boy she saw from time to time had kept his sweet disposition even after all he had been through.

Matt then explained his current situation with Alfie and how he was working part-time and that he was renting the apartment as a roommate.

"See? I'm perfectly fine." Matt smiled as his mom brushed her tears of relief from her cheeks.

The door suddenly being unlocked made them both look at the door. Alfie stepped through carrying a paperback and a drink holder with three drinks from some cafe. Sam was yapping at his feet as the pup rushed in and spotted Matt. The corgi puppy then bolted for Matt. The small dog couldn't quite make the jump onto the couch. Matt was sitting on and thus came face-first into the cushion of the sofa. Alfie laughed as he watched his dog look at the sofa as of it was the reason he couldn't get up. Both Matt and his mom laughed along.

"Ah, it seems I have made it back in time to meet your mother." Alfie locked the door again and moved to the coffee table. He deposited his paper bag and drinks before looking at Matt's mother.

Daphne had dark hair, very similar in texture as her son and the same skin tone. Their eyes had the same color, but that seemed to be where the resemblance ended.

She was busy taking in Alfred as well. The boy had filled out since the last time she saw him at the police station. He was always a handsome boy, and it seemed that he only grew into an equally more handsome young man. She stood up and gave Alfred a big hug as she